Being A Parent in Quebec

Daycare in Quebec: What you need to know

 
INDEPTH: DAY CARE
A snap shot of child care
The National | February 9, 2005

Most young parents across this country have looked for, stressed over, found, or given up on finding safe and affordable child care. It's an issue that affects more than half of all families with preschool-aged children. There are innovative ideas and successes, but also many challenges.

Montreal, Que.
Reporter: Lynne Robson

Quebec is the province that pioneered universal day care. It promised affordable access for all.

For new mothers fun soon turns to stress as they start the hunt for day care for their babies.

"As soon as I got pregnant, everybody told me you have to call everywhere to be... well, to get a place, because it's very difficult," one mother says.

Difficult because day care in Quebec is suffering from a crisis of popularity.

When many Canadians talk about day care, they talk about day care in Quebec.

This is the model the federal government says other provinces should be following, and why not? Universal day care, high quality care, and it costs parents just $7 a day. Sound too good to be true? For thousands of Quebec families, it is. The problem is everyone wants in. And many day-cares have waiting lists 900 names long.

"We have 30 children who are leaving to go off to kindergarten. Just the brothers and the sisters of kids who are already in the program are filling up those spaces. So we're not even opening our doors to anybody from outside or somebody who may have their first child," says Selina Itzkowitz of CCJ Daycare.

There's always been a waiting list but since universal day care was introduced eight years ago, things are out of control.

"People call us on the phone, where can I find a place for my child. People say how much can I pay you to take my child?" Itzkowitz says.

Veronique Pelletier and her husband have spent a year hunting for day care for their daughter. Now Pelletier's getting desperate.

"I'm going back to work in a month and a half, and for the moment, I only have a spot in a private day care, which is $25 per day. That's the only thing I could find," Pelletier says.

That's just about her only alternative: pricey, for-profit day care. It's a shock for Quebecers whose government brags about its $7-a-day program. But then that $7 label is a bit misleading anyway. Most day-cares charge three or more dollars per day in additional fees for things like supplies. A few places, like the Villeneuve day care, have very low additional fees, under a dollar a day.

But it's difficult, says Marie Trudeau. The government must put more money into the system for us to continue. Universal day care is undeniably expensive.

Before 1997, the Quebec government spent $297 million on day-care subsidies. This year, that cost is $1.4 billion. And still the program is seen as underfunded. "We need money to hire staff, money to fix our building," says Trudeau.

Pelletier and her husband keep searching for affordable day care but they've pretty much lost faith in the Quebec day-care plan.

"I don't think my daughter will ever go to a $7 day-care," Pelletier says.

Quebec's day-care system may be envied by parents in other provinces, just not everyone here. What good, they ask, is a universal program that's out of reach of thousands of families?

To better your chances of getting $7.00 a-day daycare for your child:

1. As soon as you find out you are expecting a child, register your name on as MANY lists as possible for the $7.00 a-day daycares in your area.
   
2. Look in local papers for home daycare run under the $7.00 a-day program, as they are not as "visible" as the larger local centers.
3. Check to see if there are any "Centres Educatif" in your area. These centers are run separately from CPE's (Centre de la Petite Enfance) but are also $7.00 a-day.
   
4. The turn-over in the daycares are higher in September when the older children are leaving for kindergarten. You want to get your name on the lists at least 6 months prior to September.
5. Have a back-up plan in case you do not get access to a daycare in time. Can you stay home longer? Can a relative/friend babysit? Is there a private daycare available until you get a spot in a $7.00 a-day daycare?

• Is the centre clean, warm, and inviting?
• Am I greeted upon arrival?
• Are the children happy, involved, playing?
• Is the staff friendly?
• Is the environment safe?
• Are toys clean and checked regularly to ensure safety?
• Is the centre fully licensed? (The license should be visibly posted)
• What are the fire and health regulations of the centre?
• Does the outdoor area appear safe well maintained and properly fenced?
• Is the environment at the children's level; e.g., sinks, toilets, windows, and equipment?
• Is the playground space separated according to groups; i.e., toddler and preschoolers?

• What training does the staff have?
• Is the staff certified in child First Aid and C.P.R.?
• Is the staff warm and affectionate with the children?
• Does the staff seem to be enjoying themselves?
• Is the staff aware of all policies and procedures?
• What is the staff/child ratio in each room?
• How does staff communicate with parents?
• Is there a cook?
• Does all staff have a criminal reference check?
• Are the staff involved with the children?

• Does the centre provide an anti-bias curriculum that is suitable to all children?
• Does the centre's program follow themes? If so, what are some examples?
• What is the centre's philosophy?
• Are there a variety of activity areas?
• Is there a sufficient amount of toys so that they can be regularly rotated?
• What is the daily schedule?
• Is the program stimulating and interesting?
• Are the children encouraged to develop self-help skills?
• Do the children take walks?
• What field trips are taken, if any?
• Do the children take naps? What if a child does not sleep?

• Does the centre maintain confidentiality?
• What is the centre's policy regarding child sickness?
• What is the centre's policies regarding adverse weather conditions?
• What are the rules about releasing children to people other than registering parent(s)?
• What are the policies regarding administering medication?
• How often are fire drills conducted?
• What about toilet training?

• What is the centre's philosophy on behaviour management?
• What behaviour is unacceptable?
• Does the centre use time-outs? What discipline methods are used?
  

• What is the menu, and how often does it change? What meals are included in the daily rate?
• Does the centre follow the Canada Food Guide when planning meals?
• How does the centre deal with children's allergies?
• Are the parent's allowed to send food for their children?
• How does the centre deal with food requirements of secular groups?

• What are the sanitary procedures?
• What does the centre use as a disinfectant for change tables, toilets, etc.?
• Are there sufficient supplies to maintain proper sanitary conditions; e.g., soap and towels at each sink?

• Are parents welcome to come to the centre at any time throughout the day?
• Are the parents welcome to pick up their child; e.g., for lunch or appointments, and later return their child to the centre?
• Are parents welcome to attend field trips with the children?
• Is the parent welcome to call the centre at any time?

• What makes this centre unique?
• Do the parents provide diapers etc?
• What items do the parents send with their child daily?
• What are any additional fees for child care? (including late fees)
• When does the centre open and close?
• Is the centre closed for any holidays?
• Is part time care available?
• Is transportation available; what is the cost of transportation?
• Does the parent pay for absent days, vacation and holidays?
• Are the children's arrival and departure times recorded daily? Do parents sign their children in and out?
• Is the center secure from intruders?