HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-02-23, Page 24board meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 14.
He explained Stage 1 funding is
guaranteed until March, 2007, and is
being put mainly towards creating
new licensed daycare spaces,
particularly to serve students who
attend junior and senior kindergarten
part-time (either successive half-
days or alternating full days).
He said the Huron-Perth Catholic
District School Board, which is also
involved with Best Start, has more
spaces available in its elementary
schools than the Avon Maitland
board, for such programming.
However, within the Avon Maitland
board, the Best Start committee has
chosen to make renovations at St.
Marys Central Public School, Avon
Public School in Stratford, Mitchell
Public School, and Victoria Public
School in Goderich.
Work is expected to begin in St.
Marys next month, converting an
existing empty kindergarten room
and constructing an additional
washroom. Work at the other three
sites will take place over the
summer.
Also in th.7. Avon Maitland board,
there are existing licensed daycare
centres immediately adjacent to
Exeter Public School and Seaforth
Public School, so Best Start money
will be used there instead of inside
the schools.
Although arrangements with the
existing daycare providers in those
six communities have not • yet been
finalized, Williams said
programming is expected to begin in
September, 2006.
He was much less optimistic,
however, about Stage 2 of Best Start.
This would have seen childcare
"hubs" established in various
communities, with contributions
from a diversity of service providers
ranging from school boards to
medical clinics to health units and
community groups.
"The mood among the people who
would like to see. Stage 2 go ahead
would have to be described as
glum," he said, referring to the
Conservative Party's campaign
pledge to replace the national
daycare funding. "I'm not sure we'll
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
Federal government money has
already flowed through Ontario's
provincial government and on to
municipalities, aimed at
implementing a national daycare
program which was introduced by
the former Liberal government but is
now very much in danger of being
eliminated by the recently-elected
Conservatives.
Asa result of the new
government's threats to replace the
program, what was once a plan to
establish childcare "hubs" in various
communities is in jeopardy. Money
for what's known as Stage 1,
however, is intact, so administrators
of Huron and Perth Counties' Best
Start initiative are forging ahead
with plans for school-based
childcare.
Geoff Williams, director of
education for the Avon Maitland
District School Board, serves on the
Best Start committee and provided
trustees with an update at a regular
• • • Man fined for improper disposal
Warm up
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PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2006.
Board fearsprogram may be in jeopardy
A Brussels man has been fined
$1,000 for failing to properly
dispose of dead animals. The charge
arose from an investigation by the
Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources (MNR).
On Feb. 2, Jason A. Terpstra pled
guilty in the Ontario court of justice
in Goderich, to two counts under the
Dead Animal Disposal Act.
The court heard that an
investigation was conducted by
MNR investigators into allegations
that Terpstra failed to dispose of
dead pigs in accordance with the
Act. The investigation revealed that
up to six dead pigs of various sizes
and in various stages of
decomposition were stored in a pile
at his farm. The offences occurred
on Sept. 27 and Oct. 3, 2005.
Justice of the peace Charles
Campbell sentenced Terpstra to a
fine of $1,000 plus victim fine
surcharge.
The Dead Animal Disposal Act
see much activity after March,
2007."
South Huron trustee Randy
Wagler wondered if the renovations
in St. Marys — even though the cost
is being covered through Best Start
— might mean the board is being
pushed into creating space which,
within a couple. of years, will
become unnecessary. But Williams
responded the renovations aren't that
significant, and the space could still
be used for instruction if the daycare
doesn't proceed.
Pressed on the issue after the
meeting, Williams expressed
confidence the town's municipally-
run daycare will make use of the new
space. And he said, "there will
always be a demand from parents for
quality, licensed daycare," even if it
isn't subsidized by a federal funding
initiative.
Trustees supported a resolution,
brought forward by Stratford
representative Doug Pratley, to send
a letter to the federal government
urging it to reconsider its plan to
eliminate national daycare
funding.
sets out requirements for the
environmentally safe and timely
disposal of all livestock mortalities
by livestock- producers. The Act is
administered by the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) with
investigative and prosecution
services provided by MNR.
Anyone with - information
regarding violations of provincial
food and inspection legislation is
asked to contact OMAFRA
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