The Quebec government announced on Wednesday that its home‑support showcase projects will be expanded to nine additional regions across the province. The extension will make available up to 623,000 hours of reduced‑price home‑support services, aimed at helping residents who need assistance with daily tasks. The decision was released in a statement issued early Thursday morning, outlining the province’s commitment to broaden access to affordable care. The allocated hours will be distributed among the participating municipalities, providing a flexible framework for local agencies to deliver services.
The expansion seeks to increase the availability of affordable home‑support options for Quebecers, particularly seniors and people with disabilities who rely on external assistance. By offering services at reduced rates, the government hopes to alleviate financial pressure on households while ensuring that essential care remains within reach. The 623,000‑hour allowance represents a significant increase over the original pilot’s capacity, reflecting the administration’s focus on scaling proven models. The province anticipates that the added capacity will serve thousands of families over the next year.
Prior to this announcement, the home‑support showcase projects were limited to a small number of areas where the government tested reduced‑price service delivery. Those initial pilots provided valuable data on demand, cost‑effectiveness, and user satisfaction, informing the decision to replicate the model more broadly. Expanding to nine new regions marks the first major scaling effort, moving the program from experimental stages toward a province‑wide framework. Local service providers in the newly included areas will be invited to submit proposals outlining how they can meet the allocated hours within the reduced‑price structure.
The government has not disclosed the exact timeline for rolling out the services, but officials indicated that implementation will begin in the coming months. Stakeholders are expected to coordinate with municipal authorities to align resources and ensure that the expanded offering reaches those who need it most. The move aligns with broader provincial objectives to strengthen home‑care infrastructure and reduce pressure on institutional facilities. By extending the pilot, the province aims to gather additional evidence on how reduced‑price home support can be sustainably integrated into the public health system.