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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1983-11-09, Page 6THE Hu*4N EXPOSITOR, 4NOYEM +r, S r TlENRYHES '8sCu 'i alities e m. small n i antim • acar � in .P eros carp:, close unless the •;across Ontarta will 5 "• 'arovincial government "changes its mind bout requiring them to raise their fees to •'coyer:'actual operating costs. And, 'if they close, the social-- and economic costs to families, children and society,as a whole will be very high. Those twin messages were delivered r'ou ny and clearly recently by a large group pf parents and day care workers to provincial atvmeetingat Wingham. But, as lthough th representatives promised to relay the colic ns to official's higher up in the Mini/try of Community and Social Services, ,there were no assurances it would,make any difference. The ministry's chief spokesman at the ineeting, Ellen Mills, appointed in January as day care coordinator, said she thinks it unlikely the ministry will change the policy ' requiring those deemed able to afford it to pay the, full cost of day care for their children, since such a change would have implications for other social welfare' pro- grams; Though the policy apparently has been in iplace for some time, the ministry has announced it will start enforcing it in 1986, and Ms, Mills said that to date only three or four centres are "complaining loudly.'. However at the close of the meeting she appeared to leave open the possibility that the government might be persuaded. to find a way to accommodate smaller" Centres, saying she is'sure it does•,nut intend to see them closed.' ' It is a -myth, that Ontario has ii policy of supporting public day care, for everyone, although it does license -and oversee public-. day Care dentres'and'subsidizes the cost of day care for needy families, she said. NOTSUPPORTiVE "You do not have a government that supports day care as a program," she said, claiming that while such a statement might be unpopular at that meeting it reflects -the lack of consensus both at Queen's Park and m society generally that day care is a good thing for all children. However she had difficulty answering questions about why the government had been so willing -- some said eager -• to provide funding to build new day care centres during the past dozen years, or how it has been possible for many centres to provide subsidized day care in apparent vtolatign of ministry rules. Among the nearly 100 people, mostly young mothers with a sprinkling of day care workers and municipal representatives, who crowded into the Wingham Day Care Centre for the meeting, there appeared to be no doubts that day care is a good thing. People had shown up prepared to argue their case and demand answers, and in some cases their frustration showed as they were forced to settle for a sympathetic hearing from Ms. Mills and Mark Roberts, a, day care program coordinator from the ministry's London regional office. both of whom said they personally support day care but are poweriesSto change policy,., 4, i What really bothers. Tuckersmith, reeve Bob Bell says, is that the province had plenty of funds available for setting up and operating day care centres when- theirs started at Vanastra eight years ago. Now it says day care is no longer a priority, :'slipping the rug out from under us. Unlike the Wingham centre, Tuck so its ith doesn't have a new building to pay , break even costs are quite a bit lower. The fee per child is 58.50 a day now; $13 a day would cover costs this year, By 1986 though the figure will be higher. children About two-thirds of the 60 enrolled at the Tuckersmith centre come from .Tuckersmith, says director, Karen . McEwing. The rest are from as far away as ullett, McKillop, West Wawanosh and Bayfield. n April the rules were tightened on subsidies for individual children and that, coupled with the fee increase, could mean many middle-class parents can't afford day care for their children. Ms McEwing says. Tuckersmith has presented its position to the province and done "pretty well all we can do," reeve Bell says, Some parents have written protests to the ministry, the director says. The township plans to gradually, increase fees to .a break even position. "I'm not saying we'll have to close," if the province's plan goes ahead, says Reeve Bell. "That depends on the parents. 1• know they're happy with our educational program, but if they have to drop out on account of fees...'•: COME IN -TO DIXIE LEE AND ENTER PEPSI'S $ eep akes IT'S FUN ..: IT'S EASY .. , and its only at Dixie Lee. Come into Dixie Lee and discover how really good chicken and seafood can really be. Just ask cashier for your entry ballot to become eligible to winna Toshiba Stereo Cassette Player or grand prize of a 5" Toshiba Portable Colour T.V. Receive an additional ballot with your gepsi Purchase. Enter as often as you' wish but enter often. Rernember it's only at participating Dixie Lee's .. . r.. PEPSI NNW TOSHIBA COUOLD WM A TOSHIBA PORTABLE STEREOO CASSETTE PLA ORA' COLOUR VORTAB V- Full ,hails avail o es a1 po,ucroarrn9 s x , . ENTER TODAY! TM '^An altCanadt•;. 'company with over 100 Franchised locations from coast to coast. SEAFORTH 65 Goderich St. E. 527-0220 Congratulations to MARY KNIGHT, of Embro, Ontario, for qualifying at a chance to win a Toshiba Portable Colour T.V. Representatbretsledtd several'• pprepared s temeuts d osing the chane, Including a fe statemn men from Win ham's de uty reeve,ePatricia Bailey, ,who declared the ,policy encourages families to go ori welfare, will forever'elimina+te affordable daycare for the children of middle class working parents, jeopardizes the safety of children who will be left unattended‘and is a direct - insult to Women. "The families of Ontario will fight for the rights of thdir children," she said, adding She personally is prepared to.travel across the province in the neat election.campaign- ing against 'a government policy which would harm children. ' BUSINESS WILL HUIIT They also heard other arguments, includ- ing that the policy: gill harm local business and industry by forcing skilled workers to stay home with their children and, that day care is being used as a scapegoat by a, government desperate to save'' money somewhere. Noel Bird, a Morris township hog:farmer, told the meeting the issue is not a babysitting service but the whole concept of early childhood education. , He used to be a high school teacher, but quit because he was getting students in Grade 9 ;who were "totally turned off the educational system," he said. "i get more response froth the_pigs!" • PARENTS CATV' EDOIT ALL i He asked where the myth ever• started that parents can 'provide all the early education their child needs, or that a child r on1Y :needs 04 44: texciterli frd ll lige°a*. gtandeblldhad been leftw:ith a sitterwho. onward •• • ; , '' " " was; 'locking the twoayear-old ;alone in, a.. ."11 mail; child, n'dont get; the early room.'�,ll heproblemwasdisco �eredyfter the. eductitlonti eyneed,theyhave;g50.pe Bent • hildstopped tralkingr and only since be ,g chanceofcomin into Grade9tgtally turned- ,In the-company:of other children at the day o ."-`h !cult to t rentsmf s care" ntre..hi s the child started;. to talk e p d inel `lath :$ Lila "ee f". ,. t! ,: ° . a ling + • • nccesapactrt#';to .mkrffll:,od' puecn; spark �i f g . tiecesagry r,: r ,t:, • Mon* Elfin,Liberal btPPfrom Huron - ;'You're ,going to have to fi ht for thei' ; Bruce, offered his services to convince Mr. education of yotie• ebildreltr ilii?wish you Dieato modify thefee proposal, but said he aidh ,. • Blyth .area woman. Yate eBolton. said the whpleidea of including, ay Care in the welfare system Is ridiculous -end it -should be supported throu hta;tesratherthen user fees. Sh-etaid,-she doe`s:not understand whS' parents'should pay the whole' cost when society tip: a whole benefits from day care;, and she, urged- parents to "channel your anger constructively" by writing letters to" ti e%tinnister, Frank Drea, as well as ta. proyincial and federal representatives. Though' Ms. Mills Pointed out that public day care centres are Just one form of day care and there are also private centres or babysitters, several mothers expressed reservations about private sitters. While public centres are licensed and inspected. there are no such regulations for private sitters, one mother noted, and when she spends 40 hours a week at work how is she to know what kind of care her child is getting? There are some excellent private sitters, but others are not, she said, and what is the potential cost to children left with a sitter because parents cannot afford day care? Another woman reported later that her 0 1�i1 th JOHNSON'S - ULTRA BALANCE SHAMPOO 225 ML. • MR-CULVER SPARKLER ROOM DEODORIZER '� • 9 BAYER CHILDREN'S ASPIRINS 245 504 WAMPOLE SYNTHETIC VITAMIN E 100 CAPSULES 4001-U.'S 35 • MENTHOLATUM Z 69 DEEP HEATING RUB leo ML , • IRISH SPRING DEODORANT SOAP 4 ■ARS. • t u•• G, 9 Il • SMILES N' CHUCKLES PEPPERMINT PATTIES • - • MO. 6 - 4 L'IMAGE� HAIR • ' .�79 9 C0 1, R k� : a a , sat. ,, fl- .r , 4r r,,;41 iv DISCO � �, siatrin • 172 THE SQUARE, MAIN CORNER. ,. MAIIJ t6RNER_ GODERICN • t' CLINTON , .%00s►"'"'"'"".- 1 SEAFORTH If it's from Anstett's it says, `you're special' •CITI'ZEN *CITIZEN MAKING THE MOST OF CHRISTMASTIME 455245-50 .. 'M r �l � 43-6224-80 45.3382-80 ° '_- _ 30-3101-5' owe, .. s 5275,`3 5695. 5275. 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The Watch of Watches 2YEAR GUARANTEE 8 Albort Street, Clinton 26 Main Street South, Seaforth 284 Main Street, Exeter 203 Durham Street East, Walkerton 134 Ouoen Street Easf, St. Marys ANSTETT Mf MBAR AME RI( AN Gf M SOC 16 l `r JEWELLERS e r ill lite-- �tillnil^ tut,/ \ . 4111111 1 /4%j�`� 41f' III !7 cannot believe the government is not aware of teconsequences the proposal may have for smaller:eentres. - , in'addition to the fee increase, he noted, a plan by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to, cut unconditional grants to - municipalittes "probably means the centres "Will close unless there is more help from the Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices," At the heart of the problem is an agreement between the provincial and federal governments, which currently fund, the bulk of publicday care costs, that subsidy dollars are to be used only for children of families whose parents have, passed a needs test similar to that used for welfare. When this policy is implemented in - January, 1986, it means that only those children will continue to receive day care at below cost, while fees for all other children will have to be raised to'reflect actual costs. Until now. the centres have been allowed to , claim a subsidy for 80 per cent of the costs for all children, and Ms. Mills said this will continue until 19}36, although centres are being urged to phase in fee increases gradually over the next two years. FEE MAY BE S25 Parents have been warned that when the policy is in force, the fee for day care for families which do not qualify for the subsidy will riseto between 520 . td 525 per day for each child, which few working parents will be able to afford. Ms. Mills argued the needs test is sufficiently flexible to accommodate many working parents who could not afford the full fee. but her argument did not appear to convince anyone. One mother a nurse, suggested the current fee of 08.50 per day is perhaps too low, noting she paid more than that for a teenage babysitter to come in and play with her children white she is at work. Why should taxpayers be asked to pay for looking Please turn to page 21 bo��caaQo es FRANK GARNISS Frank Garniss of Morris township, died at St. Joseph's Hospital, London on Wednes- day, Nov. 2, 1983 in his 82nd year: A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Garniss, he is survived by three sisters. • Ethel Mrs. Burns Moffatt; Lillian, Mrs. Earl Elliott and Edith Garniss all of Bluevale. Four bztthers Haley o t 5 r t riI 4 boorRRW 'ad Tom t- •' russdlk:AlsdstniiivirigdrdIebr nieces and LAYAWAY FOR CHRISTMAS See our wide selection of GEN ER -At' � -E LE C -T -R -I -G MICROWAVE OVENS PICTURED ABOVE MODEL JX2195 FEATURES: *LARGE 1.4 CUBIC FOOT CAPACITY *NEW DUAL WAVE MICROWAVE SYSTEM *ELECTRONIC COOKING CONTROLS *COOK CODE *AUTO -ROAST *DELAY START SAVE $.5 DUAL WAVE WARRANTY Full 2 year pfrts & labour warranty on templet.' unit. The magnetron has e S year purrs & labour warranty. OFF TAG PRICE on any G.E. DUAL WAVE MICROWAV EOVIEN r CPHELANS PLACE) G.E. SALES & SERVICE SEBRINGVILLE i'H. 393-6181 nephews. Funeral service was ' held :from the Currie -Walker Funeral Home. Wingham on Saturday. Robert C. Perry officiated. Inter- ment in Wingham Cemetery. ELVA WEBSTER Elva Webster, the former Elva Love. died Thursday, Nov. 3, 1983 at her residence in Varna. She was 50. Surviving are her husband Grant and. four daughters, Cheryl, Mrs. Michael Sproul of London; Linda of Waterloo and Sandra and Janice, both at home. She is also survived by, one sister Norma, Mrs. Jack McGregor of RRS, Clinton, and one brother Lorne Love of Goderich. She was predeceased by 'her parents Earl and Minerva Love. Funeral service was held from the Ball and Falconer Funeral Home, Clinton on Satur- day. Interment in Baird's Cemetery. Stanley Township. As expressions of sympathy, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. ARCHHt STEW ART Archie Ross Stewart, a native of Brussels. died in Windsor on Oct. 27. Born in Langdon, North Dakota, he was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Stewart. He came to Brussels with his parents in 1905 and attended Brussels Public and Continuation School He graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy and worked 'as a pharmacist in Toronto and Windsor:. He was predeceased by his wife. the former Mary Jane Kerr of Niagara Falls. He is survived by his son Peter, four grandchild- ren, two sisters, Mrs. Sinclair Hemingway. Toronto and Mrs, Hazel Matheson. Brussels; two brothers, Stewart Lowe, Brussels and Dr. Graham Stewart. Phoenix. Arizona. A daughter. Marjorie of Victoria B.C. prede- ceased him in April 1983• Funeral service was held on Wednesday, Nov. 2 from the Anderson Funeral Home. Windsor, interment in Victoria Memorial Park. Windsor. JOHN TAYLOR John Leslie Taylor of 38 Main Street north, Seaforth, died in Grace Hospital. Toronto on Sunday. Oct. 30. He was 73. Predeceased by his parents, Peter and Janet Taylor and one niece Janet Barger. 1982. he is survived by one brother Bill of Toronto, one niece. Diane and nephew John. both of Toronto. Funeral service was held from the R.S. Box Funeral Home, Seaforth. on Wednesday, Nov. 2. Rev T.A. Duke officiated. Interment in Burns Cemetery. Pallbearers were Harry Rapson. John Rapson. Graham Kerr. Harvey Dolmage, Paul Pratten and Ken Barger. VERNA CATHERS Verna Marie Cathers of Kitchener. died Monday, Oct. 31 in the Kitchener -Waterloo Hospital. She was 70. She was predeceased by her parents, Sylvester Osborn and Jean Campbell. Surviving is her husband Lloyd of Hanover, one daughter. Colleen, Mrs. Bruce Rich- mond, Kitchener; two sons. Murray and Elden of Whitehorse, Yukon; one sister Edith Jessome, Seaforth and brother Milton Osborn. Mitchell. Seven grandchildren also survive. Funeral service was held at the R.S. Box Funeral Home. Seaforth on Wednesday. Nov. 2. Rev. Cheryl Ann Stadlebauer-Sampa officiated. Interment in North Logan Ceme- tery. 'Pallbearers were Bob Osborn, Bernie Jegsotne, Silby Jessome, Bruce Richanond, Jack Noble and Nelson Dewing. • I