Quebec minister denies placing herself in conflict of interest over daycare spot

Quebec's Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, at her office in Saguenay, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

The Opposition wants the Ethics Commissioner to open a conflict of interest investigation into Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, concerning a daycare centre run by her daughters.

However, the minister has said that she took all the necessary precautions, while one of her daughters, Raphaëlle Laforest-Allard, has denied having acted illegally.

Radio-Canada reported on Wednesday morning that Laforest, in her capacity as MNA for Chicoutimi, had to deal last March with the case of parents who were complaining about the illegal practice of paying in advance for a spot in a daycare centre run by her daughters in Saguenay.

Questioned by PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon during Question Period, Premier François Legault refused to comment on the matter, instead giving the floor to his House Leader, Simon Jolin-Barrette, who confirmed that a complaint had been lodged with the Office de protection du consommateur.

PQ MNA Joël Arseneau tabled a motion pointing out that payments could not be collected in educational daycare centres before the service was provided and that “this practice nevertheless continues with the full knowledge of members of the government,” but the CAQ members refused to debate it.

“The allegations are serious,” wrote Liberal MNA Monsef Derraji in his letter to commissioner Ariane Mignolet on Wednesday morning.

“There is talk of a violation of the Consumer Protection Act and of incitement to make a false declaration in order to obtain a tax credit when their child did not yet have a place in this childcare service. A reasonably informed citizen could be led to believe that the minister acted, attempted to act or failed to act in a way that favoured the personal interests of members of her family.”

Québec solidaire (QS) also indicated that it would contact the Commissioner. The Parti Québécois also expressed concerns, but said it would wait to learn more before passing judgment.

Laforest’s daughters allegedly invited the parents to pay for a daily place at the daycare even before the child occupied the place, for a sum that would have amounted to $6,300 from September to February, and which would qualify for a government tax credit.

When the parents contacted Laforest, who is the MNA for their riding, to report the situation, she apparently tried to defend the reputation of her daughters’ daycare centre, according to a recording of the call obtained by Radio-Canada.

At a press scrum on Wednesday morning, the minister said that she had reiterated several times to the citizen that she was in a conflict of interest and could not get involved in the matter, which she said had been transferred to an employee of her constituency.

“It’s not a mistake. I told her 15 times: ‘Sorry, I can’t take your request, I will pursue your request with the councillor or a councillor at my riding office,’” she said.

Having owned the nursery herself until 2019, she assured that she did not engage in such a practice but defended her daughters by saying that they too did not engage in this scheme.

“It was never done in my day and it’s not done today either,” she said.

In an interview with Cogeco on Wednesday morning, Laforest-Allard maintained that it was the parents who wanted to pay for a place in advance and that there had been a misunderstanding with her sister Andréanne.

The Minister for Family Affairs, Suzanne Roy, confirmed that asking parents to pay for a “ghost place” is illegal and indicated that parents could lodge a complaint.

“There are penalties, there are fines, and in some cases, if there is a repeat offence, you can lose your licence,” she said.

She then referred the questions to her colleague, Laforest.

“She will answer you if you have any questions for her,” concluded Roy. “Members of the government must set an example. Setting an example is one of the values of ministers.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 21, 2025.

By Patrice Bergeron and Vicky Fragasso-Marquis, The Canadian Press