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Government announcement
20 February 2018

$2 million in funding to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds participate in cultural and educational outings


Minister Luc Fortin announces funding related to the Strategy on educational services for children aged 0 to 8

QUÉBEC CITY, February 20, 2018 – In order to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds participate in cultural and educational outings, the Government of Quebec is allocating $2 million over five years to childcare and subsidized daycare centres that welcome children whose parents are exempt from paying the parental contribution. The announcement was made today by Luc Fortin, Minister of Families, Minister responsible for the Estrie region and Member for Sherbrooke.

These sums will eliminate the fees that some parents are required to pay for their children to participate in cultural and educational outings organized by educational childcare services. In concrete terms, this aid represents $45 for each child whose parents are exempt from the parental contribution, for a total of $400,000 per year.

Participation in educational and cultural activities, whether visits to museums, municipal libraries or children’s theatres, introduces children to reading and the different artistic disciplines and stimulates their curiosity, helping develop their full potential. With this measure, the government is providing access to these types of activities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and offering equal opportunity to all.

Note that in January of last year, the government launched its strategy on educational services for children aged 0 to 8. This allocation is part of the strategy’s objective to promote equal opportunity for all children.

Quote:

Our government wants to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds have access to cultural and educational activities. This measure will directly benefit these children and will help them achieve their full potential, a key part of building a new Quebec. This announcement reflects our government’s commitment to promoting equal opportunity for all children.

– Luc Fortin, Minister of Families, Minister responsible for the Estrie region and Member for Sherbrooke

Key facts:

  • These amounts will be specific allocations paid to educational childcare services.  They are added to the approximately $93 million that the government invested from 2014-15 to 2016-17 to support the development of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • In its 2017-2018 budget, the government announced a $15 million increase over five years, including $3 million for this year.