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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-06-11, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JUNE. 11, 198b This town, or at least a modest segment thereof, is currently embroiled in a con- troversy over day care and the provision of such a service on a municipal level. , ��r �i . '' ih`F"•,�51r"T`„'Fa�4. Chill.:aF��`tP.r `V"' llyiuiL'"a ..` 'kekn`. 1��1� r,,•11 q.+.F,,. a%! .G.Lc�d�"� � r spect seriously but from time to time' ave marvelled at the services people have come to expect from governments' of all levels. It's not than many years ago that the town of Goderich tentatively entered the recrea- tion game. Many people were of the opinion that recreation was a luxury or frill and that any community that had to provide for the recreational needs of its citizenry was sadly lacking. Taxpayers reasoned that pe ple were quite capable of fulfilling their creational needs on their own. "N4bixt ever told us what to do with our free time," was a com- mon theme expressed by people. It has taken time but we have come to ap- organizational and leadership capabilities. responded. tor some type of affordable care is It is a service we have come to rely on and The town of Goderich investigated the Inurrrrme°t' Some people will argue that they, through support financially. possibility several years ago but the the tax system, are not responsible for the More recently the town of Goderich em- demands of the day converted into a care of someone else's children. We've .;, and ambitious project by municipal day nursery and a new fac[laty�tk,��„e„�� �,r��;�oble causes '% .y>5^ n vwz,._.,� �' � 3 .5.j ^-: �4dn.f� , p..:�. a. k -s- .'P . :.k l e causes '�” kyr ,. . , S?+�i .p���\'r" aF;. �.,y, va S:•R:i..i. Hk�' -?-.�'.•- J `�v; ym.l``.Yek��[:S: S..1��:'�luile+-v.,, �/ ,�.;!I�JAv'?5h y,'1<�� +�s i.,��.' r,:N: t�,. .i; „Ti. "�i�`L3=�%iS!�j a ,•ti�`�<>.,sh«te �fAti'vsf �* urs . 'efarrii'g�}'S'`�,`L''nt .si i `ctiil'id•P�' Ye LAY.7`» .' '�v'�a�t,�:....3a'iw. r . i•'i r, 'a 3-�.�... _ i:•�::2� +�r , " ilYl Y S`by�C`fit"21'i ai il�S"'"'"u�;.iar.t.� ur..Qii-it i., It was argued at the time that creating the has served the purpose but now there may government wanton spending. position was financial folly and that the exist a new demand as more parents return costs would only mushroom as the years to the work force, many out of necessity, went by and the department expanded. others out of a desire to maintain a standard Risks have to be taken and such expen- ditures have to viewed in proper perspec- tive. In fact, they have to be looked on as w - vestments in the community. They are strategies for the future. DAVE SYKES preciate what community recreation departments have done for us and our children. They have provided recreational pursuits, stimulating activities and learning experiences and more than adequate Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH8& DISTRICT SINCE 8 the • Goderc* r--% r=teN I A I_CT O 1:=I 1 NIP.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS BT. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICH, ONT. N7A 4B6 BENT ' LL POUND COMMUB IIT NNEWSPAPER ewspaper rlyet.on;NB CANADA aM., 3500 45003 CCNA Gr PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 1848 end published every Wednesday at OodnNch, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Bubecrlptlone payable In advance 8212.00. [Senior Citizens 819.00 privilege card number required] in Canada, 880.00 to U.B.A., 880.00 to all other countries. Bingle coplee 80C. Display, Netlonal and :Classified advertising rates available on request. Please eek for Rote Card No. 18 affective October 1, 1802. Advertising is accepted on'thn condition that In the event of a typographical error. the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item, together with the reasonable allowance for signature, will not be cherged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for et the applicable rate. In the event of e ty ogrephlcsl error advertising goods or services et a wrong price, Eibode or servloes may not be sold. Advertising is merely en offer to sell, end may be withdrawn et y 0..ot. The BIgJais ®sed foo reproducing is nt le ;or the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos an purposes. Editor Advertising Manager General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER DAVE SYKES DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleeee phone [519)524-2614 Second class mad registration number 0716 Member: eNA PAID Most municipalities have already ad- dressed the day care issue in some fashion, having recognized the need and taken the in- itiative years ago. Their circumstances may have dictated action and they There's now way in the world I would ex- pect anyone to subsidize the care of my children. And I'm sure that families with two working parents are quite prepared to pay the price for day care. Unlike the family allowance system, the money or subsidy should be available to the people who need it most. But fair and equitable formulas just don't magically ap- pear and systems are always abused to some degree. Essentially, people have to decide what's right for their situation and circumstance and, make a decision based on sound But perhaps we have to address the research and principles. broader issue of providing affordable care But we'd be a lot better off if it's ac - for the people who most need it. With a pro- complished in a spirit of co-operation with a liferation of single -parent families, the need view to helping other people. Outside looking in A need for day care exists J Goderich town council,, through Mayor Eileen Palmer, has established a committee to look at the day care issue in Goderich. Daycare has become the salient issue of the day in town in light of the imminent closure of the K Day Care Centre at the Kinsmen Centre. Last week a front page story outlined details of a meeting between concerned parents who made use of the service, the operators and members of the Kinsmen Club who own the building. The meeting was an emotion -charged affair and in the heat of the battle, as is often the case, accusations are hurled about indiscriminately in defense of positions and personal integrity. Regardless of who may be right or who may have violated the rights of a^verbal agree- ment, the confrontation has at least brought the issue of day care to light. Before Cathy DeJong and Cindy Austin set out to establish a day care centre, it would be safe to assume that working parents made their own arrangements for the care of their children. When the day care centre was opened they embraced the opportunity to provide their children with competent daily care. With the demise of the centre looming, parents have shown there is a demonstrated need for a day care system and they have further suggested they are willing to pay for that care and service. It now raises the questions of moral and fiscal responsibility. Is the municipality responsi- ble for providing day care services and should the citizens be asked to subsidize that service through their tax dollars? Many communities offer day care in concert with the Ministry of Community and Social Services which picks up 80 per cent of the operating loss. The municipality must cover the remaining 20 per cent if there is an operating loss. Ultimately, the taxpayers, whether it's for initial capital costs in starting up such a ven- ture, or in taking of its percentage of the operating loss, will be involved if the municipality chooses to enter the day care game. But more than an expense, the cost of dye should be viewed as an investment. We are, in essence, investing in our youth by providing phoP r care and facilities to help our children develop. It's no secret that in many families both parents work to maintain a certain level of lifestyle and in that case they should be prepared to pay a healthy premium for the privilege of day care. If the public meeting can be used as a barometer, parents are prepared to pay. t k ends However, single -parent families andfamilies where By Paul Hartman ennifer is paying the penalty of unfair criticism asking for help ambitious. Dear Editor, During her five months back in Goderich, I would like. to express my feelings in LETTERS she has worked hard and persistently. She response to the letters concerning Jennifer - has had no social life for several years Go Jennifernbecause this was an added expense. She has does live in a real world. One that all the things young people think often has included not enough of anything our government will not act to change the sacrificede important. but love. The real world is one where you situation. It has been a difficult time. She has ex are often ostracized if you haven't the right Jennifer is not alone in this cause. She has perienced the death of two grandfathers and name or position or money. Fortunately, been encouraged to go to the public and pay the serious illness of her gga ndfather. and Jennifer is not handicapped or disabled the price unfair criticism. Nothing win he is not out of the ordinary. ht belief in her 1 am proud of lily dauforgldoes have abilities. Asking help penalties. Honest trust in God and the goodness of people around her is her greatest asset. She will ,repay it over and over in her lifetime. Perhaps if more young people dared to dream and believe in their fellow human be- ings there would be less suicide and more caring and sharing. - There was a world once where people tried to help one another. I am sure that Jen- nifer and many of our future generation will be part of that kind, of Maur en orld again. wanlock ,ess re ..siring to pay that just honest. change iiilivao more e. b This is not a land of equal opportunity. penalty. Those of us that live at the opposite end of p She is no more deserving than thousands' the wage scale realize that. of other students in the same cir- Unfortunately a newspaper article can't cunrstances. I think it is time the rest of the contain all the information because of world woke up. A great many young Cana - space. Included should have been the fact dians go without education no matter how that Jennifer had obtained a student loan hard either they or their families struggle. and paid it back in full for her time at York And, a great many members of our society University. There was also nothing else sit in University wasting their time because available for her at this time. RADA cannot someone can pay for it. wait. Her chance is now. It saddens me as a Christian that so many Those of us who are have-nots are also sour grapes are forthcoming. Jennifer is a aware that there is not enough help very caring, giving and hard-working girl. available through loans. Unless others are Her many friends and aquaintances can at - contacted like Brian, Joe, John or Pierre, test to that. She is neither selfish nor Day- care is imperative for single arents especially, says reader f 1' both parents must work to e meet are prevalent in today's society, and while they work out of necessity, the cost of child care is invariably out of their reach. We should be prepared to help those people who must Yi work to support families. If means testing must be employed to arrive at a fair equitable pay formula for child care, then the municipality will have to give great consideration to that method. Ostensibly, neither party can be blamed for their part in the controversy, rather they were victims of circumstances and perhaps, misunderstandings.The Kinsmen are not responsible to 'provide day care facilities and they shouldn't have to subsidize the service. Austin and DeJong tried to provide a recognized service but found the business wasn't quite viable. Both deserve some measure of credit for what they have already done and attempted to do. As a business, it hadn't yet reached the plateau either party had hoped for. - But that doesn't mean there isn't a need for the service. Far from it. D.S. Dear Editor, I wish to address you on the matter of the eviction of the K Day Care Centre from the Kinsmen Centre and the social conse- quences that it brings upon working parents and single working pgrant. As a single working parent in this com- munity, without Day Care for my child, I would not be able to work and support myself and child, but would become another burden on the already overloaded assistance system, eg. Mothers Allowance, Welfare etc. Because of shift work, the cost of nursery school and its inconvenient hours, two hours in the morning and two hours in the after- noon, it is my strongest feelings that a flexi- ble type of day care system is imperative to the working parent, especially the single parent. The K Day Care employs five qualified( members of the community to provide supervised ..,.,...�.i��o���� of children, socialization of plann- ed nutritional meals and oversee the safety of our children at play. Plus they also pro- vide the basics of pre-school education. To Quote The Kinsmen Club of Goderich, "What greater need in our community than a Day Care Centre catering to the working people. Our Community's Greatest Needs." Respectfully, Miss Deanna Gilders Are day care parents requesting chanty from municipality Editor's note: Elsa Haydn!' was a former columnist with the Signal -Star. While she had to give up the column for personal reasons, she will comment on issues from time to time. This concerns the day care situation as reported last week. The Kinsmen have been so unfairly treated by unreasonable public statements that one would be wrong to ig- nore it. Had the Kinsmen operated the day care centre, now in difficulty, the outcome would have been their responsibility. As it is, their organization rented the premises to a privately initiated and operated day care centre. It is no service club's mandate (nor is it a municipality's function) to subsidize the finances of private enterprise. The Kinsmen deserve praise for their desire and attempts to help out as much as possible under the circumstances. The Kinsmen are ,known for helping underprivileged children. Were the parents at the meeting seeking - demanding - chari- ty? It appears, unfortunately, that the club's spokesman was intimidated by the in- temperate (and ill-advised) outbursts and missed the boat' of defending his organiza- tion more boldly. The Kinsmen have done nothing to be ashamed of. No doubt Mayor Palmer had good inten- tions, but the manner of her participation did not help the meeting or the cause. It is most disappointing that Mayor Palmer periodically refuses to recognize the limitations of her office. No mayor (or any other individual council member) has tine right or the power'to promise municipal ser- vices or commit the corporation to anything at all. It is to be hoped that the mayor's ap- proach did not cast a shadow over the sub- ject before it has a chance to get off the ground. • • • • Inevitably, municipally supported day are is a controversialeumatter, with the E LSA H AY D 0 power to polarize public opinion. While pro- bably mist people could see their way clear to support to some extent, the care of nmnmmiiiimmmmm children of one -parent families,, so that the parent can work, there is a great deal of understandable reluctance to spend public money on families with two incomes and other benefits of a more well-to-do lifestyle. The town has looked into the possiblilities of a municipal day care centre in the past. When a survey was taken there were enough interested parents at the beginning, but when the cost became known the numbers dwindled to the point where a facility was no longer feasible. That was several years ago. , Times, needs and attitudes have changed and another investigation is definitely in order. That is why I was pleased to see that all council members treated the subiect with N an open and businesslike mind at the meeting on Monday, despite their private ir- ritation with the mayors arbitrary tenden- cies. The public deserves to see a rational and businesslike approach to the needs and options in the field of municipal daycare. It cannot be a question of simply spending money on undertakings which obviously do not work. A municipal daycare centre is a new ballganie, with very clear and certain rules, Somehow there is a mistaken perception that once you have a municipally run daycare centre, the province pays 80 per cent of the operating costs, the municipality picks up 20 per cent, and the parents have a standards free service. The 80/20 split applies to cases accepted ....ao.. the ministry's ..an a free service. The 80/20 split applies to cases, under standards and scales, where the parents' finances show in a means test that full payment of the fees would be a severe hardship. All other parents pay full fees - and quite rightly so. The council's administrative committee, with representatives of the municipal day nursery committee and with the ministry's help, will no doubt do a thorough job of in- vestigating all aspects of the daycare situa- tion in town and supply answers to the many questions still in the air. On Monday one explanation was neither requested nor offered. It was reported that the existing private centre in question is licenced for 24 children. However, the coun- cil was told that 80 children are registered. Does one conclude that the present opera- tion is offering an hourly drop-in service of convenience and is this to be included as a serious and continued need in the municipal deliberations?