The Legault government plans to tighten the screws on Quebec daycare centers to improve the safety of young children after our reports highlighted the shortcomings of the current system.
According to our information, Family Minister Suzanne Roy will introduce a bill on Thursday that would allow Quebec to act more quickly and effectively when the well-being of children is at risk.
Criminals in daycare centers, tax systems aimed at stealing from parents, premises contaminated by excrement and cockroaches: the numerous problematic cases uncovered by our investigative office have probably forced Ms. Roy to give her ministry more emphasis.
• Also read: [PHOTOS] Quebec tolerated unsanitary daycare centers for years
“This bill flows directly from the issues that the Bureau of Investigation has raised in its reports,” said two government sources not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.
Dead cockroaches were found in several places at a daycare center in Mascouche. Photo provided by Family Ministry
Act immediately
With this initiative, Quebec can now immediately close a daycare center – at least temporarily – if the health or safety of children is at risk, whether due to the condition of the premises or the behavior of staff.
Currently, the minimum period for suspending or revoking a permit is 15 days. This delay would be considered unreasonable by the Minister.
The government also wants to grant itself the right to suspend or fire a daycare employee – such as a teacher – who has committed serious acts against children. Currently, only the daycare administrator has the authority to take action against its employees.
• Also read: Quebec tolerates the daycare of two suspected fraudsters
Keep in mind that the Family Ministry currently has no way of knowing whether a manager in its network will be accused of a crime. Worse, it could take years for the ministry to be informed of his guilt.
To close this loophole, the legislation requires managers to voluntarily report, under penalty of sanctions, any behavior that could affect their ability to manage a daycare center.
• Also read: A daycare center with a human trafficker near the Hells Angels
Done, the pseudonym
Last July, our investigative agency revealed that a daycare owner who had lost the right to run his facility due to a criminal conviction had simply turned the business over to his wife and continued to run the problem.
• Also read: Criminal forced to sell daycare and still involved behind the scenes
This situation will no longer be possible. The new law ensures that an owner who has been convicted of a crime cannot appoint an “agent” to continue managing their daycare.
When asked to comment on this information, the minister’s office limited itself to saying that a bill to improve the protection of children in daycare centers would be introduced in the National Assembly on Thursday morning.
“The health and safety of our little ones is our top priority. We need to equip ourselves with new levers so that we can act faster and more flexibly,” said Catherine Pelleter, press secretary to Minister Suzanne Roy.
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.