Quebec parents struggle to find childcare

After parental leave is done, returning to work isn’t always that easy for many Quebecers who can’t find childcare due to a shortage in daycare spots. 

“People are really struggling, it is really hard to be a young parent right now,” says Carolann Claveau, with Ma place au travail, a movement that has been raising awareness on the difficulties families encounter.

Claveau says that they receive heartbreaking messages from parents every day that are dealing with the stress of not having any option.

“It has to stop,” she says.

#WATCH: “It has to stop,” says Carolann Claveau, spokesperson for the @au_place movement, who had to leave her job in order to look after her young children due to lack of space in daycares – a situation many parents across Quebec are facing. pic.twitter.com/yJudPKCi9H

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) March 23, 2022

Angry and wanting to take action, Claveau became a volunteer at Ma place au travail, which started a year ago.

Claveau was forced to break her contract with her employer to stay home and take care of her two daughters. Her eldest – 3 years old – has a part time spot in daycare, and her baby has no spot at all.

She’s not the only one experiencing this. The province’s wait-list to obtain a daycare space exceeds 50,000.

“It is important because every kid has a right to an environment that fits [their needs] and every parent has the right to have a choice and to go back to work if they wish to,” Claveau says.

#WATCH: “Every kids has a right to an environment that fits his need,” says Carolann Claveau, spokesperson for the “Ma place au travail” movement whose been trying to ensure all children have access to daycare in Quebec – the province’s wait list to obtain a space exceeds 50,000. pic.twitter.com/Tmdct649Sn

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) March 23, 2022

After recently demonstrating in front of the National Assembly, the Ma place au travail team had their fingers crossed that Quebec’s spring budget would implement emergency financial aid to parents affected by the problem. On Tuesday, Quebec’s budget allocated $109 million to improve childcare services and help families with special needs.

“We don’t know yet how it’s going to be set up in reality, so yes, an increase is good, of course,” Claveau says. “But again, we’ll have to wait and see how they’re going to use that money.”

 But one thing is certain for Claveau, she hopes the money will be used to better conditions for families – like her own –  who are victims of the shortage of childcare places.

“We would like to see equality for all the kids.”