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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-04-12, Page 5Opinion The Huron Expositor • April 12, 2006 Page 5 Liberals failing p / or by deduct child benefit from To the Editor, I am writing to address the issue of the National Child Benefit Supplement. During Dalton McGuinty's elec- tion campaign he promised to end the government's practice of deducting the National Child Benefit Supplement, (NCBS), to families in receipt of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program benefits. This practice was implemented during the time that Mike Harris was in power and it continues today. In light of the recent budget, we are concerned about the Liberal party's broken election promise to end the clawback of this supple- ment for Ontario's poorest families. The rationale for taking money away from children on social assis- tance and using it for programs for the working poor, is to encourage parents to work. This ignores the real reasons parents are on assistance in the first place: barriers such as dealing with domestic abuse, lack of afford- able childcare, insufficient training or education and the inability to find employment, other than unstable part time or temporary jobs. In particular, it ignores how many of the parents, whether they are on Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, cannot work because of ill health or disability. This results in the poorest chil- dren in Ontario being punished because their parents are disabled or face other barriers. Many pro- grams, like the Early Years pro- grams, implemented to accommo- date poor families are not realistic for many of them living in our rural area because they cannot afford the transportation to access them. The Liberal party announced $3 billion more in revenues than expected at the last budget. This tells us that the government should be able to afford to end the clawback and keep its promise. continuing to famili famili nee.dy e It would have taken only seven per cent of Ontario's $3 -billion sur- plus for Premier McGuinty to keep his promise to poor families that he would end the clawback of the NCBS. $220 -million - that is how much the Ontario government takes away from parents and chil- dren on social assistance every year. That translates into $1400 a year per child for parents who are struggling to pay the rent and feed their children on as little as $987 a month. $1400 each year can make the difference between using food banks and having the money for nutritious food; between having to sit out school and sports activities and having the opportunity to par- ticipate in the school and commu- nity life. It would also be a huge step towards telling those parents and children that they are just as val- ued as the families who get to keep this anti -poverty benefit. Putting pressure on our govern- ment will result in change for the poorest children in our province. For more information on how you can become involved check out the Hands Off! campaign at' www.handsoffnow.ca. Contact your MPP today to voice your con- cern with this broken promise. Yours truly, Lynne Harris Huron Perth Community Legal Clinic and Chair - Huron County Social Justice Coalition Have an opinion? Write a letter to the editor! Huron County school board votes against abolishing the strap in 1981 APRIL 8, 1881 According to the Seaforth bylaws, cows are prohibited from running at large until May 1. Notwithstanding this, cows roam at will through the streets without molestation much to the annoy- ance of the citizens. If councillors are afraid to enforce their own bylaws they should repeal them. We understand that the fire and water committee have purchased a new hose cart. It was purchased at Buffalo. Its cost laid down here will be about $260. It is said to be a splendid article and very cheap at the price. Mr. Whitmarsh of Seaforth has been awarded the contract for the erection of the new cheese factory at Walton. The contract price is $1,300. APRIL 13, 1906 John Elder of Hay Township, near Hensall recently sold to Thomas J. Amy of Stephen, a very fine Shorthorn bull for which he received a big price, well up in the three figures, but the animal was an extra good one, and worth the money. Gilbert Dick, Kippen's village drover has been busy during the past week shipping cattle and hogs. He has paid out this week for livestock over $1000. Robt. McIntosh of Seaforth has installed in his blacksmith shop a . machine known as the cold tire set- tler. It is an ingenious device of American invention which sets the tires on wagon and buggy wheels without removing them from the wheel and without heating them. APRIL 10, 1931 Orville Twitchell is this week putting on another gas pump for his garage on Mainor Kings St., Hensall. Clifford Broadfoot of Brucefield has sold his garage to H. Dalrymple and J. Cornish. Davis Moore of Toronto, is spend- ing the Easter vacation with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Moore of Tuckersmith. APRIL 6, 1956 Seaforth Junior Farmers, with 479 points and Seaforth Junior Institute, with 571 points led Huron County in a contest to determine the most efficiently operated clubs in the Huron Junior Farmers Association. Announcement was made this week of the sale of Thompson's Book Store to Elmer Larone of Seaforth. Mrs. Reta Smith, 27, of R.R. 1, Dublin and Bobby Smith, Zurich, narrowly escaped drowning late Monday afternoon when the truck in which they were riding plunged off a bridge into the Tiffey river. The accident occurred about one . mile south of Dublin. The pair were hauled from the icy waters after being trapped in their truck cab by the water pressure. A surprise and farewell party was given to Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Slavin on Tuesday evening by neighbours and friends of S.S. No. 10, Tuckersmith, before their departure to their new home in Seaforth. APRIL 9, 1981 If Huron County School Board trustees get their way, the strap will remain in the school system. At its regular monthly meeting Monday, the board endorsed a motion stating its opposition to the general abolition of corporal pun- ishment in schools. Every other province in Canada has better agricultural programs for young farmers than Ontario - that was the message delivered by Rob Coleman, of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture's young farmers' committee. "How much are you paid?" "What is a bylaw?" were some of the ques- tions peppered at members of McKillop Zbwnship council Monday afternoon when teacher David Kemp and his Grade seven pupils from Seaforth Public School sat in on the council meeting. Tuesday night council increased most of its building permit fees, doubling a couple of them, and reducing four.