Despite the serious need for daycare places, the project to build a subsidized 100-space facility on Boulevard Olympique in Pincourt will not be allowed to proceed.

At the end of a referendum vote held on November 6, 96 citizens voted against the project, versus 19 who voted in favour. The participation rate in the democratic exercise was 49.36%.

Located on Boulevard Olympique, across from the municipal pool, near Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Elementary School and in a residential area, the project proposed by Ms. Amal Diabi allowed for the creation of 100 subsidized spaces, including 20 for babies.

Since the land is located in a residential zone, a zoning change would be necessary and therefore the project had to go through the PPCMOI (Projet particulier de construction de modification ou d'occupation d'un immeuble) process.

"I did everything by the book to make sure everything was in compliance. I just don't understand why there are people who are opposed to the project," confided Ms. Diabi, who also owns a daycare in Pointe-Claire, to Néomédia last October.

For its part, the Town of Pincourt explains that it cannot interfere in the file since it is a private project. However, Charlotte Gagné, Town Clerk and Lawyer, wishes to reassure the population. "The Town of Pincourt will always ensure the well-being of its citizens and will remain on the lookout for any daycare project that presents an interesting level of social acceptability."

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A need for 320 spaces by 2024

As in most regions of Quebec, Vaudreuil-Soulanges does not escape the critical need for daycare places. It is no longer a secret that the region has been experiencing a demographic boom for the past few years and everything suggests that this boom is not about to slow down.

According to data obtained by the ministère de la Famille as of December 31, 2021, 869 children in Vaudreuil-Soulanges were waiting for a place in an educational childcare service.

"It is important to note that among these children on waiting list, 301 were less than 9 months old and therefore less likely to want to attend a place in the short term. This would bring the need for spaces to 568. However, if we take into account the number of available spaces, the number of spaces in development and the change in population, the department estimated a projected shortfall of 320 spaces in 2024," says Bryan St-Louis of the Department of Families.

Looking at the data by riding

Vaudreuil

Number of children waiting for a space on December 31, 2021: 442 spaces
Number of children under 9 months of age: 141 spaces
Number of children likely to need a space in the short term: 301 spaces
Estimated shortfall in 2024: 216 spaces

Soulanges

Number of children waiting for a space as of December 31, 2021: 427 spaces
Number of children under 9 months of age: 160 spaces
Number of children likely to need a space in the short term: 267 spaces
Estimated shortfall in 2024: 104 spaces