The children of asylum seekers should have access to the network of early childhood centers (CPE) in order to promote the integration of their families, says former Prime Minister Pauline Marois, who also pleads for their number to respect the demographic weight of Quebec.
The Quebec government adopted a regulation in 2018 depriving asylum seekers of subsidized childcare services. The decision has since been challenged in court and Quebec lost its appeal in the Court of Appeal.
The Legault government announced this winter that it was taking the case to the Supreme Court.
Rather than wanting to restrict access to this service, the government should concentrate its efforts on reducing the number of asylum seekers it welcomes on its territory. Since Quebec “is right to lead this battle,” she said in an interview with La Presse Canadienne.
“Not because we are not generous, but because at a given moment there is no more space to do it,” continued Ms. Marois.
“If we have a reasonable number that is in line with our demographic weight, we should offer the service to everyone who lives here. Because if we want them to integrate, to participate in Quebec society, we must offer them services,” said the woman who established the CPEs in 1997 when she was Minister of Education and of the family.
The court ruled that the government’s regulation discriminates against women and contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
For his part, the government lawyer had argued in particular that the objective of the legislator is to “give financial assistance to people who have a sufficient link with Quebec”.
He added that the State cannot take for granted that a person who requests asylum will stay in Quebec.
