A proposed expansion of daycare services in the Shawville area is currently in limbo but Pontiac MNA André Fortin says the issue will be top of mind as he heads back to Quebec City for the fall legislative session.

Fortin explained that CPE 1-2-3 Picabou, a local daycare provider, had purchased land in Shawville as part of a government project that would expand their capacity by 60 spaces. He said that the government had put the contract for the building out to tender twice in the past year and a half and didn't receive a response that met their requirements. He said that the future of the project, along with others across the province, is up in the air and he hopes to get an answer from his CAQ colleagues when the National Assembly reconvenes this week.

A centre de la petite enfance (CPE) is a non-profit or cooperative entity that provides subsidized childcare in Quebec. Fortin explained that the CAQ prioritized these types of facilities central in their policy planning, over things like home daycares.

He acknowledged that even if the space had been built according to plan, the shortage of daycare workers is something that needs to be addressed as well. At a public meeting back in February of this year that Fortin attended, local daycare operator Mona Donnelly said that it was difficult to compete for staff with the local elementary schools, where salaries and hours are competitive with CPEs.

CHIP 101.9 has reached out to the ministère de la Famille du Québec, as well as CPE 1-2-3 Picabou for more details on the situation, but neither had responded at the time of publication.

The full interview with Fortin is available below: