CAQ has yet to build 37,000 childcare spaces
According to the data, the CAQ government has reached 95.1% of its objective with more than 19,000 spaces "in progress."
The CAQ government seems to be retreating from its promise to create 37,000 subsidized daycare spaces by March of next year, aiming to ensure all parents have a spot for their child.
Recent data from the Family Ministry reveals that as of July 31, the waiting list for daycare spots has grown by more than 5,200 children, totaling 34,000—less than a year before the deadline.
In October 2021, the Quebec government committed to establishing 37,000 subsidized daycare spaces by March 31, 2025, at a cost of $3 billion. At the time, Premier François Legault had expressed frustration with the distant deadline, indicating he wished it were sooner.
According to the data, the CAQ government has reached 95.1% of its objective with more than 19,000 spaces "in progress." However, the opposition questions this figure, arguing that it does not clarify if these spaces are actually available.
This implies that 19,000 spaces need to be created within less than seven months, yet the current monthly rate falls significantly short of the required 2,700 spaces.
The Parti Québécois (PQ) predicts that the CAQ will fail to meet its target. PQ family critic Joël Arseneau suggested that the government might be either in denial or not forthcoming about its ability to achieve the goal by March.
