The Minister responsible for children's aid societies in Ontario is defending her ministry's decision to trim funding to Family and Children's Services in Rainy River.
Youth and Children Services Minister Deb Matthews says they've asked all agencies to cut costs as provincial spending has reached the billion dollar mark while the number children in their care is decreasing.
Matthews wants administration costs at the Rainy River agency to be 10 per cent of its total budget.
"Their overhead costs have gone up 35-per cent since 2005," says Matthews. "That's a pretty big increase in their overhead expenses. Meantime the number of kids in care has dropped by over 20 per cent."
Matthews says she understands the local challenges and is working with the agency to help it ensure the funding it receives is spent in the right areas.
Meantime, the financial situation at Family and Children's Services reached the legislature today.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton told the legislature that the province's funding reduction is undermining the agency's effort to provide service to the district.
"This agency has now been put in a very difficult financial situation," said Hampton, "because your ministry, mid-year, cut their budget by $400-thousand on a full year budget of only $3 million. That means they will not have the money to provide services for children in need for the last three months."
Matthews denied the agency is in threat of shutting down and said she's looking to improve services for children.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
One Dead in Fatal Fire
The Ontario Fire Marshall has been called to investigate the cause of a fatal house fire in Fort Frances.
Last night's fire at the home at the Lakeview Trailer Court left one person dead.
Members of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene around 11 p.m. and later discovered the body inside the home.
The name of the deceased has not yet be released.
Last night's fire at the home at the Lakeview Trailer Court left one person dead.
Members of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene around 11 p.m. and later discovered the body inside the home.
The name of the deceased has not yet be released.
Operation Shoe Box Kicks off Today
Operation Christmas Child is back for another year.
The program helps collect gifts and items of necessity in a shoe box for children living in third world countries.
The local program is being kicked off today at the Bethel Bapist Church in Fort Frances from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. for anyone interested in picking up a box or learning more about the program.
The program helps collect gifts and items of necessity in a shoe box for children living in third world countries.
The local program is being kicked off today at the Bethel Bapist Church in Fort Frances from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. for anyone interested in picking up a box or learning more about the program.
Murray Funeral Services Today
Funeral services for a former Fort Frances Police Chief will be held today in Melfort, Saskatchewan.
Jack Murray died Sunday following a battle with cancer.
Murray moved to Saskatchewan shortly after retiring a police chief in Fort Frances in 1994.
He was 73.
Jack Murray died Sunday following a battle with cancer.
Murray moved to Saskatchewan shortly after retiring a police chief in Fort Frances in 1994.
He was 73.
Sixteen Charged in Drug Bust
Sixteen Thunder Bay residents, including two youths aged 16 and 17, have been charged following a 10-month police drug investigation.
Police say the undercover investigation focused on drug traffickers operating in and around the Thunder Bay area.
Police laid a total of 84 charges, including trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.
Officers also seized cocaine, marijuana, marijuana plants and a rifle.
Police say the undercover investigation focused on drug traffickers operating in and around the Thunder Bay area.
Police laid a total of 84 charges, including trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.
Officers also seized cocaine, marijuana, marijuana plants and a rifle.
Surgical Checklist Developed
Ontario hospitals may soon be required to use a surgical safety checklist and report on their compliance starting next spring.
It's all part of the government plan to improve patient safety.
Hospitals already report on eight indicators of patient safety, such as C-difficile rates and hand washing.
The new rules -- to be announced today -- will require hospitals to report publicly twice a year on whether they're following the checklist.
It's all part of the government plan to improve patient safety.
Hospitals already report on eight indicators of patient safety, such as C-difficile rates and hand washing.
The new rules -- to be announced today -- will require hospitals to report publicly twice a year on whether they're following the checklist.
Flu Vaccine Programs Reviewed
The Northwestern Health Unit is working with the province to ensure there will be enough seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines available for local residents.
Ontario's Associate Medical Officer of Health Doctor David Williams is in meeting with health unit staff in Kenora this week.
He says they want to make sure the most vulnerable populations are immunized first.
"We're also concerned that health care workers are properly covered," says Williams, "because they can transmit to other clients in hospitals who have compromised immune systems that could be severely effected by the virus."
Williams says they're putting together priority lists because there's expected to be enough vaccine for just 75 per cent of the entire population.
Ontario's Associate Medical Officer of Health Doctor David Williams is in meeting with health unit staff in Kenora this week.
He says they want to make sure the most vulnerable populations are immunized first.
"We're also concerned that health care workers are properly covered," says Williams, "because they can transmit to other clients in hospitals who have compromised immune systems that could be severely effected by the virus."
Williams says they're putting together priority lists because there's expected to be enough vaccine for just 75 per cent of the entire population.
Power Outage Length Reduced
The planned power interruption for this Sunday in Fort Frances has been changed again.
Residents will be without power for about six hours now so Hydro One can perform maintenance at a transformer station.
The outage is scheduled to last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..
The disruption initially was supposed to last for only 10 minutes, but later extended to 8 hours after Hydro One discovered there is no alternate power supply.
Residents will be without power for about six hours now so Hydro One can perform maintenance at a transformer station.
The outage is scheduled to last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..
The disruption initially was supposed to last for only 10 minutes, but later extended to 8 hours after Hydro One discovered there is no alternate power supply.
Energy Kits Distributed
Union Gas is helping students and staff with the Rainy River District School Board conserve energy.
Every student and employee with the board are receiving free Energy Saving Kits Union Gas is encouraging them to use at their homes.
The kits contain an energy efficient showerhead, kitchen and bathroom faucets and foam pipe insulation.
Union gas says if everyone used the kits, they could be reducing almost 800-thousand kilograms of carbon monoxide emissions and conserve more than 100-million litres of water.
The kits will be distributed to participating schools beginning October 19.
Every student and employee with the board are receiving free Energy Saving Kits Union Gas is encouraging them to use at their homes.
The kits contain an energy efficient showerhead, kitchen and bathroom faucets and foam pipe insulation.
Union gas says if everyone used the kits, they could be reducing almost 800-thousand kilograms of carbon monoxide emissions and conserve more than 100-million litres of water.
The kits will be distributed to participating schools beginning October 19.
Financial Crisis Resolve Demanded
Provincial New Democrats want some resolve to the financial crisis at Family and Children's Services in the Rainy River by the end of this week.
The local children's aid society is tackling a $600-thousand budget shortfall caused mostly by a recent reduction of provincial funding.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says its imperative the McGuinty Liberals resolve the issue.
"The McGuinty government talks out of one side of its mouth that it cares about these kind of community services," says Hampton, "but when the people not looking it cuts the budgets of organizations that provide these kind of community services."
Hampton says many children's aid Societies in the province are facing similar funding crunches and expects them to close their doors if the government fails to address their situation.
The local children's aid society is tackling a $600-thousand budget shortfall caused mostly by a recent reduction of provincial funding.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says its imperative the McGuinty Liberals resolve the issue.
"The McGuinty government talks out of one side of its mouth that it cares about these kind of community services," says Hampton, "but when the people not looking it cuts the budgets of organizations that provide these kind of community services."
Hampton says many children's aid Societies in the province are facing similar funding crunches and expects them to close their doors if the government fails to address their situation.
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