Unable to pay rent, Guy-Favreau daycare risks closing its doors

The daycare centre in the federal government’s main building in Montreal, Complexe Guy-Favreau, is facing closure after its rent increased from $0 to $190,000 per year.

After 2018, the Centre de la petite enfance will no longer be able to pay the rent to the owner of the building – the federal government – even if 70 per cent of the children in its care have at least one parent who is a federal bureaucrat, explained Stéphanie Harvey, the parent administrator of the CPE in Guy-Favreau.

The daycare received funding from Employment and Social Development Canada until 2016, as per the policy on workplace daycare centres. But securing funding has since become a challenge.

After several months, Harvey explained, the daycare managed to obtain $108,000 from the Quebec government, but it is still missing $82,000 to pay its rent.

Right now it’s paying the rent out of its financial reserves.

The CPE has written to or met with several federal MPs and ministers, to finally obtain $50,000 for 2017 and as much for 2018.

“We wrote an incalculable number of letters, both the parents and the board of directors,” Harvey said.

But it is still short of what’s needed and the future of the CPE after 2018 is uncertain.

“The issue is that according to the policy, a ministry must accept to subsidize us. But we can’t find a ministry that will stick its neck out right now,” she lamented.

The CPE currently looks after 66 children.

“It’s difficult to keep the parents with us, in this context. People are afraid the day care will close, so it’s harder and there’s more turnover,” Harvey explained.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada, the large union that represents federal bureaucrats, is supporting the CPE’s efforts. Its members in Quebec are affiliated with the FTQ.

MINISTRY WORKING ON IT

Staff at the office of Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough is said to be working on finding a medium-term solution to the CPE’s problem.

“In November, Public Services and Procurement Canada informed the executive director of

The issue is that according to the policy, a ministry must accept to subsidize us. But we can’t find a ministry that will stick its neck out right now.

the CPE du Complexe Guy-Favreau that they have been granted financial support over two years,” said the minister’s spokesperson, Christine Michaud.

“This financial aid is conditional on signing a lease that covers two years, from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. We will continue to work with the union and the other ministries involved to find a positive outcome for all those involved.”

She reiterated the Trudeau government’s will to help middle-class families.

“Our government reaffirms its commitment toward Canadian families, aiming to create an environment that offers a better worklife balance.”