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Use of ministry-imposed supervisor for Huron-Perth Children’s Aid, warning to child welfare agencies that refuse to make cuts
The
scenario playing out with the provincially-appointed supervisor in Huron-Perth
is a messagea warningto the rest of the CASs across the province from the
minister: make cuts, bring down your deficit’ or you too will get a supervisor
imposed, says Lucille Charron, the president of the Canadian Union of Public
Employees (CUPE) 1427.
Recently,
the Huron-Perth board and director came out publicly saying they refused to cut
programs and services to deal with the agency’s nearly $2.1 million deficit
because of the detrimental impact on services. They also announced the agency
would close mid-December.
When
ministry supervisors have been imposed in other sectors like education, they
were put in place by the minister to find and carry out cost-cutting to deal
with deficits.
There
is widespread concern among the CAS members CUPE represents province-wide that
the Liberal government is backtracking on funding programs and services that
support their own 2006 changes to child welfare legislation. The legislation, intended
to achieve better outcomes for children and families, including keeping kids
out of care and with their families in their communities, is working and has
widespread support in the sector.
Child
welfare agencies across Ontario are reeling with deficits resulting from years
of flawed provincial funding that has not been adequate to support the 2006 legislative
changes. As a result, 37 CASs are in deficit. Eleven agencies are taking the
province to court through a judicial review of their funding levels to ensure that the ministry’s funding
decisions are compliant with the law. So, this process is cost-drivenwhen it
should be driven by what is in the best interest of the child and, whenever
possible, keeping them with their families. And, this is an enormous concern
for our members who are committed to doing the best they can to protect
children and keep them safe, says Charron.
MCYS
minister Laurel Broten has stated publicly that she will not allow kids to be
put at risk.
We
intend to hold the minister and our local MPPs accountable for that statement.
The Minister says she stepped in last week to appoint a supervisor to deal with
the agency’s financial challenges’. But there is great anxiety about what this
will mean for maintaining the services that families in Huron-Perth rely on. We
are very concerned about the impacts cuts will have on services and ensuring
children and their families are adequately supported, says Charron.
For more information please contact:
Lucille Charron, President, CUPE 1427 (519) 276-1286
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications (416) 559-9300
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