New available places in daycare facilities

The Minister of Education, Recreational Activities and Sports and Family Minister Michelle Courchesne last week revealed the regional distribution of 180,000 subsidised places in educational daycare facilities; this represents double the number originally planned for the next two years. Of this number, Verdun’s share comes to 187 new places. The government’s goal of 220,000 available places should be reached before the two-year deadline, according to the Minister.

Saying that he is delighted with this news which comes just in time for school opening, Verdun MNA Henri-François Gautrin said: “I hope that these new places will help Verdun families cope with the demands of their everyday life.”

Note that during the budget speech last March, the government reiterated its commitment to bring to 220,000 the number of places at reduced contribution rates from now until 2012 for Quebec families. Last April 15, an appeal for projects was launched for the creation of 9,000 places for the period 2008-2010. Given the number and quality of offers received, the government decided to assign 18,000 places instead of the original number of 9,000 places.

To-date, the annual budget allocated to educational daycare facilities has gone from $1.8 billion dollars to $2.03 billion. The annual recurring costs for the 18,000 new places will be almost $235 million.

The MNA for Verdun pointed out that “in addition to these new places, the effective date of January 1, 2009 of the tax credit allowance for daycare costs will allow parents to benefit egardless of the type of daycare they will choose; this will be for all families receiving incomes of up to $80,000.00.”