The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-04-24, Page 4Page 4—Ludmow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 24, 1985 Bruce welfare statistics show steady increase By Randy Threndyle It's beginning to sound . like a broken record whenever Bruce County Council discusses welfare statistics. The message is always the same; the number of people on welfare in the county is rising, and the trend ,shows no signs of decreasing. Last year the county once again broke all previous records for welfare assistance. Over 5100 people in the county collected general welfare assistance in the county in 1984. That figure is more than double the number of people who collected welfare as recently as 1980. Including day care, special assistance programs and home making programs, over 6600 people used MIKE SNQB•ELE N YOUR PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN HURON -BRUCE} A chance to be heard A vote for Mike Snobelen, P.C. in Huron - Bruce, is a vote for a DIRECT VOICE to the P.C. Government. A /direct •voice for agriculture - Mike is a farmer - He knows the problems. The concerns of our farmers will be heard. A DIRECT voice for the Bruce Energy Centre. As your representative in a P.C. Govern- ment, Mike will work DIRECTLY with government to realize the potential and jobs so long talked about. "FOR A POSITIVE VOICE FOR HURON -BRUCE" ELECT MIKE SNOBELEN Gary Courtney Official Agent 1 the programs of the Social Services Department. The most alarming trend among the. facts and figures presented by Dick Verrips, the director of social services for Bruce County Council at their April meeting is that applicants are now staying on welfare for longer periods of time. Along with the increase in people on welfare is the inevitable increase in cost to the taxpayer. In 1984, over $1.7 million was spent on welfare and other related social services.' The province picked up $1.4 million, leaving the county to pay $355,000. The department ended the year with a $20,000 budget deficit. Since 1982, the cost of social services in the county has increased by over $600,000. The county's share of that cost has increased by over /$140,000 in the same period of time. In spite of the trend, the county is still better off than many regions in Ontario. Of the 54 regions and counties in' Ontario, Bruce County is the fifteenth lowest in terms of the percentage of population receiving welfare. That figure also, repre- sents a slide for the county as only a few years ago Bruce had the second lowest percentage of people on welfare. Verrips doesn't expect things will get. any' better this year or next. Already the 1985 figures shows a 23 per cent increase over the first three months of 1984. Verrips saysthat trend won't likely continue throughout the entire year, as the winter months are traditionally the months with the highest unemployment figures. In the summer months, many of the people on welfare who are able to work, can . find seasonal or temporary employment.. Verrips admits the 1985 figures are higher than predicted but points out that the budget was based on an entire year, not just the first three months. The county has spent $649,000 in the first three months of 1985, compared with $546,000 last year. Looking further ahead to 1986 the county also .facesa potential increase in day care costs due to the elimination of provincial subsidies for day care. Beginning in January of 1986, the province has ordered all municipalities to charge parents the actual cost of day care. In Walkerton, parents are currently charged $9.75 per day for day care service.. Verrips says the actual cost is $21 per day. So far, no decision has been made as to who will pick up the extra costs involved in Providing day care. Verrips warns munic- ipalities could face a "dilemma" if they are forced to charge parents actual coasts for day care. "Many parents, will not be able to afford, or be willing to pay the actual day care fees if they appear to be excessive. If enrollment declinesday care centres are in jeopardy of closing." Verrips says the issue facing the county is whether they will pick up the tab for parents who are unable to afford the actual costs of day care. Total day care costs in the county amounted to over $152,000 last 'year. Of that amount the province paid $132,000, leaving the county with a $20,000 share. / Concern expressed over wingconstruction By Henry Hess The warm weather late last week may have come just in time to help allay concerns over problems with construction of the new wing at the W Ingham and District Hospital, according to a report heard by the hospital board last" week. Reporting for the property committee, board member Hans Kuyvenhoven warned of potential problems arising out of the refusal of the contractor, Refflinghaus Construction of Goderich, to supply heat to the project. Without heat, the moisture inside the building leads to condensation in cold weather, he explained; which can lead to problems with such things as the drywall and medical gas lines which have already been installed. He told the board that some problems might not show up until well after the project has been completed and the builder paid off, adding that'the committee plans to get an independent appraisal of the potential trouble spots and file the report with the contractor's bonding company. However Mr. Kuyvenhoven later added that if the weather warmed up the prob- lems likely would disappear. Club holds first meeting , An initial meeting for a loCal naturalists' club was held on Friday evening, April 12 at the Pine River. United Church. About 30 enthusiastic people attended. Two films were shown, one about Spring, the other a revealing and colourful film on the Great Blue Heron. In addition to the film, the group planned it's first outing to a local heron nesting site near Dungannon last Saturday afternoon., Several of the large, stately birds were observed carrying nesting material to improve the large nests Located high in the trees. The nesting sites are used year after year. . • Club activities will include bird watch- ing, identification of local fauna, hiking, star gazing and much more. The direction this newly formed club takes is dependent on the interests of its members. Meetings will include films, knowledgable speakers and provide members with the opportunity of sharing their love and knowledge of nature. Persons interested in participating should contact Joe Burgess of Point Clark by calling 395-5701. A club newsletter will inform members of upcoming meetings and outings. A $5.00 donation per family is being requested to help defray the cost of the mailings. w atter Wong expressed concern about the warning, urging the committee to do all within . its power to make sure the building is erected to the best possible standard and that the hospital is covered in • the event that problems do crop up in, the future. Noting that the architect had expressed concern about the way things were being done, he commented that, "If he's not happy, we should be triply unhappy." If problems should crop up with some- thing like the medical gas lines, it would"be a "very formidable expense" to set them straight, he noted. Board member Mary Iou Thompson asked Mr. Kuyvenhoven, himself a build- er, how he feels about what had been done, expressing confidence -in his judgement. Mr. Kuyvenhoven said that when the architect made known his concerns, "we asked him what we can do. We can't close the job down," he pointed out. However he said that the delays which have stretched the project well beyond its original completion date will probably help to minimize any damage. "If we have a few more warm days the problem will disappear. " "I don't think we have to worry too much about it anymore because the job has been delayed so much," he added. He also noted that the hospital has been able to pick up an additional $46,000 in interest earned as a result of the construc- tion delays. • Features over 100 of Canada's best " Hot Rods • Custom Street Machines ` Trucks * Vans * Corvettes • Race Cars " Show Cars from Mild to Wild " 810,000 in cash prizes and awards given away • Giant Tool, Custom and Antique Car Part Auction and Flea Market Sunday, April 28. 1985 Auction starts 12:00 noon • Molson Awards - Bavarian Garden " Miss Car Show World Friday and Saturday Show info call (519) 343-2099 P.O. Box 312, Drayton, Ont. NOG 1 PO CUSTOM CAR AND HOT ROD SHOW April 26, 27, 28, 1985. Arthur Arena Complex and Curling Club Centre Fri. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. i:4:i.'•:::5,:..("r,,M.S'!yy..'iti:>'dl.iv:.�...:: ..,` • PETE ZIFCU'S 1984 MOLSON GRAND CHAMPION STREET MACHINE IS BACK AND COMPETING FOR THIS YEAR'S TITLE