The Minister of Families, Mathieu Lacombe, has recently made a number of public statements in favour of better oversight with respect to private home childcare centres. As they are not regulated by the Ministry, there is no structure to assess the quality of the services they provide.

According to the FIPEQ-CSQ1, regulating private home childcare educational services would be a step in the right direction. “However, we ask that the Minister guarantee that these childcare centres would also be subsidized. Parents have made their position very clear: they want subsidized spaces,” states Valérie Grenon2.

The FIPEQ-CSQ President believes that we must take advantage of a legislative change to review the law and its regulations as a whole. Since 2014, many HCEs3 have left the regulated and subsidized network for the private sector as a result of stifling regulations and the additional contribution for childcare expenses.

“We need to create winning conditions to have private home-based service providers return to the regulated and subsidized network,” sums up Valérie Grenon. 

What are the differences between private, and regulated and subsidized?

The first thing that sets the two types of service apart is their rates. Only regulated and subsidized home childcare centres are allowed to offer spaces for a single reduced daily rate of $8.25. Private home childcare centres determine their own rates. They charge the parents who may then get a tax credit.

Among other differences, only regulated and subsidized childcare services:

  • fall under coordinating offices4
  • are subject to at least three compliance visits per year
  • may benefit from educational and technical support from the coordinating office
  • may receive certain allowances for infants and children with special needs

1 Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (CSQ).
2 Valérie Grenon is President of the FIPEQ-CSQ.
3 Home childcare educators.
4 There exist a few regulated, but non-subsidized, home childcare centres. They fall under coordinating offices which however do not  receive any additional subsidies.