Court Ruling Expands Access to Childcare in Major Equality Win

Canada has ruled that asylum seekers in Quebec must be granted access to subsidised daycare, strengthening equal rights and supporting integration into society.

“It’s a victory around the right to non-discrimination, to not being excluded for being a woman or for being a refugee claimant from this access to services,” said Marisa Berry Méndez, campaigner at Amnesty International Canada.

The decision found previous rules disproportionately affected women refugee claimants, limiting their ability to work, study and integrate while awaiting status decisions that can take years. By granting equal access to childcare, the ruling removes a key barrier to employment and social participation. The case was brought by a mother from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who was denied daycare despite holding a work permit, and it sets a broader precedent for inclusive public services that support economic independence and reduce social isolation.