Latest news with #SuzanneRoy
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Immigrant children at risk of losing daycare spots can keep them: Quebec minister
Children's backpacks and shoes are seen at a daycare. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck) The François Legault government says it will partially suspend its directive that would expel many immigrant children from subsidized daycares and early childhood centres (CPEs) in Quebec. The directive from the Ministry of Family Affairs (MFA), published earlier this month, targets children whose parents have open work permits in the province. It stipulates that these foreign workers are not eligible for the standard $9.35 daily rate for childcare services. After an outcry, the ministry asked the network 'not to terminate the agreements of children who already have a place before the end of the ongoing checks,' said Family Minister Suzanne Roy on social media platform X on Friday. She clarified that the directive still applies to new admissions. 'Parents who are not eligible will not be able to benefit from a subsidized spot,' Roy said. Several families said this week that their children, who have been attending subsidized daycare for over a year, were at risk of being expelled. Responding to the challenge to the directive earlier this week, the minister said that 'the MFA will review the files of children who are already receiving services' before taking any action. Québec solidaire spokesperson Guillaume Cliche-Rivard said he was relieved by the government's reversal on Friday. 'It was the only thing to do,' he said in a statement. 'Not only would it have torn children away from their homes, but we have also seen numerous examples in recent days of immigrant parents who would have had to leave their jobs in essential sectors, such as caregivers and even childcare workers.' According to the directive, dated July 9, foreign workers with a closed work permit naming a specific employer and duration of employment, can enrol their children in Quebec's subsidized daycare system. Those with an open work permit, which allows them to work for any employer in Canada, are not eligible for a reduced-contribution spot. The directive is based on the Reduced Contribution Regulation, which has been in place since 1997. Roy argued on Wednesday that this rule 'must apply' as it 'exists out of fairness to Quebec families who are waiting for a spot.' — This story by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 25, 2025 with information from Maura Forrest.
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Quebec to review files of immigrant children facing daycare expulsion
Children's backpacks and shoes are seen at a daycare in Langley, B.C., on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press) MONTREAL — The Quebec government says it will review cases involving children facing expulsion from daycare after the province moved to restrict access to subsidized spots for certain immigrants. The concession comes following pushback to a new government directive, issued earlier this month, that said foreign workers with open work permits are not eligible for the province's subsidized daycare rate, currently set at $9.35 per day. A union representing daycare workers says the policy has taken the sector by surprise, and could result in hundreds of children losing their spots. On Tuesday, two sets of immigrant parents from France and Ukraine threatened Quebec's Families Department with legal action, calling the directive 'invalid and illegal.' Their children, who have been attending a subsidized home daycare for more than a year, were facing expulsion on Wednesday. In a social media statement on Wednesday, Families Minister Suzanne Roy stood by the government directive, saying the province is merely enforcing an existing rule. 'That said, before any action is taken, the (department) will analyze the files of children already receiving services,' she said. According to the directive, dated July 9, foreign workers with a closed work permit, which names a specific employer and duration of employment, are eligible to enrol their children in Quebec's subsidized daycare system. But those with open work permits, which allow them to work for any employer in Canada, are not. The government maintains this is a long-standing rule that must be enforced. The directive advised daycares that have enrolled children of parents with open work permits to 'rectify the situation without delay.' But in a statement earlier this month, a Quebec union representing daycare workers said the policy offers a 'new interpretation' of existing regulations, 'which goes against the practices in force for several years.' The union says the directive could cause hundreds of children across the province to be expelled from their daycare spots, and could force their parents to stop working to care for them. Lawyers for the families from France and Ukraine are calling on the government to 'correct' the policy, which they say is illegal and discriminatory. The couple from France had a son in Quebec in 2023, who has been attending a home daycare since March 2024. The couple from Ukraine fled their country due to the war with Russia, and their son has attended the same daycare since last July. Both children were deemed eligible in 2024. But according to a formal notice sent by the families' lawyers to the government on Tuesday, the daycare was informed on July 18 that parents with open work permits were no longer eligible, and that their children should be removed from the daycare by July 23. The lawyers argue that existing rules do not preclude foreign workers with open work permits from enrolling their children in the subsidized system. They say the new directive adds 'additional requirements that were not foreseen and that run counter to the text of the regulation, which has not changed for years.' They also say the directive violates Canadian and Quebec charter rights, 'since exclusion from the subsidized daycare program results in disproportionate discriminatory effects on women.' In a social media statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the office of Quebec Premier François Legault defended the restriction, saying it has existed since the province's subsidized daycare system was created in 1997. 'A reminder has been issued to childcare providers, and it must be respected, period,' said Florence Plourde. 'Too many families are looking for a daycare space. The rules must be clear, fair, and consistently applied. It's a matter of fairness, nothing more, nothing less.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025. By Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press
CBC
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Parents with open work permits threaten to sue Quebec over access to subsidized daycare
Parents from France and Ukraine are threatening to sue Quebec's Family Ministry if the government excludes their children from subsidized daycare programs. The parents sent the ministry a legal notice on Tuesday. Their children had been accepted into a Montreal home daycare centre in 2024 upon presentation of their open work permits. However, they recently learned from their daycare co-ordinator that they will have to leave the daycare due to a new directive issued by the Family Ministry earlier this month. That directive, issued to daycare operators, said that the children of parents with open work permits are not eligible for subsidized, $9.35 per day daycare services, known in French as CPEs. Daycare operators have said the directive came as a surprise to them. "It's hard for us to keep track of what has changed, what hasn't changed," said Alexis Pereira, the director of CPE Les Copains d'Abord. "It's very confusing." WATCH | How the directive is affecting families: Hundreds of Quebec children could lose subsidized daycare spots over eligibility confusion 19 hours ago Quebec's Family Ministry recently informed daycare operators that children of immigrants with open work permits are not eligible for subsidized daycare, despite these families having been able to secure spots for years. Family Minister Suzanne Roy said in a post on X Wednesday that the rules have been in place since the start of the network. She said temporary immigrants who are on an open work permit are not eligible for spots in the CPE system, but she said the ministry will analyze the files of children who already have a place. According to the parents who are threatening to sue the ministry, the directive is invalid and illegal. They say they are in Quebec primarily for the purpose of working and that they hold a work permit, which should provide them with access to the subsidized daycare system. They are asking the ministry to correct its directive and allow their daycare to confirm their children's place.
Cision Canada
10-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
DANONE CANADA INVESTS IN ITS BOUCHERVILLE PLANT TO DEVELOP MORE SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
The company announces a $9 million investment in partnership with the Gouvernement du Québec BOUCHERVILLE, QC, June 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Danone Canada is proud to announce a strategic investment of $9 million in its Boucherville plant to launch production of new individual yogurt cups made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. The company is also aiming to integrate recycled PET (rPET), with an ambition of 30% of the content. This represents a first for Danone's activities in the country, made possible thanks to the support of the Gouvernement du Québec. This initiative, supported by Danone's Oikos brand – the country's leading high-protein Greek yogurt – marks a major step forward in the agri-food industry and in Danone's commitment to recyclability for its packaging. This major project is being carried out with the support of the Gouvernement du Québec, notably through Investissement Québec, which is providing a $3 million loan, and RECYC-QUÉBEC, which is contributing a direct grant of $400,000. This initiative is in line with Québec's efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote innovative, more sustainable packaging strategies. This project illustrates Danone Canada's capacity for innovation within the Québec industry, and the importance of supporting concrete initiatives for a more durable future. The new Oikos PET cups are already being deployed at points of sale across the country. Quotes "At Danone, innovation is the driving force behind our sustainable development approach. These new yogurt cups from Oikos, the number one brand in Canada *, represent an important milestone in our ambition to reduce the environmental footprint of our packaging and inspire other companies to follow suit towards more sustainable solutions." Frédéric Guichard, President, Danone Canada "The Québec population is increasingly aware of the impact of their food consumption on their health and the environment. Danone Canada understands this! Our government is proud to support Danone in this important stage of its development. Established in our region for nearly one hundred years, this company continues to reinvent itself to contribute ever more to the economic vitality of Montérégie and the dynamism of our community." Suzanne Roy, MNA for Verchères, Minister for the Family and Minister responsible for Montérégie "I congratulate the Danone Canada team on this innovative and ambitious project. In addition to generating environmental benefits, our $3.4 million investment will help the company remain competitive in a fast-growing, competitive sector and consolidate its presence in the Canadian market. Supporting our companies as they go green helps us build a prosperous, sustainable economy in Québec." Christine Fréchette, Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy and Minister responsible for Regional Economic Development "To promote better management of our residual materials and increase their circularity, we need to review our practices and innovate in all sectors of activity, including agri-food. I'm delighted to see Danone Canada actively committed to reducing its ecological footprint and contributing to a more circular economy in Québec. It's with initiatives like this that we will stimulate the growth of a green economy in all our regions." Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks "Danone Canada is an example to follow when it comes to putting down roots in Québec. This new investment not only reaffirms their commitment to the Québec market, but also illustrates Québec's ability to attract quality foreign direct investment in our strategic sectors. We are proud to accompany Danone in this new phase, which combines innovation, sustainability and tangible economic benefits." Hubert Bolduc, President, Investissement Québec International "As RECYC-QUÉBEC aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, it was only natural for us to be involved in making this project a reality. This effort also reinforces our dedication to supporting innovations that address problematic materials, like plastic packaging. Ecodesign is a pivotal strategy in the circular economy and is also a very important path forward that we absolutely must collectively invest in to reduce our footprint." Emmanuelle Géhin, President and CEO, RECYC-QUÉBEC About Danone Canada Danone Canada is part of Danone, a leading global food and beverage company, with head offices in Toronto (ON) and Boucherville (QC). With a long-standing mission of bringing health through food to as many people as possible, Danone aims to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices while committing to achieve measurable nutritional, social, societal and environment impact. As the country's largest consumer-facing certified B Corp, Danone Canada's portfolio includes iconic pioneering brands in dairy yogurt, plant-based products, coffee creamers and beverages including: Activia, Oikos, Silk, Danone, Two Good, International Delight, evian and more. For more information about Danone Canada and its brands, visit or LinkedIn. * NIQ Markettrack, yogurt, Grocery Banners, Drugs and Mass Merchandise, Year-to-date April 19, 2025.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Gender identity committee: LGBTQ2S+ community slams Quebec for leaving them out of report
A handful of protesters tried to enter a news conference by Quebec's committee on gender identity. (Jean-François Poudrier / Noovo Info) Quebec is coming under fire from the LGBTQ2S+ community, which says it was not able to review a report on gender identity before its public release – against government promises. The Conseil québécois LGBT (CQ-LGBT), which represents around 80 community organizations in the province, says it was told it would be able to review the report and reassure its members, but that never happened. The CQ-LGBT says it has been wary of the committee since it was first announced in December 2023, as it did not represent the community. The committee was mandated to identify public policies, practices and guidelines in Quebec and elsewhere, to analyze their potential effects on Quebec society, and 'help ease social tension' at a time when groups opposed to teaching gender identity in schools and pro-LGBTQ2S+ groups clashed in hostile demonstrations. The three-member committee, led by Family Minister Suzanne Roy, also includes Diane Lavallée, former president of the Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) and the Conseil du statut de la femme, Dr. Jean-Bernard Trudeau and human rights lawyer Patrick Taillon. Although none are experts on LGBTQ2S+ issues, the government stated that the committee would work closely with the community. Despite its opposition, the CQ-LGBT agreed to contribute 'in a constructive spirit.' 'We hope that no other vulnerable group will have to go through what our communities have been experiencing,' said Executive Director Magali Boudon in a news release. 'It is unthinkable to have a committee of men ruling on abortion. At a time when LGBTQ+ people are seeing their rights rolled back across the globe, the government has prolonged the anxiety and violence of this process until the very last minute.' At first glance, the report relies 'more on persistent stereotypes than on scientific data and the expertise of community groups, which are clear and consistent' on issues like the inclusion of trans women in sports, prisons, toilets, changing rooms and emergency shelters, said the CQ-LGBT. Protest at National Assembly A handful of protesters gathered in Quebec City Friday morning to denounce the government for excluding them from discussions on their rights, dignity and living conditions. They said they wanted to be allowed into the news conference, reserved for journalists. 'Women's rights groups can't meet the government either. Civil society groups are completely cut off from decision-making processes at the government level. We know who has access to the government … we're in a plutocracy,' activist Judith Lefebvre told Noovo Info. 'We have no choice but to keep showing up to make ourselves heard because we don't have access to our elected officials.' Lefebvre said the community wants a public audience on the issue rather than discussions held behind closed doors. The protesters were removed, and the news events were pushed back. With files from Noovo Info.
