A report prepared for the provincial cabinet is recommending the end of universal daycare coverage in Quebec, and the implementation of a sliding scale price based on household income.
According to the report, which was obtained by the newspaper Le Devoir, the cost for sending a child to a CPE or home-based daycare should rise as follows as of April 1:
- $8 to $12 for families with a net income of between $75,000 and $100,000.
- $12 to $15 for those earning a net income of between $100,000 and $150,000.
- And $15 to $20 for those with a net income ranging from $150,000 to $200,000.
"We want to maintain the program and we want it to reflect the revenue structure in Quebec," said Premier Philippe Couillard in the National Assembly Wednesday.
Family Minister says status quo cannot be maintained
For the past decade parents have paid $7/day, per child, for a spot in daycare facilities across the province. That price rose 30 cents on Oct. 1, 2014, the first price increase in ten years.
The idea of a sliding scale for daycare fees was first hinted by Premier Philippe Couillard in May, and in September Family Minister Francine Charbonneau said there was a distinct possibility that a sliding scale would be implemented.
Today she confirmed the idea is being looked at, but would not confirm that the prices suggested will be final.
"Until we have a document in hand it's all speculation," said Charbonneau.
When asked if fees would increase, Charbonneau said "we never said they wouldn't, we never said they would."
"What we said is we're looking at everything to make sure what we have right now we can keep, because the state that we are in right now we cannot keep," said Charbonneau.
She also mentioned changes were necessary because public daycares continue to have lengthy waiting lists.
"We are working for the families of Quebec and we have to do what we have to do to make sure everyone gets the service," said Charbonneau.
"I think everybody should have the chance to have a place, and that's what we're working on."
Daycare Association says it was never consulted
In September Quebec's Public Daycare Association said despite multiple meetings with the government, the notion of a sliding scale was never discussed.
Gina Gasparini said her Association met many times with provincial Family Minister Francine Charbonneau over the summer and while many topics were discussed, there was never a hint that Quebec would alter from having one fixed price for all.
She now expects that the proposed increase of 70 cents for all users, and more for higher-income families, would see people stop using daycares.
"We have to remember back when the fee went from $5 to $7 in our daycare system, we lost a lot of the low-income families because that $2 was enough for them to say 'I can't afford this anymore,'" said Gasparini.
"If we lost a lot of those families when we switched from 5 to 7, we're going to lose more from this increase for sure."
She defended spending public funds on daycares, saying the system is one of the very few that generates income for the province.
"There are economic studies that have been published that show for every dollar the goverment invests in daycare, it brings $1.50 back to Revenue Quebec.
"There are over 70,000 women that have gone back to work after daycare became affordable. Well those 70,000 women they earn income tax, they spend money and they keep the economy rolling."
Gasparini also said that higher income families are less likely to use public daycares in the first place.
"Most people who earn those types of salaries are not in the age, or far into their career enough, that they have young children.
"Those families that have young children that attend our daycares are few and far between," said Gasparini.
The Association is planning a rally against proposed increases on Sunday at Place des Festivals in Montreal.
| Net Household Income | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $75,000 | $8 |
| $75,000-$100,000 | $8-$12 |
| $100,000-$150,000 | $12-$15 |
| $150,000-$200,000 | $15-$20 |
