Quebec to Examine Files of Children Withdrawn from CPE Due to Parental Work Permit Issues
A contentious legal dispute has arisen in Quebec regarding the eligibility of children of immigrants for subsidized daycare. As of July 24, 2025, Quebec has excluded children of parents holding open work permits from access to subsidized daycare, a decision that has prompted affected families to threaten legal action against the province[1].
This policy change has caused confusion within the early childhood sector, particularly in Sherbrooke where two immigrant families, French and Ukrainian, were informed last Friday that their children were not eligible due to the parents holding open work permits. The expulsion of these children from the subsidized daycare has been met with contention by the affected parents, who argue that the interpretation of the Early Childhood Education Services Act is "invalid and illegal"[1].
Gabrielle Côte, press attaché of the Minister of Family, has confirmed that the provincial government is currently analyzing the notice sent by the affected parents. The Minister of Family has also promised to analyze the file of each child already receiving subsidized services to confirm or not their eligibility[1]. In response to the situation, the ministry has decided not to demand repayment from parents or CPEs, but has asked for the affected children to be removed[1].
A spot in a CPE costs $9.35 per day, while non-subsidized daycares usually charge between $35 and $65 per day. The law firm representing these families claims that nothing in the law indicates that the child of an immigrant with an open work permit is not eligible for a subsidized daycare spot[1]. The regulation governing subsidized daycare services dates back to 1997 and is intended to ensure fairness to Quebec families waiting for a spot.
As of now, no court ruling or resolution has been reported in this ongoing dispute. The ministry is seeking to analyze the files of children to ensure they have made the right verifications before taking action[1]. This is the most current and relevant information available regarding the eligibility issue for subsidized daycare in Quebec.
[1] Source: Various news articles and reports on the issue.
- The government of Quebec is currently analyzing the notice sent by affected parents, challenging the policy change that denies subsidized daycare to children of immigrants with open work permits.
- The dispute over eligibility for subsidized daycare in Quebec has led to a debate surrounding the interpretation of the Early Childhood Education Services Act, with some arguing that it is "invalid and illegal."
- Amidst this controversy, the ministry of family has decided not to demand repayment from parents or CPEs (childcare centers) but has asked that the affected children be removed from subsidized daycare services.
- As the legal dispute continues, the affected families are relying on general news and learning about the situation through online-education resources, seeking to challenge the policy through policy-and-legislation and politics channels.
