On June 17, 2026, Quebec's Ministry of the Family announced a new allocation rule for subsidized child‑care centres (CPE). The ministry said that families who have been established in Quebec will receive priority for the limited subsidized daycare slots, while any places that remain after this allocation will be offered to children of asylum seekers.
The policy creates two distinct categories for the distribution of subsidized spots. The first category includes families that have lived in the province for an extended period, defined by the ministry as long‑term residents. These families will be placed at the top of the waiting list for CPE places that are financially supported by the government. The second category comprises children of individuals who have recently sought asylum in Quebec. According to the announcement, these children will be considered only after the priority group has been fully accommodated, receiving any leftover openings.
The Ministry of the Family indicated that the change is intended to ensure that subsidized daycare resources are first directed toward households that are already part of the province's social fabric. By reserving the initial slots for long‑term residents, the government aims to allocate the assistance in a manner that reflects the existing demographic composition of Quebec families.
The decision was presented without reference to specific numbers of slots or timelines for implementation. It forms part of the province's ongoing management of its publicly funded child‑care system, which relies on CPE centres to provide early education and care. The ministry's statement emphasized the procedural nature of the new rules and their focus on prioritizing established residents while still providing access for children of asylum seekers through the remaining capacity.