1355 day care places allocated by 2010

“There was a good distribution of spaces where the need is greatest in the south,” explained Mr. Mario Boucher, Director-General, Regroupement des Centres de la petite enfance (CPE) de Laval.

In fact, it is the distribution of day care places in Chomedey that is most significant. For 2008, this district will have 120 more places in the CPE Le chez-moi des petits, 43 in the day care centre L'Oasis Bout'chou et 20 in du Couvent.

In total, 475 places will be allocated this year, 460 in 2009 and 420 in 2010. For the 2008 projects, day care service operators have until December 31 to open the places. “There isn’t any new construction this year, but there will be $7 (a day) places in the existing private day cares, an increase in the CPE’s capacity and the creation of places in the private sector,” said Mr. Boucher, adding a warning as to the private sector. “The places are already in the private sector, but it remains unknown if they are already taken,” he said.

Of those accepted, Mr. Boucher admits he only saw one that will be developed in the Laval workplace, yet it was one of the priorities laid out by the ministry in its last budget in March. “There is the CPE du PIC located in the central industrial park that submitted a project in the high-tech park,” said the director-general. “Of those submitted, maybe there are projects that are not yet known, we will see what the future brings.”

On the ministry’s side, nobody, at press time, had any knowledge of the number of workplace projects that had been proposed for Laval.

As for part-time enrollment, another priority of the ministry, Mario Boucher admitted some public education is needed. “The reality is that we must educate the public, because many parents register their children for five days a week, although their real need is only two to three days,” he said.

The 40 places requested by CPE du Boisé in Vimont were all agreed to, specifically because it aims to integrate children with disabilities, another one of the government’s priorities. The assistant-director of the centre, Lucie Goyette, said she was very pleased about this announcement.