The Minister of Families, Suzanne Roy, was in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean on Friday to visit the construction sites of future daycare facilities, but also to inaugurate the new premises of the CPE Les Trottineurs at the Chicoutimi hospital .
He had to move due to the expansion of the operating room at the Chicoutimi hospital, the work of which should be completed at the end of 2027.
The CPE obtained 18 new places. The new facility has 20 places for infants, bringing the total to 98 places.
The mayor of Saguenay, Julie Dufour, the deputy director general of the Integrated University Health and Social Services Center (CIUSSS) of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Marc Thibeault, and Catherine Boivin, president of the CPE, were also present.
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The CPE is located very close to the CGI building, where mature trees and their autumn leaves delight children.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Claude Bouchard
The region in good shape, according to the minister
The Ministry of Families indicates that nearly 48 million dollars were injected into Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, which allowed the creation of 758 places over the last three years.
The minister also praised the dynamism of the region’s early childhood centers in the development of new places.
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean is once again a leader, a leader, so bravo. And precisely, when we talk about leadership, in Saguenay for three years, 758 places at $9.10 in educational childcare have been created. To this, we must add 383 places which are being implemented in 17 projects. 300 community and business places are also available, said Ms. Roy.
Suzanne Roy affirms that 25,000 new subsidized daycare places have been developed in recent years in Quebec, including 1,700 places in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.
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The Minister of Families, Suzanne Roy, affirms that in three years 758 subsidized places have been added in Saguenay.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Claude Bouchard
Negotiations in progress
The Minister of Families, Suzanne Roy, affirms that negotiations with CPE educators are continuing.
This week, CPE educators in the region affiliated with the CSN voted in favor of a five-day strike in a proportion of 94%.
It is a process that continues. What we want is for this to be resolved as quickly as possible and we are very confident, added the minister.
The workers believe that discussions are failing on salaries, educational preparation time and support for children with special needs.
Minister Roy wants the discussion to take place at the negotiating table.
