November 18, 2010
TORONTO– Workers at Ontario children’s aid societies and
children’s mental health agencies will mark National
Child Day on Friday Nov. 19, by wearing a “Blue Ribbon” to sound the
alarm over the crisis in government underfunding.
One year after front line
workers and employer groups joined together to warn
the public that children would be endangered if the province did not act
soon, there is little evidence to show that the McGuinty government is
treating the problem with the seriousness it deserves.
Regrettably, McGuinty is choosing to transfer funds that
should be going to children’s services to corporations in the form of
tax cuts, say Blue Ribbon day organizers.
“Instead of protecting our
social safety net and helping to reduce child inequality, this
government is handing over $2.4 billion to banks and corporations in tax
cuts. The Liberals do not have public support to do this,” said
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario
Public Service Employees Union.
“Families are losing
community-based children’s mental health services in Sarnia, Kingston,
Niagara, Sudbury, Oshawa and Algoma. CAS workers can’t get the job done
when agencies face bankruptcy, lay offs, and mergers.
This is an all out attack on the most vulnerable and it’s wrong,”
said Fred Hahn, president of the Ontario Division of the Canadian Union
of Public Employee.
This year, 22 children’s aid societies in Ontario are
facing difficulties meeting the legal requirements of their service
delivery and have asked the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to
review the funding formula in each of these agencies.
OPSEU and
CUPE represent 11,000 workers at children’s aid societies and children’s
mental health agencies across the province.
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