752 10 13249 https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/c09770d377a89f4288b2f9cfd0214b67.jpg e72907032e6e3c49f4e7a56a52872ccc Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alex Wilson Publications Limited, Dryden Subject The topic of the resource Business and Industry Communities in Northwestern Ontario Description An account of the resource Alex Wilson Publications Limited, Dryden. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Development Association Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPG Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context NODA_M-97 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Dryden https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/db9e4266f0fffbc8bad4f7d82c814a75.jpg c55f5da7e888c546105a5214b3e013d2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource International Nickel Company of Canada mine Subject The topic of the resource Business and Industry Mining Communities in Northwestern Ontario Description An account of the resource International Nickel Company of Canada mine, Shebandowan Lake. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Development Council Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPG Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context NODA_M-45(1)-1 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Shebandowan https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/4f997eafbe362865676a743bf0851400.jpg 0c64493070d9aa74f5b28ea7b42f27b9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource International Nickel Company of Canada diamond drill rig Subject The topic of the resource Business and Industry Mining Communities in Northwestern Ontario Description An account of the resource International Nickel Company of Canada diamond drill rig, Shebandowan, used to help to determine the extent of the nickel ore deposit. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Development Council Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPG Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context NODA_M-45(1)-2 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Shebandowan https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/9f32da50f06d6560cc3c28eb72277c99.jpg ab404fdfd69832bee100c7e11ab83f2c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lakeshore Mine, Kirkland Lake Subject The topic of the resource Business and Industry Communities in Northwestern Ontario Mining Description An account of the resource Lakeshore Mine, Kirkland Lake. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Development Council Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPG Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context NODA_M-47 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Kirkland Lake https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/6f0a67c708e2a9584a155337849b5097.pdf e82d4e8665c057b693ce17e05520361b PDF Text Text Memo To Industry: // BIG GOVT. GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PLANTS IN NORTH.WEST ONTARIO U.S. A UNDER ITS NEW "EQUALIZATION OF INOUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM" THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT PROVIDES INTEREST-FREE, FORGIVABLE LOANS TO A MAXIMUM OF $500,000 FOR NEW OR EXPANDING INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES IN NORTH-WESTERN ONTARIO. THE GRANTS ARE BASED ON NEW BUILDINGS AND NEW EQUIPMENT AND RANGE FROM ONE-THIRD TO ONE-QUARTER OF THE TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY. MORE DETAILS ARE FOUND INSIDE THIS BROCHURE. NOW IS THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 201 -202 NEWS CHRONICLE BUILDING PORT ARTHUR, ONTARIO. REPRINTED FROM THE DECEMBER, 1968, ISSUE OF TRADE AND COMMERCE MAGAZINE �Ill Production: • • stat1st1cs on northwestern • ontar10 The Land miles miles miles miles Forest Lands: Productive Forest Area ..... .............. 45,644 s·q. miles Non-Productive Forest Area ............ 5,133 sq. miles Principal Rivers: Nipigon, Albany, Winisk, English, Winnipeg, Rainy, Kaministiquia, Attawapiskat, Severn, Ogoki. Principal Lakes: Superior, Nipigon, Lake of the Woods, Rainy, Red, St. Joseph, Long, des Mille Lacs, Seul. The People: Population, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233,000 Population, 1958 .......................... ••••••••••••••••••••• 196,000 Number of Cities: .... .. .. ....... .. ...... ....... .... ............. ... ... 2 Fort William, Port Arthur. Number of Towns . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Kenora, Fort Frances, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Geraldton, Keewatin, Rainy River. Number of Townships ..................................... :....... 27 Ignace, Jaffray and Mellick, Machin, Alberton, Atikokan, Atwood, Blue, Chapple, Dilke, Erno, La Vallee, McCrosson and Tovell, Morley and Patullo, Morson, Worthington, Conmee, Gillies, Longlac, Neebing, Nipigon, O'Connor, Oliver, Paipoonge, Red Lake, Schreiber, Shuniah, Terrace Bay. Number of Improvement Districts .......................... . 10 Balmertown, Barclay, Sioux Narrows, Kingsford, Beardmore, Dorion, Manitouwadge, Marathon, Nakina, Red Rock. Transportation: Railways-Main and branch lines of C.P .R. and C.N.R. traverse whole area with marshalling yards at Lakehead. Highways - Mileage totals approximately 5,400 miles, Queen's highways total 1,300 of which 1,100 miles are paved . Air Lines-Including Air Canada, TransAir Ltd., North Central Airlines, Northwestern Aviation Ltd., and Austin Airways Limited. Lake Shipping-Lakehead ports westerly terminus of deep waterway, greatest grain storage and shipping centre in the world. Twin ports handle up to 18 million tons of cargo annually. About three-quarters of this is composed of wheat and iron ore. 2 T & C RESEARCH DEPT. --- • Area: Kenora and Patricia ..................... 153,220 sq. Thunder Bay District .................... 52,471 sq. Rainy River District ........ ................ 7,276 sq. Total Area ............................................ 212,967 sq. Manufacturing .............. .. ............ 1967 $ 320,000,000 241,300,000 1957 259,829,000 Forest - based Industries .. .. ....... .. 1967 173,371,000 1957 Agriculture ..... ............................ 1967 9,200,000 4,530,000 1957 .. I M1n1ng ....................................... 1967 120,000,000 47,157,567 1957 Fishing ...................................... 1967 1,477,000 900,400 1957 Fur ................................ ............ 1967 927,000 1957 1,408,000 Construction (Value of Residential Building Permits) ............ 1967 8,834,000 1957 7,084,000 Construction (Value of NonResidential Building Permits) ......... ................ 1967 25,998,000 1957 13,083,000 Construction (Total value, all permits) ......................... 1967 34,832,000 20,167,000 1957 Number of Manufacturing Plants .. 1968 225 1958 not given PRINCIPAL TRADING AREAS OF NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO HUDSON BAY ARIAi FIATU ■ ID See Pages 6 and 7 Atikokan Balmertown-Red Lake Dryden Fort Frances Fort William Port Arthur Geraldton JAMES BAY Keewatin Kenora Longlac Nipigon Rainy River Sioux Lookout Business Activity Retail Trade . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 1967 277,556,000 1957 171,414,000 Labour Income . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. .. . . . . . 1967 280,860,000 1957 187,874,000 Average Personal Income ............. 1966 4,446 3,701 1961 Average Labour Income Per Capita 1967 3,901 1957 3,093 113.78 Average Weekly Wages and Salaries 1967 78.95 in Manufacturing 1957 Cheques Cleared Through Local Clearing Centres . . . .. . . . . . . . . 1967 1,360,395,000 725,225,000 1957 Cheques Cashed . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1967 1,564,454,250 1957 834,009,900 Motor Vehicle Registrations ........ . 1967 73,141 42,755 1957 Passenger Car Registrations . .. . . . . .. 1967 54,549 33,672 1957 Communications: Telephone in Service ...... ............ . 1967 1957 Number of Radio Stations ........... . 1968 1958 Number of Television Stations .... . 1968 1958 Number of Newspapers (Daily) .... . 1968 1958 Number of Newspapers (Weekly) .. 1968 1958 Education: Lakehead University-full time students ........................ . -part time students Teachers College Manpower Retraining Program ..... Confederation College-Full time students ....... .. ............... . . Part time students ....... ... . DENSITY OF POPULATION Areas shown in red ... 228,000 Areas shown in white ... 5.000 Total (Oecember1968) ••••••• 233,000 81,180 42,229 6 5 1 1 5 3 8 7 1968 1968 1968 1968 2,025 900 254 800 1968 1968 471 6 3 �$500,000 INCENTIVE GRANT AVAILABLE THE ONTARIO GOV'T WILL HELP BUILD YOUR NORTHWEST PLANT f In the first year of operation, the Ontario-sponsored industrial incentives program assisted new or expanding enterprises to the extent of more than $1 million. Ten concerns in Northwestern Ontario were aided to enlarge, to modernize, to create new jobs. LARGE-SCALE GRANTS ARE CONSIDERED FOR: I) Secondary manufacturing companies establishing new facilities or making approved additions. 2) Warehouses and other concerns of a closely related nature which have a direct relationship with secondary manufacturing . --- 3) Tourist developments which will effectively raise the occupancy levels of local establishments. THE NEW GRANT FORMULA WILL BE APPLIED AS FOLLOWS: 1) 33- 1/ 3 per cent of the first $250,000 of the approved capital cost of new build. ings and equipment. 2) 25 per cent of the balance of the approved cost of these facilities. .... ......., 3) The maximum grant will be limited to $500,000 . HERE IS HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS: At the end of the first year, one-tenth of the loan will be forgiven, a further onetenth of the loan at the end of the second year, and so on until the end of the fifth year. At the end of the sixth year, provided the company has performed satisfac. torily, the balance of the loan will be forgiven. Here is real opportunity for enterprising industry to locate in Central Canada, a resources-rich region with trans -continental roil, highway and air transport services and deep water ports to continental and overseas markets. It has low-cost electric power and natural gas, fine communities, an expanding university and a new college of applied arts and sciences. Great place to live. FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE INDUSTRY INCENTIVES PROGRAM, please contact the administering authority. ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 950 Yonge Street Toronto 5, Ontario. ...,,--- -------- .. --- ~~~ NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 201 NEWS-CHRONICLE BUILDING, PORT ARTHUR, ONTARIO �STATISTICS ON MAJOR CITIES AND TOWNS IN NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO Grose Income of Population Population City or Town 1958 1968 1967 Groae Income of Trading Are a Population Trading Area Population 1957 1968 1958 To al Constr ction 1957 1967 164,446,536 110,669,204 149, 900, 000 88,307,000 301 124 178, 294, 032 $ $ $ 254,857 201,304 537,199,000 294, 830, 000 23,244,190 Kenora .................... 11, 107 10,256 29,489,760 16,693,000 59, 535 52,000 96,520,000 62,840,500 2,242,437 Fort France• •••...........• 9,620 8,854 16,300,000 10,200,000 Balmertown-Red Lake ....... 7,150 5,823 14,500,000 Dryden .................... 6,735 4,935 12,480,000 Atikokan ................... 6,178 6,430 11,250,000 7,250,000 6,700 6,600 12,750,000 8,000,000 3,021,975 Geraldton ...........•....•• 3,558 3,269 6,235,777 5,173,624 12,000 11,500 20,100,000 15,850,000 71,998 3,451 3,162 Sioux Lookout ..........•... Nipigon .................... Keewatin ................... 6,750,000 2,769 2,783 2,012 5,560,000 3,920,000 5,425,000 1,980 20, 150 6,500 3,250,000 3,985,000 10,300 54,000 37,500,000 4,300 8,500 2,970,000 17,800,000 12,200,000 5,300 14,320,000 49,000 92,500,000 1,235,011 69,900, 150 12,521,425 24,744,510 14,560,000 27 31 34,563,375 20,185,475 8,250,000 4,4ao,ooo 871,818 17,299,245 15,704,965 17,200,000 12,000,000 8 6 16,800,000 5,800,000 6,200,000 not given 784,815 236,638 3,974,919 2,119,366 16,000,000 8,900,000 11 6 26,300,000 14,888,457 6,000.000 3,600,000 2,778,766 1,278, 671 11,701,655 5,890,975 14,200,000 8,750,000 6 2 35,875, 750 13,500,000 9. 295,000 3,600,000 1, 773, 782 7,044,751 6,478, 525 8,120,000 3,560,000 4 3 45,380,000 37,700,000 7,920,000 4,750,000 500,000 3,157,870 not given 7,375,000 4,300,000 10 8 35,017,250 29,300,000 14,600,000 11,350,000 2,913,595 3,351,311 5,860,000 3,730,000 3 4 2,000,000 not given 750,000 not given 2,610,937 1,753,030 3,750,000 2,500,000 2 2 1,900,000 not given 500,000 not given 58,600 not given 1,939, 595 2,694,533 1,690,000 1,080,000 Nil 2 not given 1, 669, 535 1,074,401 2 1 645,837 625,037 3 2 10,800,000 I 146,800 5,420,000 not given 198,000 438,320 6,500,000 60,300,000 Longlac .................... 1,339 943 2,460,000 1,250,000 11,000 10,000 18,400,000 13,650,000 93, 150 Rainy River .......•....•.•. 1,087 1,290 2,500,000 1,350,000 3,000 3,500 8,000,000 900,000 150,000 60,000 Total Serviced Railways Fort William-Port Arthur .. 4,225 3,225 1,050 CPR and CNR Kenora •.•.......•.•..•.. 1, 115 400 50 ............ 150 125 25 Balmertown-Red Lake •.•.• 17 13 4 Dryden .......•.•..•.•..• 3,850 1,925 1,800 City or Town Fort Frances . Transportation Unoccupied Airports Truck Linea Nos. 11, llA, 17, 17Aand61 1 17 CPR Trans-Canada and Great River Road 2 (1 sea) CNR and DWP Nos. 11 & 71, us 11, 53 & 71 Nil C.P.R. Highways 88 3 Geraldton .... , .... , ...... 45 45 Sioux Lookout ......•.•... 6 unlimited unlimited Nipigon .................. 500 100 Keewatin ................. 103 18 Longlac ........ , ...... ... 50 Rainy River .............. 47 .. 40 --1,750,000 . .. . .. ... --- ... --- 50,000 Util Electricity ies Radio (Domiciled) Gas T.V. (Domiciled) T win City Gas Co, Ltd. Forest products, sulphate, iron ore, silver and precious metals. Sand, gravel, crushed rock, zinc. Grain and by-products, edible oils, malt, fish. CFPA, CJLX, CKPR 5 Kenora Hydro Electric Commiuion and Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario Northern Ontario Natural Gas Co. Ltd. Forest products; commercial fishing: minerals • gold, silver, nickel, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum: kasolite (uranium) CJRL @ CBC Satellite Station 1 5 Public Utilities Commission Nil Forest products, commercial fishing, fur, gold, iron, copper, nickel, agricultural. CFOB CBC repeater Nos. 105, 125, 618 2 3 Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario Nil Forest products, commercial fishing, gold, silver, iron ore and other base metals. CBC Satellite Station CBC Satellite Station Trans-Canada #17 2 (l sea) 4 Dryden Hydro Electric Commission and Ontario Hydro Commission Twin City Gas Co. Forest products, commercial fishing, agricultural, crushed rock, gravel, etc., magnetite iron ore, nickel, gold, silver, copper, lead, cesium, molybdenite, zinc, lithium, soapstone, mineral gallium. CKDR CBC Satellite Station CNR Voyageur Highway #11 5 (4 eea) 2 Atikokan Hydro Electric Commission Twin City Gas Co. Ltd., and Atikokan Propane Iron ore, pulpwood, timber, gravel, fish and game. CBC Booster Station CBC Micro• wave, Nor-Video CNR No. 11 .. 2 Ontario Hydro Electric Commission Twin C:ity Gas Co. Ltd,, Natural resources, timber, precious and non precious minerals. CBC Low Power Relay CBC Satellite Station 50 CNR Transcontinental No.72 4 (3 sea) 1 Ontario Hydro Electric Commission 30 CNR and CPR Noa. 11 and 17 Trane-Canada .. l Nipigon Hydro Electric CommiBBion CPR Trane-Canada #17 21 Cl'IR Trana-Canada #11 -- 4 Ontario Hydro Electric CommiBBion 15 CNR Ontario #11 .. 2 Rainy River Public Utilities CommiHion 88 .. .. (Kenora) (Kenora) 130,000 20,000 25,000 Communication a Raw Materials Port Arthur Public Utilities Commission and Fort William Hydro Electric • Atikokan ................. --2,750,000 --- ... INFORMATION GENERAL Industrial Sites • Acreage 1957 1,170,760 28,400,000 12,000,000 23,799,921 18,595,352 $ 6,950 44,720,077 $ 181, 925, 250 8,400 $ 109,921,000 1957 $ $ 9,000,000 $ 1967 $ 247,166,327 48,500,000 1967 $ 1958 $ 93,295 23,800 1957 $ 1968 $ 109,511 Manufac~ring Payroll 1967 1957 1968 1967 Manufacturing Value 1967 Fort William-Port Arthur .... 28,800 Number of Industrial Plant• Retail Trade Volume Aseeesment Corp. of the Town of Kenora Nil Twin City Gas Co. Ltd, Nil Northern & Central Nil CKPR-TV Newaoanere Weeklies Dailies News Chronicle and Times Journal Canadian Uutiaet .. Kenora Daily Miner and News Fort Frances Daily Bulletin .. Fort France ■ Time• Red Lake District News .. Dryden Obeerver .. Atikokan .. Times Star Progre ■■ Forest products, gold, iron, molybdenite, fish, furs, water. .. .. Daily Bulletin Forest product• and minerals. .. .. .. Nipigon Gazette Forest products for pulp and paper, fish for processing and packaging, minerah. .. -. .. .. Wood and water. .. .. .. .. Limited aupply of timber, livestock. .- -. .- -· Rainy River Record 7 �Maior Proiects Underway FIRM COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CAPITAL International Nickel She bandowan 35,000,000 Ontario Hydro Northwest Ontario 26,500,000 Corporation of Port Arthur Port Arthur Ontario Hydro Northwest Ontario Lakehead Developers Lakehead Harbour Commission Shunish Port Arthur 2,000,000 3,500,000 Lakehead University Confederation College Port Arthur Fort William 3,000,000 600,000 Bell Telephone Company Aquativity Limited Municipality of Drtden Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. Northwest Ontario Kenora Dryden Port Arthur Quetico Centre Lake Eva Arctic Enterprises Inc. Rainy River Colenso Lumber Co. Ontario Government B rayshaws Steel Limited Red Lake Highway Lakehead area Port Arthur Noralta Peat Products (Ontario) Limited Federal Government Barwick Kenora 9,500,000 20,000,000 10,000,000 2,000,000 200,000 5,000,000 100,000 350,000 15,000,000 750,000 300,000 700,000 REMARKS Development of new nickel mine. Transmission line to connect with Manitoba. First phase of 15-year urban renewal program. Linkup between northern & southern power systems. 15-store shopping complex. Major expansion of Keefer terminal cargo facility. University extension centre. Initial phase of new college construction program. Microwave system. New hotel on Lake of the Woods. Airport development. Conversion of bulk freighter to self-unloader. Final phase of $1 . 2 million expansion program. Building & equipment for new manufacturing plant. New saw and chipper mill. Lakehead expressway. Steel fabricating plant expansion. Peat moss processing plant. Building to house federal departments. I Maior Proiects Proposed FIRM COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CAPITAL Corporation of Fort William Superior Brick & Tile Co. Trans -Canada Pipelines Fort William Lakehead area Regional 14,100,000 300,000 70,000,000 Boise Cascade Corporation Trans-Canada Pi~lines Fort Frances area Rainy River area 12,000,000 Ontario-Minnesota Pulp & Paper Fort Frances Great Lakes Nickel Pardee 4,000,000 REMARKS Urban renewal program Brick-making plant 36-inch line traversing Northwest to Nipigon. Forest products plant Gas transmission line to serve Rainy River District. Plant improvement and anti-pollution program. Multi-million base metal mine development. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Memo to Industry: advertising brochure Subject The topic of the resource Business and Industry Description An account of the resource Reprint of advertising from December 1968 Trade and Commerce Magazine, produced by the Northwestern Ontario Development Council. "Memo to Industry: Big Govt. Grants Now Available for Plants in Northwest Ontario." Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Development Council Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/7f57e8ef92fc1f4b80467119fbba0737.pdf a3e47996560970cdf4ff84381c6fc2ac PDF Text Text 1 NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO DAY CARE NEWS February 1991 DAY CARE NEWS is a forum for the sharing of information between day care groups throughout the region, as well as providing information about what is happening on the federal. provincial, regional and local scenes, in terms of policy, legislation, advocacy groups' activities, parental concerns and other interests that our supporters may have. We hope that this newsletter will combat some of the isolation that day care workers and advocates feel and that through the sharing of resources, ideas and actions plans, we can develop strategies to ensure the growth and strengthening of quality day care in Northwestern Ontario. We welcome submissions to this newsletter from every day care centre and committee throughout our region. Please send articles, news clippings, letters, etc. to Box 144, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7C 4VS. Contents: March Forum Agenda................ . .. 2 New Child Care Setting............ . ...... 3 Congratulations to Lee Angus...... . ...... 3 S_erious Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Coalition's New Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Added Funds for Child Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Child Care in Sweden . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Day Care Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Federal Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 No Go for PHSSR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Playground Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Membership Renewal Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 �2 BOOK FRIDAY,. THESE DATES M"ARCH 22., .1 .9 .9 .1 AND M"ARCH SATURDAY., 23,. .1 .9 .9 .1 ANNUAL NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO REGIONAL DAY CARE COMMITTEE FORUM s ~ o i Rod Oak Xnn. scr••t• rhund@r Bay AGENDA FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1991 Registration 6:30pm - 10:00pm 6:30pm - 7:30pm Keynote Speaker 7:30pm - Laurel Rothman, Past President of the Ontario Coalition of Better Child Care. speaking on the State of Child Care in Ontario, followed by a Wine and Cheese Reception. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1991 Beverages and Muffins 8:00am - 9:00am Panel Discussion 9:00am Northwestern Ontario Break 8:30am - 5:00pm - 9:45am - State of the Region of 9:45 - 10:00am Overview and workshops on the U-turn document and pay equity 10:00am - 12 noon Dave Hagerman and Carol Anne Sceviour Luncheon and business meeting 12 noon - 1:30pm Overview of the new Child Care Network Provincial Strategy Workshops Break 1:30pm - 2:00pm 2:00pm - 3:30pm 3:30pm - 3:45pm Plenary Session and concluding cash prize draw - 3:45pm - 4:30pm �.., 3 NEW CHILD CARE SETTING IN THUNDER BAY'S COUNTY PARK by Bobbi Tamblyn The Lakehead District Roman Catholic Separate School Board will be building a new elementary school in the County Park area, targeted opening date September, 1992. In accordance with the new legislative agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Community and Social Services, a child care centre will be established in the school. As of January 25, 1991, a community needs assessment has completed. As soon as the data from the assessment has processed architectural drawings will be completed. been been The new child care centre will be non-profit, run by a parent volunteer board of directors. Anyone who is interested in becoming an advisory board member, or helping in the planning and set up in these very initial stages and throughout the project is urged to contact Bobbi Tamblyn at ( 807) 625-1545. As well, any input, comments or suggestions are welcome. In the meantime, we'll keep you posted. CONGRATULATIONS TO LEE ANGUS Lee Angus, formerly employed be the NWORDCC, has accepted th~ position of special constituency assistant to the llinis t.er of Revenue in Toronto . The Honourable Shelley Wark-Martyn has gained a very valuable employee. We will miss her and we wish her the best in her new job. SERIOUS THREAT IN THUNDER BAY With the new 1991 municipal budget going before the Thunder 5 .::t ~City Council on February 12th, the Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care are organizing parents and representative s of non profit child care centres across the city to protest the proposed cuts to child care funding. The new budget is proposing the closure of the Grace Remus Municipal Day Care Centre, cutting all purchase of service agreements for subsidized spaces with other child care centres and cutting the municipally funded private home day care program . The Advocates urge all concerned residents to call the city council members, write letters to the City of Thunder Bay and to your Members of Provincial Parliament. �4 ONTARIO COALITION PRESENTS A NEW PLAN by Linda Hossie (The Globe and Mail) The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care proposed a $560million child are program to the New Democratic government at a meeting on November 8, 1990, which brought positive comments from both sides. This cost, which would be shared by the provincial and federal governments and parents, does not include pay equity. One estimate for pay equity for the 22,000 child care workers is $24-million. The proposal also called for an additional 10,000 child care spaces. In this document called the U-Turn, the Coalition proposed that fees for child care services be abolished, that day care become a provincially funded service similar to education and that the province be responsible for collecting fees from parents and other funders. Under this proposal, children would enter programs as their names came up on the waiting list. Their parents would then take an income test to determine the amount of their child care contribution and the province would bill them on a monthly or quarterly basis, similar to the way once used for OHIP. Added Funds fo~ Chi2d Ca~e Zanana Akande announced on January 31, 1991, a total of 5,000 additional child care subsidies. As well, she stated the government will provide $30 million as a "down payment" for pay equity for child care workers in the non-profit sector. Janet Davis, president of the Ontario Coaltion for Better Child Care stated: "We're really pleased. I think it shows a real commitment to child care in a time of economic restraint, a time when the provincial government is really hurting." Liberal HPP Lyn McLeod termed the announcement "woefully inadequate", arguing that it will still leave thousands of Ontario children unable to get into day care. Presently in Thunder Bay, there are over 600 children on child care waiting lists. Will the municipalities take advantage of this? sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss �., 5 A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE OF CHILD CARE IN SWEDEN by Teresa Legowski I took the opportunity to interview Asa Petterson, an exchange student teacher from Sweden, whose placement occurred in my daughter's junior kindergarten class. The following is a brief description of the state of child care in Sweden from Ms. Petterson's perspective. In Sweden, a kindergarten program does not exist. Formal elementary school begins when the child is seven years old. From the ages of one up to seven, the child attends a preschool ( popularly known as day care). At the preschool, the program becomes progressive 1 y academic as the child gets older. 8 y the time the child is six, half of each day is devoted to academic programs. Presently, the Swedish government is exploring the possibility of increasing the age of entry for children into preschool to 12 months. This is directly related to the high demand for child care spaces. At the same time, the government would extend the parental leave program to 18 months from the birth of the child. Technically, babies can be cared for in their own homes by their own parents for 18 months. Incidentally, the present parental leave program can be ~P t o one year, depending on how the parent chooses to receive the benefit. If the parent wants to receive benefits for fi·,e days a ;1ee.c... instead of seven days a week, then s\he can stay home .:1rd r ':'::ei·;r=: 90% of his\her salary for one year, rather than nine months. mine months would be paid benefits for seven days a week). The Ministry of Education is responsible for child care 3.n:1 collects a user fee directly from the parents. This fee is based on a percentage of their income, but in no Hay covers completely the actual costs associated with running child care. The fee is the same for all ages, and always includes meals, snacks and extra time. Tax payers subsidize the rest of the costs. �6 As mentioned previously, the six year old's program a day of academics. Thus the content is viewed as the elementary school system and parents only pay a Fees are less per child, if the family has two or enroled in the preschool. involves half being part of half day fee. more children Parents have the following child care choices available. The regular preschools are located in both urban and rural centres. In smaller centres, children from ages one to six are housed in one building. In larger, urban centres some preschools are divided into different buildings: one housing the 1-3 year olds; the other housing 4-7 year olds. A few child care centres are open over night and on weekends, but not very many. Sometimes, there are up to 64 children in one centre. Another program is the cooperative parent pre schoo 1. Usual 1 y, these programs are located in renovated houses. Two teachers are hired, but the parents come in as helpers on a rotational basis for blocks of two weeks. This offers parents and their children the opportunity for a more intimate relationship. However, not all parents have the flexibility to be committed to such blocks of time. The government also funds a program of registered home day cares. This is especially popular for infant care. Before and after school programs are available to children up to 12 years of age. Most are still located at the preschools, but the government is now beginning to implement a program where this :,ill be available at the child's school. Private child care is also ar. option. In all cases, except for the private child care scenario, the government totally funds the programs, and collects farental fees. The child:staff ratio for the ages of 18 months to three years is 12 children for every two and one-half full time teachers. For the three to seven year old children, it is 15-18 children to ttJ ,) H,d one-half full time teachers. A university degree of two and one-half years duration is required to become a teacher for 3-7 year olds, and for the before and ~ft~~ school programs. For teaching a younger child a college degree is required. The government is presently looking at stan::lardi::in,1 teachers' qualifications. The programming itself is based on several principles which reflect Swedish culture: peace, solidarity, self esteem, democracy and cooperation. The emphasis is on haw to become a good, socially functioning person. It is child centred, with more emphasis on functioning within the group and less on the individual. The emphasis in North America is away from peace an~ the group and more on the individual. �7 Day Care Costs The annual cost of day care for a three year old across Canada, according to management consultants Runzheimer Canada Inc., for full time, commercial operations are as follows: Toronto, $6,612; Yellowknife, $5,760; Ottawa, $5,712; Whitehorse, $4,824; Saskatoon, $4,740; London, Ontario, $4,512; Montreal, $4,392; Quebec City, $,380; CANADIAN AVERAGE, $4,284; Vancouver, $4, 152; Regina, $4,080; Halifax, $4,020; St. John's, $3,948; Calgary, $3,804; Winnipeg, $3,684; Victoria, $3,636; Edmonton, $3,348; Saint John, $2,940. FEDERAL BEHIND DEDUCTION FALLING WAY The income tax system's child care expense deduction is fallin~ way behind the real cost for many parents. A working parent is allowed a child care expense tax of up to $4,000 for each child who is under the age of seven or infirm. So parents in the adjacent table's bottom six cities can use the pretax dollars to pay the full cost of day care for their three year olds, but the others cannot. When the child is between seven and 14, drops to $2,000. the child care deduction The re was a recent court ruling concerning this deduction. At issue was the restriction that if both parents are "supportin-;,i persons" the deduction can be claimed only by the one Hi th the louer income. In that case, the trial division of the Federal Court affirmed that if one spouse has no income at all, the deduction can be 8laimed ty the other spouse, who does have an income. Previously, Revenue Canada maintained that the zero-income spouse 11as the lower income person, and the only one entitled to the deduction, even though there was no income against which it could be claimed. ***************************************************************** . �8 NO GO FOR PMSSR by Margaret Phillips The Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee has prepared a response to the report of the Provincial Hunicipal Social Services Review ( PHSSR) outlining our concern that the implementation of the PHSSR would have severe negative effects on child care in Northwestern Ontario. Our concern centres on three areas. Firstly, the basic issue of social services funding deficiencies is not addressed. The serious under funding that has plagued child care for 20 years has not even been considered. We feel it is not useful to determine new management roles when basic funding issues have not been dealt with. Secondly, we believe that reallocating the responsibility for the discretionary services of child care and community based services to the municipal sector would lead to an erosion of child care services. In the long term, child care and services f o r elderly people will experience the greatest expansion. The recommendation for 75%/25% provincial/municipal funding for these services will place an inequitable financial burden on the municipal tax base. Given the financial constraints already experienced by municipalities, it can be easily assumed that many municipal governments will be both unwilling and unable to meet the community's needs for child care and community based services. Thirdly, we are troubled by the vagueness of the PHSSR report in respect to jurisdictional responsibilities in the n o rth. The report provides no clarification of what the "municipal sector " means in Northern Ontario. Thus we cannot adequately anal~=e the PMSSR from a Northwestern Ontario perspective. \·le are als o concerned about the demand that the municipal sector assume the planning responsibility. This would impose increased financial burdens on the municipal tax base. Copies of our brief may be obtained form the NWORDCC offi ce . .. .... ... . . .. .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. . . . ???????????????????????????????????????... . . . . . . . �' 9 PLAYGROUND EQUIPt1IENT GUIDE ISN'T DEALING WITH FIRE CONCERNS The Canadian Standards Association has recently released a 120 page report containing extensive information for playground equipment, including surface guidelines requirements, standards for playground equipment construction, standards for areas surrounding the equipment and measurements for head and neck entrapment. Evidence given at a Dryden inquest a year ago underlined the urgency of the CSA standards which were completed last April, after three years of work by CSA officials. However, recommendations for non-flammable playground equipment will not be part of new standards to be published by the Canadian Standards Association, despite the severe burning of a T irnmins child at a municipal playground last November. Eight year old Jennifer Marsh of Timmins suffered second and third degree burns after a three foot plastic tunnel that she had been playing in caught fire. She was admitted to a Sudbury hospital. Parts of the melted half inch walled tunnel were sent to Toronto to the forensic laboratories. The rest of the plastic tunnel and accompanying plastic slide were sent to the Ontario Fire College 1n Gravenhurst for flammability testing. Referring to the wood and tires adjacent to the plastic tunnel o n the playground apparatus, Burt Schaffer, the Timmins fire chief, said "Nothing can be burned without someone igniting it". �• 10 1991 MEMBERSHIP At the 1988 Forum a membership structure for the Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee was approved. Memberships are now available. Membership categories are: Category A: Municipal Councils/Indian Band Council; Day Care Centres; Professional Organizations; Regional Associations; Labour Unions. Fee: $50.00 Category B: Parent Groups. Voluntary Community Organizations. Fee: $25.00 Category C: Individuals. Fee: $5.00 To join. please complete this application form, detach and return to: N.W.O.R.D.C.C. P.O. Box 144 Thunder Bay, Ont. P7C 4V5 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 1991 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION I believe in the purpose of The Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee and I wish to become a member. Signature Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Postal Code: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Phone Number: _ _ _ _ _ _ Fee Enclosed _ _ _ __ Category: A 8 _ __ c _ __ ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Thankyou for your support. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News, February 1991 Subject The topic of the resource Organizations Description An account of the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News February 1991. Includes information about the Annual Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Forum; new elementary school for Lakehead District Roman Catholic Separate School Board; Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care; U-Turn Proposal by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care; child care funding and child care subsidies announcement from the Ministry of Community and Social Services Zanana Akande; A Personal Perspective of Child Care in Sweden by Teresa Legowski; release of Canadian day care cost statistics from Runzheimer; Canada Inc.; child care expense tax deduction; Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee response paper to the Provincial Municipal Social Services Review (PMSSR); playground equipment standards from the Canadian Standards Association. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Association Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991-02 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee: under copyright. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context nwodcn_91feb Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Thunder Bay https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/66c550e530450fa206fd8446abfca861.pdf 745a6cc7f7bb4d268ede8fbd9d8b82a1 PDF Text Text . Northvvestern Ontario Day Care Nevvs December 185 NWO DAY CARE NEWS is a forum for the sharing of information between day care groups throughout Northwestern Ontario, as wel I as providing information about what's happening on the federal and provincial scenes - both in terms of governmental pol icy/legislation and with advocacy groups' activities. We hope that this newsletter wil I combat some of the isolation that day care workers and advocat'es fee I and that through sharing resources, ideas and action plans we can develop strategies to ensure the growth and strengthening of qua I ity day care in our region. We wi I I welcome submissions to this newsletter from every day care committee/centre throughout NWO. Please send articles, newscl ippings, letters, etc. to Box 144, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 4V5. From these visits, the need for a strong, regional organization has been expressed by many people. The networks that are evolving need continued work and the strategies of collective action must be matured .. Therefore, we are applying for funds for a second phase of the project (from January to June 1986) through which we plan to conduct a comprehensive survey of day care in Northwestern Ontario (requested by several communities) and organize a forum or forums in the spring to bring together day care parents, workers, local decision makers and interested citizens. In the second phase, our project worker wi I I also travel to other communities not previously visited. Please let us know if you would I ike her to visit your community. "TIME FOR CHANGE" - ONTARIO COALITION FOR BETTER DAY CARE, CONFERENCE AND LOBBY, OCTOBER 26-28 REGIONAL DAY CARE PROJECT During the past five months, the Regional Day Care Committee has, through a Secretary of State grant, carried out a project to analyze the situation of day care in NWO; to initiate a regional network of al I persons concerned with day care; to provide information from provincial and national day care organizations to NWO Groups; and to put forward a NWO perspective to governments and to provincial/national day care advocacy associations. Our part-time project worker has travel led to Kenora, Fort Frances, Ati kokan, Geraldton and Terrace Bay meeting with day care parents, workers and other interested citizens encouraging the development of active parent~' groups, and learning local issues and needs. There were three representatives from Thunder Bay among the 200 in attendance at the annual conference of the Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care. The theme of the conference - "Time for Change" - was appropriate on two fronts. The Coal it ion was reorganized and expanded to incorporate local coalitions and individuals, as wel I as provincial organizations. A Counci I made up of representatives from various provincial organizations, local groups and individuals wi I I meet three times each year, and an Executive elected from the Counci I wi I I meet a minimum of 10 times per year. Holly Rupert from Red Lake was elected as one of the four individual representatives, and the Thunder Bay . Advocates for Qua I ity Chi Id Care wi 11 be represented on the Coal it ion Counci I as wel I. The first meeting of the Counci I wi I I be he Id January 25th in Toronto. �In I ight of the new provincial government and our hopes for new directions, "Time for Change" was indeed an appropriate theme for the lobby which fol lowed the conference. The mood in the room throughout the three hour lobby was one of excitement and anticipation. Although the Superior Room at Queen's Park was fi I led to capacity (reportedly 300 people), the lobby was highly organized and profess i ona I. In fact, Bob Rae congratu I ated the Coalition for putting on "one of the best organized lobbies he had ever been at". Three Tories were in attendance forthe ful I hour al lotted to them. Although Phi I Gi I I ies (Brantford) attempted to articulate Tory pol icy in response to our questions, he did so with difficulty and embarrassment (his two col leagues were conspicuously silent). The eleven NOP members in attendance expressed agreement with the Coal it ion throughout questioning and agreed that day care should receive greater emphasis. ·The last but most eagerly anticipated caucus - the Liberals - had twenty members in attendance, inc I ud i ng John Sweeney, Minister of Community and Social Services, and Ian Scott, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Women's Issues. Sweeney reiterated at the outset his government's commitment to day care, assuring those present that day care is a high priority for the Peterson g?vernment. While acknowledging the problems that exist, little else was offered. Sweeney expressed concern that if they tried to renegotiate Canada Assistance Plan (CAP) financing for day care, the provincial government might have to renegotiate al I financing under the plan, including welfare. (CAP is the only federal-provincial program that is st i I I open-ended - that is, the federal government's contribution to it is I imited only by the amount the prov i nee spends.) The pol icy to withdraw the indirect subsidy is a result of CAP (welfare) funding for day care. Sweeney stated that withdrawal of the indirect subsidy wi I I take effect at the end of 1986, rather than 1985, as previously planned. When questioned about the possible closure of day care centres due to this pol icy, Sweeney indicated that he would deal with each situation on an individual basis. While the politicians were impressed by the lobby, it was evident that we must keep up the pressure on a I I fronts. Back to the Conference! Saturday was spent in large part at a series of informative workshops. One workshop, "Alternative Federal Funding Mechanisms", looked at the present system of funding and the alternative proposed by the Canadian Day Care Advocacy Association (copies avai I able from CDCAA, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa K1N 7Z2). This proposal integrates principles, services and the role each level of government would play regarding funding, and would be extremely valuable to anyone preparing a submission on ch i Id ca re. Another related workshop, "Task Force Update" was orig i na I I y to have focused on the findings of the Day Care Task Force chaired by Dr. Katie Cooke and set up under the former Liberal government. However, as the final report was not yet avai Iable, the focus shifted to preparations for the next Task Force on Chi Id Care. It was emphasized that we should be ready for it when it came. We were encouraged to lobby to have hearings scheduled in more than one city in each province and, if unable to attend the hearings, to make written submissions both as groups and individuals. (Given that the establishment of the Par I iamentary Task Force on Child Care was forma I I y announced a month after the conference, this workshop was extremely helpful.) Those of us attending the conference and lobby came away energized and eager to continue our efforts to attain better day care. �INDIRECT SUBSIDY For NWO children to be provided qua I ity day care in 1986, the fees charged to parents must be affordable. Of course, day care must become a universal service but being realistic we know this is a long-term goal. Right now, we must ensure that we do not lose the day care centres we presently have in NWO. This means that the provincial government must be persuaded to continue the "indirect subsidy" to municipal day care and/or provide a direct grant to al I non-profit day care centres. In the past several years, because of the provincial directive regarding the elimination of indirect subsidy, day care fees in NWO have increased annually (or more often). And every time an increase occurs, a number of fami I ies find that they have to withdraw their children. The fees are just too high. In fact, because of the high fees, there are a number of NWO day care centres that today have unfi I led spaces! And many children who need day care are not served, but rather are placed in less expensive, unsupervised, unregulated arrangements, Because of short-sighted funding policies, young children are being denied the benefits of a qua I ity day care program. Unless provincial policies change, this situation wi I I only worsen. The current fees charged in NWO centres range from $13-18. Without the indirect subsidy the fees wi I I jump to $25-35 per day. Up to 75% of the municipal and nonprofit day care centres in NWO could be forced to close. Individually and collectively, NWO day care advocates have been raising the issue of indirect subsidy/direct grant with provincial politicians. This issue was an important feature of the Coal it ion lobby of al I provincial politicians. Members of the NWO Regional Day Care Committee have discussed this issue with the Hon. John Sweeney, Minister of Community and Social Services, and with the Hon. Ian Scott, Minister Responsible for Women's Issues. Thunder Bay Advocates for Qua I ity Chi Id Care have met with Jim Foulds, MPP - Port Arthur, and Marathon Day Care has communicated with Gi Iles Pouliot, MPP - Lake Nipigon. We al I must continue to impress on our political representatives the urgency of providing qua I ity, affordable day care. The effect of our lobbies has had only I imited results. At the Coal it ion lobby, the Hon. John Sweeney announced that the provincial pol icy re the elimination of indirect subsidy was postponed unti I December 31, 1986. PARLI.A.MENTARY TASK FORCE The federal government has just announced the establishment of the Par I iamentary Task Force on Chi Id Care. This Task Force is extremely important in that its work wil I point the direction for day care pol icy for the years ahead. In a sense, this Task Force is our last chance to influence the development of adequate day care pol icy. The Task Force intends to hold public consultations and we have written urging the Task Force to hold pub I ic hearings in Northwestern Ontario, and to provide travel subsidies for district travel to these hearings. We' 11 keep you posted. It is vital that submissions from individuals, as wel I as groups, be made. If you are concerned about the future of day care, please plan to make a statement to the Task Force (and please let us know of your wi I I i ngness to make a presentation). We have sent a package of resource materJal - background information, recommendations for federal action, Task Force terms of reference - to al I the day care centres in NWO. Contact the supervisor of the day care centre in your community for more information or write us at Box 144, Thunder Bay. OVER 50% OF MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN UNDER 5 ARE IN THE PAID LABOUR FORCE. YET THERE IS A CHILDCARE SPACE FOR LESS THAN 1 IN 10 CHILDREN NEEDING ONE. �POST CARD CAMPAIGN The Sioux Lookout Parents Group are organizing a "Post Card Campaign" and are seeking the support of other day care centres and advocacy groups in making fhe campaign effective. The post card (the exact wording of which is st i I I to be f i na I i zed) would indicate support for provincially-funded day care and be signed by parents and other concerned citizens and sent to MPPs. If the politicians receive many post cards, an impact w i I I be made. Plan now to support this important project. Let the Sioux Lookout Parents Group know how many post cards you wi I I need, and whether or not you can share the cost of printing them. For more information, contact Janet Wilkinson, Sioux Lookout Parents Group, c/o Norah Love Children's Centre, Box 177, Sioux Lookout, Ontario. THE SCHOOL HOUSE PLAY CARE CENTRE OF LAKEHEAD The School House Play Centre opened its doors on September 3, 1985. Our centre is unique in that it is the first workplace day care centre in the Thunder Bay area. Although it was established to accommodate chi Idren of Lakehead Board of Education employees, space is also available for other children in the community. Our priority is qua I ity day care. The home-I ike atmosphere of the centre provides a welcoming environment to both children and adults, in which the individual chi Id's needs are met through a wide range of creative, stimulating and nurturing activities and programs. It is important to us that parents know their children are being we I I-cared for by qua I ified staff who truly enjoy working with the children. We hope that our centre is only the first of many workplace day care centres in Thunder Bay. Although enrollment continues to increase, spaces are sti II avai Iable. For further information, please feel free to contact Ke I I y Job I in at 344-8719. DAYCARE UPDATE: RED LAKE The Women's Information Group, an ad hoc group in Red Lake conc~rned with the broad spectrum of issues affecting women, targeted day care as one of the issues needing a higher profile during the November municipal election. The group produced a pamphlet, ~ith assistance from Secretary of State, which explained the funding crisis affecting day care services in our community. The pamphlets were distributed at two al I-candidates' meetings, at which specific questions about day care were put to the candidates. Before election day, Jennifer McKibbon, a candidate supportive of day care, and myself met with the workers at the Red Lake Day Care Centre. The workers have concerns about their ch ron i ca I I y Iow wages and a pay scale which does not fairly reflect employees' years of service at the centre. The workers are encouraged to know that as a member-at large of the Ontario Coal it ion for Better Day Care Counc i I I can take their concerns beyond the community to a supportive organization committed to improved child care services. In the new year, I plan to meet with the director of the Balmertown Day Care Centre. - Ho I I y Rupert CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE INCLUDE Ruth We I Is, Margaret Phi I I i ps, Ke I I y J ob I i n , J a net Wi I k i nson , Ho I I y Ru pert and Fiona Karlstedt. We hope you wi 11 consider contributing to the next issue. Day Care in the News: Red Lake, Dryden, Terrace B a y - - - - - ~ �THE TIMES-NEWS, Tuesday. July 30, 1985 Daycare - a definite need By~~~ TERRACE BAY- Day care In Ten-ON Bay. • ~~~ ....:..i-;ely ~ ~ Mafda,Y has ~111d• Project Mayday con- ducted• •f toO ,nkllnlaollbeCQlllfflWII• t=:. ~:-~:: ~£en:!..~.. TIie majority eonc1.IJ,elr children would ...,.,11 rrom some type of :=.:I=~ ro, chlldral. belon and pA!t·llllle daycare ~ full-tlmt oiler ICboal. =-r~..r ~ Ille)' bad ID Immediate _,i o1 tu11-ume c1aycare. WedllldaY, July 17; • meetlnl of tateretted parents wu held to 4iaCUSI 1111 ....ita of Ille WUCommit• carried oul IUImonth. tees were formed to in- ~=· I'/: :!'::.:="of dlnl for daycare. Day~care concerns v~ihceg_.AV(~t "2~.f:..!.in_g w,.t town council Uncertainty continues 'to be 1985 user fee portion increase in the caldi-word for the future. of. the daily fee from $10.50 to $15 the Dryden Day.Care Centre, per day and stat.es, "it appears with pending financial losses 'likely that further increaaea will cauaing continued concern. follow in 1986." At a special day-care infonnaIn 1984, Dryden consumers tion meeting in the Dryden paid $10.50 a day, with the remunicipal office SepL 23, 15 in- maining $14 CXIYel'ed 50 per cent tereated ciiliens heard Dryden by the federal government, 30 Mayor Tommy Jones aay that .per cent by .the proviru:e and 20 although counciJ will continue • per cent by tha municipality. malting representations to the This year, the per diem cost is Minister of Community and &. $22.80, with the maximum user cial Services in an endeavor to fee effective SepL 1, 1985 at $15. keep day-care centres from cl0&: The shortfall of $7.80 is covered ing, the Town of Dryden may in- as follows: $6.24 by the province aeaae its daily day-care rates in and $1.56 by the municipality. the 1986 bw:lgeL ~ t a who are fully subsiMayor Jones also said the , the rate is $1 per day, with town would review its current the ·remaining 80-20 split cosubsidy eligibility criteria. ven,d by the province and muniln January of this year, the cipality respectively. federal government announced it Children from the unorga~ atop ita day<are subsidy 'F:ed. ~~es who~ deemed startmg ·Jan.'!t:J.986, 'Mayor ubemgm need are·lt>O]lerc:eat. Jones eaid he recently learned funded by the province; and if not that date bas been 'changed to in need, the same 80-20 split ap, SepL 1, 1986. In response to the plies. federal cutbacks, the province in• Of the average of 32 children tends to only fund those day-care currently using the centre, 12 to clienta who qualify for full or par- 15 are non-residents. tia1 subsidies through a special Mayor Jones eaid, "We believe n-18 tesL day care is an asset to the Town Diane Conway, program 8\1• of _Dryden and the users . . . if pervisor with the miniatry in we could increase the numbers in Kenon., told parents at the meet,. day care, we could then decrease ing that t.be Liberal government the per diem rate." • is proceeding as originally planHe said there ~ no~ ellO\lgh ned with the eubsidy. cuts. She chitdren in need at the Dryden eaid she is trying to help centres centreandeaidtheneedaeligibil• find methoda of lowering the per ity criteria would be looked into diem rate. for parents to .avoid after Mr. Green .suggested-a reany future closwea. view. "TheminisuyhaamadeacomMa. Conway eaid if occupancy mitment to ensure no .day-care waa incniased to 90pei: cent, the centres close as a result of the per diem rate could be reduced. policy," aha aaid, adding mllllt The miniaby ia trying to.achieve middleclaaa parents with two aratenearS18forevsyday-care children would .qualify' for IOIR8 eiinb'e in the diatriet_ eubsidy. Coun. Susan Welle auggest.ed Calvin Green, a program eu- there could be room for a lot of perviaor with the mim.try in COllt reductions in meala and Th~Bay,aaidthefd!li~ ~ bu~ Paul Hea,n, chier time <to&ptember ifnqt ~ ~tant. am '70 ·per-emit ae waa allotted b y " 1 M ~ ~ $160,000~)Ciiit is ·mr ·becauseoftherecppiz.eddiflicuJ. stall; with food costs at less than ties, 10 per cent. A wrilten' brief dilmouted'by Mr: Heayn also said IIOme council at_the_meeting notes the (c-,,,,,,.,J . . -- - - - - "'Tbe greates& danger of 11111." said Ms. Smllll. "is :''i:at~:.:r. the likelihood that mlttee Mrs. Cuol Quesne11e will dlalr tlle- daycare wlll become lhettoized. Aller all, wby lWld r~commtttee. would a pareu~ who c,ould ..='1~\!.111~ who also attended the r.~-::u~ r.ie~..r~:: informed Ille nanny Instead? Thus IP""'P daycare wUI be 115ed only by Ille less af• c\~~ of such ser· nuent members of our •~Pl'sald that Ille ,oclety, such u single meetinll- ~:::::.= 11'."7'0: elded • JocaUGIL ... In spl.. ol Ille obllacles presented by 1overn• ment'1 tncWference, enlllusiam -•iled at Ille meetinl, ~"!"~~ ld!:"i:::!uJ:: ing of a concert and uk· Ing variolll commualty and national IP""'PI for financtaJ autstance were toued arouad amon1 worklnl -,,.,., " ohe U.O preaent. :;v.=i~p:;: 11.t\._ of 1h11 c,ould be I - for• daycare alte 111 llmdlllC.-...- Ille detertanUOII of Ille inch- llliDI existing standards of quallly In factllllel, sucb u ,_,,. :.'n1a"";'tc"=t ,ri;: llalanceofllletab. ~-=u"~ ~..:.i ~-~~- :.: -ydeara ID•111,LonaJac lbree ,..,... also service lllat Ille children Ml. Smftll •. . - - oul that - - ol tbll therefore Imperative wtlhdnnl of flmdlDI. tllecaolollllCboetvicel that"bDUI aovemmentJ to usera hu riJm to u and individuals reall<e much u S35 per day In 1111 Importance of making some clllea. Thi• Is affordable daycare beyond the rtnanclal available to au parents, reacll of DIOOI middle and reaardless of income low-income families. status or geographical iseu1eec[ In September, • a>m· mualty ineelln1 will be lleld at which Ume Ille committees' (lndlnp will bit dlsc:Ussed and further action taken. tColUinu,d fmm ptJK~ I) . further staff-child ratio reducoperational changes were made tion. since July of this year in an Fouowing a discussion of attempt to reduce per diem rosts. severaf measures suggested by They include only allowing chit• council and the ministry to tackle dren two servings at lunch, cur• the day-care fundlhg problems, tailment of staff snacking pri• Mayor Jones said, "Hopefully, vileges, including soup lihd sand- some of the things we've talked wiches once weekly on the menu about will have some effect." and advising staff thilt they will He also suggested that conhave to pay for their lwiches at cerned residents should write to some point in time. the minister. Coun. George Boisaonneault expressed concern that, "If you • . In an interview aft.er the meethave two or three kid& the cost is ing, Ms. Corner said'" she was pleased the government has exastronomical." tended the date of the subsidizaCoun. Cary Case suggested tion cuts to Sept. 1, 1986 and said that if the current· eight,.t.o-one the town definitely has to look at staJ17child ratio for 24 to five- the ceilings on the eligibility year-olds was reduced to 10 to· needs test. noting that none of one, cost savings would be more the three residents tested who substantial than through any she thought would qualify for food-oriented measures. subsidies met the necessary criteria. However, Heather Corner, bryden day-care suj,ervisor, Although licensed to serve 45 said, "There goes your quality children a day. the current aver• age 1s only 32 and Ms. Covner day care." adding that it would he ju~t on<" ~tf'p from there to a F-aici t hnt 1f C'ounril again in- creases the rates in 1986, more clients could be lost: She said the re-examinution of the needs test "might make a difference" but that while she hopes the government will revrr.;,, its decision, "I don't r<•allv think they will." • �Need for adequate day care is ·e1nphasized Before attending a conference sponsored by the Ontario Coalition for Beller Day Care, the major advocacy group for child care in the province, I hadn't recoj?nized the urgency or the day care issue. More mothers or young ,hildren now work for a wage or salary than stay home full-time, and their numbers are increasing. Al the same lime, ii is women who bear U1c primary responsibility for the care and upbringing or their children. These two facts mean there is .pressing social need ror adequate child care when parents are not available lo provide it. It's not only women with school-age children who have entered the labor force. The participation rate or women with children under six has increased by 271 percent in the past 15 years. A majority of women with children under three now have jobs outside the home as well, according lo the Canadian Day Care Advocacy Association <CDCAA), a non-profit, voluntary organization based in Ottawa. The royal commissio~ report by Judge Rosalie Abella, published last fall, observes U1al, "By Canadian law both parents have a duty to care for their children, but by custom this responsibility has consitenlly fallen to the mother." Studies cited in the report show that more than 90 percent of all day care arrangements are made by mothers. It is the inability to find suitable day care which makes it impossible for many women to seek paid employment. A Canadian labor force survey Speaking of Children By HOLLY IUPIII has shown that about 121,000 working mothers had lo leave or refuse a job in 1980 because of inadequate child care arrangements. To complete lhe statistical picture, approximately 2,000,000 Canadian children need some form of child care; more than half of those children are under six. Yet in 1983, there were Jess than 140,000 licensed day care spaces in the whole country. . The current day care system is, at best, a hodge podge of municipally-run and privale I] -. . .. ~ licensed centres. family di!)' care . <homes which care for up to five children), and informal care arrangements. Babysillers, relatives and lhc neighbor down lhe street make up the "informal" system, which provides care for about 85 per cent of children. Some of these arrangments are excellent; some are far from adequate. The concern with informal care, according to most day care advocates, is that it's not licensed and therefore not well regulated; THE REGIONAL, NOVEMBER 13, 1985 • In many ways that in turn, means quality care is difficult lo ensure. • Uay care services are not distributed evenly across the country. Parents in rural areas nia,· not have access lo licensed chiid care. a situation which is compounded by region_al disparities. According to lhe CUCAA, the number of spaces per 1,000 cluldrcn under six varies from a low of nine in Newfoundland to a high of 84 in Manitoba. The key limiting factor for most families is the prohibitive cost of day care. Typically, parents must pay $2.000-5,000 per year for a licensed day care space. For children under two years, the cost can be considerably higher, as much as Si ,000 per year. The current svstem of fundine e 0\ for day care involves all levels of government. As the most critical and complex area of the day care issue, I'll examine it separately in my next column. It is fair to say that day care is fast becoming.a commodity for the rich <who can afford full fees) and a welfare service for those with tow incomes <who are helped by a subsidy>; it's middleclass parents who are hurt. the most by the present day care systems. Day care critics cling to myth that children belong at home with their mother. But the reality or middle-class Canadian Ille in the '80s is that both &pOUSeS need to work. If one parent of those working couples stayed home, about half of those working couples stayed home, about half or those Canadian families would fall below the poverty line. The neglect of a comprehensive day care policy in Canada shows that as a society, we haven't sorted out our values with respect to children and parenting. As the CDCAA told the Abella commission, "How can we not afford to support the modern family in carrying out Its most fundamental role of all - child rearing? ... As a people, Canadians must respond." THE REGIONAL, DECEMBER 4, 1985 13 Quality day care more costly tha_n average family can afford l::d. Note: This column appeared in U1e Nov. Z'1 ls&ue of lhe Regional, bowevrr ,everal columns of type were in lhe wrong ord~r. II is being rerun here for claril,l'.. People concerned about child care services in Canada all agree on one point: high quality care costs more than most parents can reasonably afford to pay. Yet most parents can- not look to the government for financial assistance. Under the existing system, day care is considered a welfare service, which means subsidy is only available to those who earn very litUe income. Seventy-five million in federal dollars are spent each year on day care through the Canada Assistance Pian ICAP). • ' Under the plan, the federal government pays 50 percent of child care costs for families "in need", and the province either pays the rest or splits the rema i II de r with the municipality. The subsidy is adjusted according to how much help the family is judged lo need. The !lroblem with CAP is that ii helps only a small number of families. In Ontario, only 30 percent of children in licensed care receive a subsidy; the rest must pay full fees, according to the Ontario Coalition for Better Daycare, a Toronto-based· lobbying organization. . When CAP was introduced in 1966 to provide social assistance and welfare services for a selected segment of Canadians, ii was never intended to become the only federal funding scheme for child c;ire services. Yet thal is the situation which has evolved. Many families look to the child care lax deduction of up to t2.ooo per child allowed on federal income tax as a means of defraying the cost of child care. Although the federal government clrectively transfers about ~!05 million lo parents U1rough this deduction, about half of this benefit goes to families with incomes of $~5.000 or more. Middle income families are hurt the most by the existing systme. They are not helped by CAP or the tax exemption, runding schemes which do nothing to build a comprehensive day care system in Canada. As one veteran day care advocate said, . of sPeakmg . Ch .Id I re n 6'° tllo)U \ RUPERT ··IJ;,v cart' is subsidized by 1i1r J..!ople involved with ii. Either the children subsidize the ser\'icc by accepting low quality cart', or the parents subsidize the service . b) accepting low salaries." With no government fundmg flowing direclly to the centres, they remain fi1iancially fragile. If there is a drop in enrolment one month, a centre goes into debt, or raises its fees, which in turn can lead lo a further drop in enrolment. At the same time, under the current system, any increase in stair salaries can only be rcllecled in increascd fees to parents. Thedaycarefieldhas become a female )Ob ghetto wiLh chronically low wages. In Ontario, lhc a,·erage annual earnings for day care worker is $13,88~. and O\'cr GO percent leave their work after one to lhr~-e years, according lo research commissioned for the federal Task Force on Child Care. Advocacy groups like the Ontario coalition and the Canadian Day Care Advocacy Association ICDCAA l see direct funding as the only way lo build a day care system which truly meets lhe developmental needs of children. Direct funding would stabilize the funds needed to de\'elop high quality programs. It would allow children from a c r o s s I h e socioeconomic spectrum to have access to a range of child care services. Access to care would no longer by hmiled by a family's ability to pay or meet financial criteria. The CDCAA also l>Oints out that direct funding would allow those who provide child care lo earn adequate wages. There are concrete lunding proposals on the table. • The CDCAA has called for a federal childcare financing act to provide federal and provincial funding for day care on a nonrestrictive, universal basis. The act would include funding lo existing licensed spaces based on a formula of $5 per day to every licensed or supervised centre or caregiver for ever ap- pro\'ed space. As a short term measure, the grant would stabilize lhe existing day care system. bringing us a step closer to universal funding without increasing fees. As Judith Martin, founding chairperson of CDCAA said, "The neglect of a comprehensive family support and day care policy in Canada intrudes severely on the privacy or the family by limiting and shaping the choices parents can make. Why are working families expected to deal with child care as an individual problem?" More than a year aflec its election, the Mulroney ·government has not de\'oted a single new penny to day care. But as any parent in the system can tell you, the day care crisis in not going to go away. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News, December 1985 Subject The topic of the resource Organizations Description An account of the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News December 1985. Includes information about the Regional Day Care Project; Time For Change Conference, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care; Indirect Subsidy; Parliamentary Task Force; Post Card Campaign; School House Play Care Centre of Lakehead and Red Lake Day Care Centre. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1985-12 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee: under copyright. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context nwodcn_85dec Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Thunder Bay Canada - Ontario - Red Lake https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/cf1b7501cce75b26d538b59167cfb45a.pdf bac6b7efc67335fe41bcec4fcf608c16 PDF Text Text , ':1f J .,.: .• N·orthwestern Ontario Day Care April 86 News 1 NWO DAY CARE NEWS is a forum for the sharing of information between day care groups throughout Northwestern Ontario, as wel I as providing information about what's happening on the federal and provincial scenes - both in terms of governmental policy/ legislation and wi~h advocacy groups' activities. We hope that this newsletter wi I I combat some of the isolation that day care workers and advocates fee I and that through sharing resources, ideas and action plans we can develop strategies to ensure the growth and strengthening of qua I ity day care in our region. We welcome submissions to this newsletter from every day care centre and committee throughout NWO. Please send art i c Ies, newsc I i pp i ngs, I etters, etc. to Box 144, Thunder Bay P7C 4V5. This news update wi I I be brief as we are enclosing the Coal it ion newsletter which provides a wealth of information about day care issues you wil I be interested in. INDIRECT SUBSIDY Be sure to read pp.3-5 of the Coal it ion newsletter which indicates optimism that the province wi I I make some necessary changes. As you wil I see, Gerry Duda, Senior Pol icy Coordinator, COMSOC "agreed with Coal it ion representatives that it did not make sense for the province to be enforcing its instructions to municipal day care centres to increase their fees to ful I per diem costs -at the same time the government was conducting a ful I-scale review of funding alternatives". Duda informed Sue-Colley "that indeed there seems to have been an oversight and the Regional Directors were meeting with the Policy Branch ... to discuss a new pol icy which would relax the rule requiring municipal centres to raise their fees to ful I cost by the end of 1986". While this is welcome news, we cannot relax. It appears that this relaxed policy/directive has not filtered down because we keep hearing that district COMSOC officials are continuing to pressure municipalities to raise fees and to take cost-cutting measures that wi I I erode the qua I ity of care provided by day care centres (see Thunder Bay and Longlac articles). It would be a tragedy if any of our NWO centres were forced to close or abandon qua I ity service before new (and hopefully satisfactory) policies were effected. We must increase our advocacy to ensure the stabi I ity of our existing centres. NWO DAY CARE PROJECT Our funding request to Secretary of State to carry out our regional project from January - June 1986 got caught in the federal government "freeze", and our grant was rejected because "the Government has acted on the basis of its fundamental commitment to reducing the nat i ona I debt". We fa i I to see how the $12,000 we were denied wi I I substantially reduce the federal deficit ... however, the reality is we didn't get it, so our plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of day care in NWO and to convene regional forums have had to be postponed. We have re-app·I ied for the grant for the period June - December 1986, thus hopefully the forums can be organized for early fal I. VIDEO PROJECT The Coal it ion has received a grant from the Ontario Women's Directorate for the Chi Id Care Video Project. Videotapes • wi I I be produced in 10 communities across the province, i I lustrating chi Id care concerns of local parents and day care groups. Marathon and Sioux Lookout have been chosen to represent NWO day care programs and issues. �I2 I COMMUN ITY NE\~S REPORTS TO READ The Post Card campaign organized by the SIOUX LOOKOUT PARENTS' GROUP is wel I underway, with hundreds of post cards from across Northwestern Ontario being sent to Premier David Peterson urging a universally accessible, publicly funded, high qua I ity day care system. If you need more post cards for your community, contact Janet Wi I ki nson, Box 177, Sioux Lookout or the NWO Regional Day Care Committee, Box 144, Thunder Bay P7C 4V5. Be sure to get a copy of the Report of the Task Force on Chi Id Care (the Katie Cooke report). This report can be obtained for $9.95 from Canada Government Publishing Centre, Supply & Services Canada, Ottawa KIA OS9. We al I need to be familiar with this report and be prepared to advocate for a number of its key recommendations. Some excel lent research studies have also been published (separately) by the Task Force. These are avai Iable free from the Communications Unit, Status of Women Canada, 10th Floor, 151 Sparks Street, Ottawa. TERRACE BAY's Town Counci I approved a request by the Day Care Group and have appointed a Day Care Advisory Committee composed of Town Counci I and parent representatives. This committee wil I further investigate ways and means to develop a day care centre in Terrace Bay. We are pleased to know that a Parents' Group has been formed in GERALDTON. The BIG TROUT LAKE Women's Group have placed day care at the top of their priorities. They have conducted a needs survey and are working toward the establishment of a day care centre in their community. We're happy to report that THUNDER BAY City Counci I is taking real leadership by urging the province to continue the 'indirect subsidy'. This and other positive actions arose from a recent meeting of .the City's Community Services Committee. With day care children and their parents packing Counci I Chambers, city politicians gave a sympathetic hearing to the briefs submitted by the Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Chi Id Care, NWO Regional Day Care Committee, CUPE and individual parents. The issue arose because City Administration had put forward a report which included a number of recommended • changes that would seriously affect the quality of Thunder Bay's municipal day care and jeopardize the existence of lhe centres. Thankfully, City Counci I deferred al I these recommendations and wi I I press the province- for appropriate government support. (If you would like a copy of the brief we made to the City let us know.) SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CHILD CARE Although the dates for the hearings iQ Thunder Bay and Dryden have not yet been· confirmed, it appears I ikely that they wil I be ~eld during the week of May I~ . to May 16. Please plan to attend these hearings. Contact your parent group or day care supervisor for more information. THUNDER BAY ADVOCATES FOR QUALITY CHILD CARE ... Thunder Bay Advocates for Qua I ity Chi Id Care wi I I be meeting on Thursday, Apri I 17, 1986, at 8:00 p.m. at Ogden Community Centre to discuss the fo I lowing: Representations to the Special Committee on Chi Id Care; report and fol low-up to the presentation ma.de to City Counc i I; and plans for future activities of the advocacy group. If you require chi Id care, please advise by cal ling 345-7802 no later than Apri I 16. "The lack of better data on the number of children requiring chi Id care services is, perhaps, a reflection of the profound disinterest in the Ii ves and we I fare of chi Idren and their fam i I i es, which we detect on the part of government and po I icy makers in Canada." [The Katie Cooke Report] �Times-News, March I I, 1986 Chronicle-Journal, March 11, 1986 Daycare provides hot times ByHA\'lllt'IIOOD Chronidr-Juurn.11 Slarf An anxious cro•·d of 150 peopl•. mosl of lhem women and t'hildnn, overflov. td council chamben Mon• day. tttking lurns lo ,peak out agiiinsl policits lh•y feel lhruien lhe i,.,1111.sn:1>T rily'1 daycare ... •·tn hilu.•5 syslem. lrightc-ning" The community sen·ice~ commillee -.·as faced "·ith JO depulalions from indi• viduals or groups im·olved with day• care. The message was the ume Krap SOC'iail ~rvires' plan to cul back on daynre starf and pass on large tosl incrr.un 10 full-pay users. ··Tb, plans are jt.-opardizing the municipal daycare system we have in place:· ,aid Rulh Wells. president of Thunder Bay Ad,·ocales for Qualily Child Care. • new umbrella group. --coun<il musl ask Ibis policy be re• scinded immNiialely ... At issue is an administration report ~~!c:!!': :a~:~::n··::5!::,,~~l:f!!: Several speakers conlf:nded higher ft.-eS v.·ilJ lower daycare occupancy rates lo lhe point where the city will have to dose one or more of its cenlres. 01hen said single parents especially have had to pass on jobs ilnd drop out of training courses bl"Cause of a Jack of daycare. Fiona Karl,tedl. speaking for lhe Northweslern Ontario Regional Day Care commillee, said she found the hiked· fees ··an extremely frightening proposal... KIIAUS•; HOOED Aid. Peter KraUS<? IMclnlyrel got 1 boo from the p.1rllsan crowd when he sug~<-sl<d the indirecl subsidy might not entirely be needed and questioned .. ~·helher, al Hn:es, lhal ldayca;reJ need is being placed •·her, ii belongs." But Kr,;,use's insi~tcnce the real problem lies with the lederal and provincial governments, who should be ••pres• sured'' lo change their plans. met with agreement from the majority of the committee. A tettm from city social services Jed by Jim Dolph, told lhe commin,.' the eliminalion ol the indirect subsidy, now set lo occur at the end of lhe year, was the chief faclor prompling the report. Also, '"if we don't move lo enrolment• based contracts, lhe province could cancel all other subsidies," uid Qolph. Dolph and other Slaff explain«! laler the daycare enrolmenl contracts will nol penalize parents for suddenly• <'hanged circumstances. The agree• ments will contain cancellation clause& based on only 48-houn notice, allowing parenls wh05e work hours, family conditions or locations have chan,ed to avoid paying for unused daycare lime. Delph said currently only 69 per cent or city daycare spaces are occupied and lhal a largel of 90 per cent is needed lo sl.ilve off the impending fee hikes. • Nonetheless, many 11dermen ex• pressed <'1Jncem "'ilh the reporl's sue• geslions and the comm1tlt..-e deferred the mosl conlroversial six of J1 recommen• dalions alter commillee dlairman Aid. Dusly Miller rel•yed some recent d<•el• opmenls on lhe provincial level: daily rale (ar chilflren in clty daycare. Mosl thanJes afl«I lhe 275 children un• der care 1n (our organized centres. Amonglhem: • Fee hikes sl.ilrting this September to be1w ..n $26.33 and $28.16 per child per day from $17.$0 currenlly charged, •·hen the ••indir«t subsidy" from the federal ,ovemment thars passed on by the province is eliminated. • Enrolment-based stalling, using four-hour "supply" daycare workers, permanent parl-timers and splil shifts u, pla« of some of U,., ..lixed"' stall. • Enrolment contracts with parents, JSin& a binding contract lhal would ~~!~ 1rhea~u:~r i~1d~~~!!~eitf:~~ places the current method of billing cli• eni. based on 1Uendance records. • Clooing two of the centres for the monlhs of July and August. when sys• lem••·id< occupancy is only 50 per eent. C"IT\' TRAPPED, Bllr... ··we are truly caught betw,.n I rock and a hard place - ho"·ever, lhere b 1 ALREADY BIG l'IIOHLEMS Several speaker$ lold u,., commillee lilllt lighl al lhe end of lhe lunnel." she the changes could destroy a daycare announced. Miller said provincial official$ hive S)'S1f'm 1hat already has problems, in• dudin& ill cost to the lower ranks of recently admillcd the plan to recover middlf'-income people and .. working the fuJI cost of daycare from iother• wise I unsubsidized families Is "al odds .. poor•· and with low pay-levels for sLilfl. ··why is u,., city so eager lo further re- with the Liberal government's expan11rid at"<'f'.11 to qua lily daycare?" asked sion of such services: Joan Williams, a parent using the city , ··Regional direc:lon tol lhe Ministry <enlres. '"A subslanlial rale increase ol Community and Social Services) wlh •·ill force parenlJ to find less expensive be asked to relax this policy" while u,., government prepares a white paper on and CinleriorJ daycare." "Compu-ed to other increaHS, I.he ex• all daycare Issues, she uid. "I've heard more than enough to con• ltaonlinary increase in dar,care fees appeal'$ dillocull to justily. • said Wells. vince me we're jumping the gun on this lOting cily daycare fees rose 350 per issut!."" said Aid. B•lly Kenn<dy IMcK• cent bel~·..n 1!174 and lasl year, double ellarJ. '"There are numerous long and short-term impliulions, like daycare in/lalion"s <limb. Judith Mongrain. pr<Sid<nl of the Ca· centre closures." The committee deferred lhe ilems on nadian Union ol Public Employees' Local t1 repraenlin& city v.·orkers, said the !ee increase, summer closures, inlhe polities •·ill cost both daycare work· clus1on of younger-aged infants and an ers and p,1rents usinl the city service April I largel dale for dropping lhe lndi• lh•ir jobs. lhe Jailer becausr lhry"II ~ttl subsid,., ..~ial services will modily have lo quil rather than pa .. mosl ol its propos.a s 1n lime for the commitlee'1 April meeling. th Th~ co~~illtt, however. agreed to °o~:~'::!~Yiorca the ~ity lo pass on e,imination ol the lndi· drop its m1mmum user fee ubout S2S 1 year> for ~·elfan~ clienls and lo raise the reel daycare subsidy - roughly IO per slandlird deduction used to r•kulale u,., doycare subsidy "means lesl" lrom 10 ::!:'a:-~u~r~!ni~:n-~--~ per cent ol net Income lo 25 per cent, Sl,t!llper child, .. wid Wells. .. 11'1 unlikely lhert art very many broadening auiilanre •haibility . famihes ~·ho can afford lhese fees," she The cily will also pl,ace lhe iuue 15qua• uid, prtdiclinl a rnlriC'lion of munlcl· rely on the shoulden or the province and pal dayn~ to subsid11td, lower-income anempl lo lobby lor relcnl1on o/ the in• d1rorl 1ubsldy. l1milit1 and ..the rich." ::'l!>~~:rfo5 :.::i Parent awareness__me~ting--· at Long lac day ca-r~ "c;e.ntre, ,· ' ....... , _ _;- --- JI - be eligible lo r~ccive a subsidy to a~si1t was pn:v1ous1y quesuonea by parents lhem in paying for the cosl ol kt..-epine concerning the cost or part-time day. lheir child in day rare. Janlunen care usage. Jt is hardtr lo Hhedu)e str~~rd thal the assist.nee Is nol wel- st~ffing for part-time day care, so that LONGLAC - Gu\·crnmcnt suh~idy fare but a·subsidy. TI1rough this furmat ra1~cs the cost, she said. • . • • • •. ends lur lht- Longlar O~y C;,rr Centre on 1).&rt~i~ ~ubsidizalion can be available~ Jn an dforl lo miintatn stable -...·ork• Nov. J, iillld U,e adminislr.1lors Mr'-' plan• - Ehg1b1hly dl'pcnds upon inct1me Mnd ing condilions lor the slliff, therefore rening ahead. mcinlhly bills, with available im·ome u ducinc lht pouibilily of Joosine ,tart, . A Lout 15 porcnts atknded a parent the key. Jttnluncn asked parrnU loronsidct hava~,;,renrss 1m:tling where lhcy were A policy, 10 say thal .aJJ parcnb v.·ould ine the day care closed for two months gi\'c•n an u51porlunity lo dirtcl their romplcle a nl't'ds test, was an idea pre. in U1e summu or make it a\l'ailable for quc!<lliuns lo lot·al dd)' rare.· h·adcrs and u·ntrd al the meeling. This way lhtre full time wurking J'41rents onJy during C,1;h·i11 r.tt.'l'll, proi:ram !>Uf1Cn'i~or -...·ilh wuuld ht no sel lee. A fol ol JJ(.'ople try lo th.al lime. •• lhe Mmistry of Cummunily aod Social rc•ducc llitir i,icomc lax, lhis is a way to Desnciges Blier. i member ol the Sl'n·ic-es. rcdu(.'e individual day rare fees, said slalf, iolrodured 1hr Jnle~ution pro111(:rt.·a~cs in day c.ire rafts ar sd,cd- r.rccne. Jrim for mtnt.ally or j>hystcally h.andulc:d lhroughoul lhc )'l'ilr to inf.·orpurate • l<"iJJJicd children 01ildrcn placed in tJlil 1 u~tr va,· J1C>hry. nic i,cr dif.•m, v.·hat it Running .tn dlil'icnt day c.re r~duces p1ugro1m can be ;n~isted in learning and fCl)lS IOtlJlt.'rale i,,<:r child pcr day, is $20. operating costs. and one "''ii)' Co do that ran imvrove In basic skills. PariaiLs of TI1e people are paying Sil a day. 111e is through utilization of stall. JI tnrol• special netds children should contact pro\'iun: 1i.ays 80 per rcnl and the lown ' mcnl is JOO per t·cnt capacity it ie du,·a the day rart centre lof furtJ1er inlorma• pays 20 per cenl ol the .tmounl not µaid roSlS. Prc~ent cap;,cily is 45 children. lion concernin, th program.• . .by p.rt:nLS. .. Enrolment is about 100, bul allendance Fee calculation for children v.ith ipev;,rit..'S lo meel the n,-eds of the J)-'renl.5. cial nt-eds a,, difrtrcnt. said Vinceol Hates will mcrease $1 lor the first Cuntractcd c.:nn,lmenl. whiC:h would Green, v..·ho has been associated v.ith child in Loth June and Novl•mLcr. m.iiinLain ma>:imum use of the d.-y c.iire the program for about four ye.an, sajd TI1t· costs art prl'll)' wtJJ fixed," said staff, is 1nothc1 elliciency me.ans. nus he found the Longlac day cai-e cent.re J~ne Jantuncn, 11ocial ~crvice adminis- v.·ould involve commJlling p.itrenls to Wlique. ''Bt:eau.se of the French immerlnlor. TI,o~e inc1udc hydro, heat and briug lheii child lo day care. sion that is h~re. And II works." he said. 5.aluies. .:~•~•~o~'g_,h18J; of•~~ f:~:it•:1.f:~~d1r~:~Jt..!ii Tht more children that allend day ,..,!u~~ • care, the lt!SS lJ1e cost.s. II 1~-ople take with a sillec. --who can allord to pay two th• baby 1iller, .. said Jantunen. . • Thr biggest' question," admitted 01cir children out ol the day care, the limes?" she asked. cosl per child will co up. she added. "We v.·ould have to give a financial Bernice Picard, an early childhood 'Po1rcnls wert em·ourag1..-d to complete "Lrcak for pt.-ople undtr contract," Jan• worker, following lhe meelin& wa1 furm 7, ~·hich is a Nt•eds Tt..•sling for• •luucn aruwered. ..~·hy the aovemme"l doan'l iee day m.-t, to dl·lcrminc whether they would Agnes Vinrent, day care supervisor, careasimporlanl." Hy H~;A A~EIIS-11\"IIO/'i rorn·~J11.mdul CTtll•J1l1unc 329-~71 I) ' 0 ~f1~~.:!t~ 0 Daycare studying finances meetings with M.P.P., council Ma,alhon Dilyc.are ii invt~li&:tlins ,;,hc,na1i\·e1 lo finance i" ,·rn1u· on lic:111l0 D,i.,.c. The h\•.trd tha1 ovtr~cc1 the op,cra1ion of lhc n.·01,c mcl "ilh M.P.P. Cii1lc) r~ulio1 l~sl_ -...n·I. 10 cnlisl. his suppm1 m a11;u11mg fundins f,om lhc pu.n-incial rmc-rnmcnt. Da)·fa1t pll'lliJcnl him Ransom ,ays 1ha1 M.11.a1hon Daycart i1 lhc fo\l l.tdli1y in llu: nullh of lhis lypc "1htt1 i\n 1 1 toing 10 1;c1 fundins... The MiniSII)' ol Communil)' ;,md So.:i.tl Sc1vio:s (C'OMSOC) fundcd rhc upna1ion cm1s lo, a sia,i up pl'I ind .tnd 1.·,m1ribu1,·d ., omc of 1hc capi1al 10 puu:ha~c rquip1m·n1 hul nin1i11ucs 10 ruud ,,nly sub~idi,cd llJl-''n. • Ho111som uid 1ha1 Pouliot promi>cd 10 1.tU, 10 ,-c111u: fK·,1plc in Tuwnlo ;md lll"C ii 1ht1t \,,o ~umc lu1J1Kial lallpp,111 ;,\a1l.1hle. R;,n~om ~.aid hi) ho.ud 1old Poulio1 1hc 0·1111t ir. a 1:10\\ iu, facility »nd ••1w1 a \\ hi1c dcphan1••. lie Hid 1ha1 money is 111a·drd to 1c1 ii 1111001:h 1hc 11'°" lh )&·au. "Wc'\t 1:01 1hr ha,il.:s," ht )o1id, bu1 ,ueucd 1ha1 1hc ci.:n11c m·rds )Omc ••t,ilb" 1u uial.c lhc tol'n·icc a daycare "th•• mo,c people ,...ill be h.-ppy wi1h. •• The bo;,rd hn•c pu11in1 all lu I fuud raisin& r11s in one basl.ct. JI inlc:nds lo .tpprnach co1pora1ions in lhc communi1y 10 ask for a per hour annl in nch,;,nge for iuaro1n1trin1 Sp.tees. The cenue could fill 1he rnc1vcd spaces on a condi1ional arranicmcn1 until the corporation, wan1cd ii . The cor• pon1ion could oiler guar.1n1ccd spacn u para ol 1hc bcocfh • p.tcL.a1c 101 employees. 'fht fin1 corpo10111ion 10 be ofrc,c-d 1his auan1irmrn1 will be ch; T,1'-'mhip of M.tralhon. The Da)~·J1c Hoard hiils ;,lll:cd 10 mcel ..., i1h 1l1c ,·uuncil 10 discuss ihis and 01hcr \\.&)'' rl,c- munilipali1y can of• fr, ,h,i)l,.nrc. Thh indudn ~sl:in& Ilic iowmhip 10 t·ovc:1 20-;0 QI 1hc c.m1 ol 1ubiidi1cd 1pt11rn CCOMSOC onJy p,1y1 kO'l•) and providina or u1h,iJiiin1 lCI\ ice, ,uch as snlic11011. I ocal sc.,.,.ice clubs h.-vc also l1n·n .t\L1.·J 10 C1.H1laidcr purd,.-sin1 .:,111ipmcnl for lht dayc;,rc. ~~ H.iillin, 1hc p1ofik of 1he do1yca1c ala .1 lien ice prn\·idcr is another ,11a1cu 1-hc bua,d is puuuing. ro, im.lanct 1hc ccnur ru111:n1ly olftn a "la1chl.c)'°' pro~r.•m in 1ht moruing ro, 11uhlic )Chool siuJcno. Pau·nu nn d1op 1hrir child1cn oil a1 lhc d.tycarc any1imt ahcr· 1:30 wh4.•rc ltu:y will he lool.ed ar1n 11111il lht ~duml lm) ar• rives in (10111 of lht ccnue. A 1turl'a11i1,uiun is 1al.ing pla~e a1 1hc t·cnuc. The day has been hrol.cn dC'lwn inlo "bloch" which :.re orfc:rl'd ill a rtdun·J rate for para lime d;1)'l'arc IIH'f!r> 1ha1 conuact a v.1.·ck ahead. k.an\Om calls the ))'Mi.:m "t·onlt:&CI billinc." Ul'~idcs lhl' la1chl.cy blocL a 1110mins and af1~1noon ••socialiialion .. blocl: i1 a\·ailablc s.o 1h.t1 children "ho a1e d,oppcd oil c.-.n be im·olv• rd in a cm~1rk1c pwr•.1111 in11cad of comin& in lhc middle of s.omrthina. The S)'Uem is hdpina 1hc cenuc ,a1jonali:1c iu scl1cdul• in&, h's ca~ier lo dc1c,mine how many staff members arc ncedtd. ho"· much food should be .t\·ail.tblc and removes 1hc surp,is.cs in the worl.crs• day. Diop-in d.t)·nrc U)CU 1ha1 don'I nofily 1hc ,rnuc of Iheir in1cn1ion by 1hc Thuud;iy p,ior to using 1hc service ·will pay lhc p,rmium ra1e of Sl.00 ~r hour. u~crs takini advantage of 1hc con1,ac1 billina s.avc 75C per hour. "We're nol • squeaky whtel," says Ransom. ••we sc1.tmblc hul "'C' provide a sc:r.,.ice.•• The un·ice is srnwin& siodily he says. The ccnlr< is holdina i1s own wi1h the cquhi1lcn1 of 14 full lime p;u1icipo11111. Marathon Mercury, January 29, 1986 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News, April 1986 Subject The topic of the resource Organizations Description An account of the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News April 1986. Includes information about Indirect Subsidy; NWO Care Project; Child Care Video Project, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care; day care news for Sioux Lookout, Terrace Bay, Big Trout Lake, Geraldton, Thunder Bay; Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986-04 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee: under copyright. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context nwodcn_86apr Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Thunder Bay Canada - Ontario - Sioux Lookout Canada - Ontario - Terrace Bay Canada - Ontario - Big Trout Lake Canada - Ontario - Geraldton https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/495184ecbd0ef63599e85a91b02280b0.pdf 6a080692f568bd1ed0b7932f7823ddb9 PDF Text Text Northvvestern Ontario Day Care Nevvs JULY '86 We are pleased to advise that we recently received a grant from Secretary of State Women's Programs which al lows us to continue our activities, including publication of the newsletter and the planning and organization of the regional chi Id care forum(s). public hearings have now been completed. The Special Committee is expected to table its report in the fal I. Ask your federal member of par I iament to keep you informed of the progress of the Special Committee. ******************************************** NWO DAY ~ARE NEWS is a forum for the sharing of information between day care groups throughout Northwestern Ontario, as wel I as providing information about what's happening on the federal and provincial scenes, both in terms of governmenta I po Ii cy / I eg is Iat ion and with advocacy groups' activities. We hope that this newsletter wi I I combat some of the isolation that day care workers and advocates feel and that through sharing resources, ideas and action plans we can develop strategies to ensure the growth and strengthening of quality day care in our reg ion. We welcome submissions to this newsletter from every day care centre and committee throughout Northwestern Ontario. Please send art i c I es, newsc I i pp i ngs, Ietters, etc. to Box 144, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 4V5. WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS to each and every one of you who made presentations to the federal government's Special Committee on Chi Id Care hearings in Dryden and Thunder Bay. Parent groups, day care workers, administrators, politicians, women's groups, native organizations, labour representatives, individual parents everyone gave impressive representation and you should al I be proud of yourselves. The Special Committee certainly heard strongly and clearly - the day care issues in Northwestern Ontario and the needs of our children. But now we must keep monitoring the activities of the Special Committee and keep pressing for action on the recommendations we have made. The CITY OF THUNDER BAY ESTABLISHES ADVISORY COMMITTEE We would like to congratulate City Counci I for establishing its Chi Id Care Advisory Committee. The committee is made up of representatives from counci I and city administration, parents from day care centres and private home day care, and the president of the Thunder Bay Advocates for Qua I ity Chi Id Care. The objectives of the advisory committee are "to investigate issues and developments related to chi Id care in the City of Thunder Bay and to advise the Community Services Committee of the Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay". Some of the issues the Advisory Committee hopes to tackle in the near future include the indirect subsidy, fee increases and enrollment-based fees. We hope that this committee wi I I be beneficial to the operation of the city's day care services and the decision making at City Hal I. DAY CARE VIDEOTAPES CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND MANY THANKS TO SIOUX LOOKOUT AND MARATHON for their participation in the video project! The Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care, through an Ontario Women's Directorate grant, sponsored the project which resulted in the production of videotapes portraying the situation of day care in ten diverse communities of the province. Northwestern Ontario was al lotted two of the ten tapes. Sioux Lookout was chosen �(2] as representative of an established day care that was threatened with closure because of the indirect subsidy withdrawal. Marathon was selected as the second site because it is one of the newest day care programs in the region and demonstrates the problems faced and the commitment required of a nonprofit parent organization working di I igently to provide high qua I ity day care for their children. Thanks to the expertise of Monitor North, coupled with the enthusiasm of Sioux Lookout and Marathon day care people (and Fiona and Margaret's newlylearned editing ski I Is), we have two fine day care videos. You may wish to borrow these videos for information/ education purposes. Contact Jan Garden, Marathon Day Care; Janet Wilkinson, Box 177, Sioux Lookout; or the NWO Regional Day Care Committee, Box 144, Thunder Bay. PROVINCIAL CONCERNS DECEMBER 31, 1986 looms closer and closer, and sti I I no word about new provincial policy that could save our centres from closure. In the provincial budget speech, the treasurer announced that Ontario would request the federal government to negotiate new policies to make day care a public service. While this is a positive direction, we al I know that federal-provincial negotiations are a ti me-consuming process. It wou Id not on I y be ironic, but tragic, if positive new day care pol icy was put into effect after our centres have been forced to close. We need action now to ensure the stabi I ity of our existing centres. The provincial day care Pol icy Review has not been made public. Ask your MPP what the status of the Review is. RED LAKE UPDATE The day care centres in Red Lake, Ear Fal Is and Balmertown have received COMSOC funding to develop publicity materials to promote their services. A 24 page handbook for parents, which includes professional photos and children's drawings, is currently being compiled and wi I I go to the pub I isher in the next few weeks. The handbook wi 11 be distributed by al I three centres in the fal I. The pub I ication attempts to answer the questions every parent asks when enrol ling a chi Id in care, while also explaining the goals and benefits of group day care. In our community, many people sti I I don't understand what day care is and what benefits it can offer fami I ies. The project represents a cooperative effort to boost public relations and address, in a positive way, the chronic problem of declining enrollment at the centres in our area. ******************************************* NEWS ITEMS THE LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA wi I I be holding a pol icy convention this fal I. We understand that a position on day care wi I I be developed at this convention. Please contact the Liberal Party representatives (especially convention delegates) and inform them of the needs, problems and solutions to the day care situation. Make sure they have a copy of your brief to the Special Committee. We have been advised that ONTARIO ATTORNEY GENERAL IAN SCOTT, WHO IS ALSO MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES, wi I I be visiting various Northwestern Ontario communities in September. (We believe Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Grassy Narrows and Thunder Bay are included in his itinerary.) Plan to have day care spokespersons attend these meetings. It is important that Mr. Scott is made aware of our particular NWO day care concerns. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND LOBBY OF THE ONTARIO COALITION FOR BETTER DAY CARE wil I be held in Toronto, October 24-27, 1986. It is important that as many NWO delegates as possible attend this conference to ensure our perspective is heard. It is a Iso import ant that we have the opportunity to share with and learn from other day care advocates - such meetings provide new energy to carry ori our important work. We are uncertain what subsidies may be available, so al I of us may have to think of raising some funds to assist our Northwestern Ontario delegates. �[3] REGIONAL FORUM(S) I Plans for the regional forum(s) are progressing. we are sti I I looking for your input to decide whether there should be one or two forums. We believe that we should hold the forum(s) as soon as possible, as it is urgent that we determine what action we must collectively take - particularly around the issue of indirect subsidy. We ask anyone who has not yet returned the planning survey to do so (a copy of the survey is enclosed). Detailed plans concerning the forum(s) wi I I be sent to you within a month. ********************************************* Response to our planning survey received to d~te indicates that Financial Stability of Centres is the most important issue for the majority of you. Relations with the provincial government, day care workers' concerns, and development of parent groups are also priority items. CONFIRMATION OF A GRANT FROM THE ONTARIO WOMEN'S DIRECTORATE to assist the Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee in carrying out research and pub I ic education initiatives has just been received. That assistance is gratefully acknowledged. Local repre~E~n~~!tYi~~wf~l9[~§p day-care issues ,,-. ' By Holly Ruperl The Special Committee on Child Care, a seven-member federal task force studying day-care services acrosa Canada, made a one-<lay stop in Dryden May 12. The committee's tenm of reference call for a review of the quality and availability of"'non-parental" care, the economic implicatio111 of child care, and the role of the federal government in the provision of care. The Dryden hearin'gs repr• sented a critical opportunity for pa• rents and day-<:are advocates in the northwest region to make their • --~ :...,. ,... _.. -:!fi: , ,~· _ "Cllolce Important" . Whenever the day-are isaue is. discussed, emphas11 11 alwaya placed on the importance of choice. People believe parents should be rr.e to choose the_ kind .of care they want for their_ch1ldren. Yet, given the current s1tuatton, parents do not always have a real choice when it comes to finding child For instance, parents have little choice if their children are noteligible for formal group day care. • The two municipally-run daycare centres that serve the Red Lake district in Red Lake and Balmertown, lack an infant-toddler program for children under two and care. an 1nt_egrated _p rogram to acco_mmodate special-needs chi I, ' dren. This meana many families in , .' • ~-~ .. :.- - I Only about 15 per cent of Canadian cliildren receive care in the formal day-care system. Rather than expand the system, both the federal and provincial govern• ments seem anxious to find the informal day-ean, market. A babysittet-, relative or neigh- f ,1 • • , i .'. 1• bor_- in short, anyone who cares • - -1. ~.j,:.''""' · · • .' •.~-- ~~,,;;"'i' • . ~ ., . concema known. Groups from Red Lake, Dryden, • Sioux Lookout and Fort Frances, among others, made submiasio111 to tire committee. The Red Lake delegation was small. I addresaed the committee as, a day-ean, parent and as a council member of the Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care, a Torontobased provincial lobbying group. I was joined by Rhona Karschti, a former day-are supervisor in Yel• lowknife, N.W.T., now living in Red Lake. . Together we tried to provide some understanding of the problems parents needing child care face in our area. As the committee will discover, they are problems parents are facing acrose the country. .. - ' • ~ " ~ ·'- · ':' I ~•• "-11 JMneltlJ Kclltynuk, a chHd-ca,e worlce< at Red Lake day-ca,e centre, takes "18 of Ta,yn Vachotl. Thirty.four children regularly attend day C819 in Red Lake. ' our area do not have accesa to the services provided in those centres. Both centres are working to provide the best service they can given their budget and·space restrictions. While program expansion is ::!i!/!'; ~!~1r:~• without an Under the existing system, the only way to get new long-term funding ia to raise fees. That would mean adding substantially to the financial burden day-care parents already carry. . • • In fact, the high coot· IS the main reason a great many parents cannot afford formal day care. Although all three levels of govemment help to fund day care, we have essentially a user-pay syatem. typically, parents must pay $2,000-5,000 per year for a licensed day-ean, space in Ontario. High fees have me.,;t that across thecountry,daycareisfactbecom• ing a commodity for the rich t who can afford full feesl and a -welfare service for those with low incomes (who are eligible for a subsidy 1. It's the middle-income families, whose earnings are not low enough to allow them to qualify for subsidy, who are hurt the most under the existing system. The user-pay system has thrown day-are services int.o a crisis situa• tion and small municipally-run centres are particularly at risk. Because many parents cannot for a child in his or her own homeis part of the informal care system. The informal is largely unregulated, making it almost impossihie to ensure good quality care. For parents who cannot find or afford formal care, placing their child in someone's home becomes the only available choice. To fully regulate informal care. ensuring quality care, would be a massive undertaking. Some daycare advocates believe the government might attempt it as a cheap alternative to improving the formal day-care system. It would not be cost efficient t<> fund the informal market at the expense of existing formal services. Already many day-care facilities across the country are not being used fully because of the critical re, lationahip between fees and enrolment. Taken together. the comments oi witnesses appearing before the special committee in Dryden made one point very clear: Parents need da) care; they want to see existing services protected and expanded. The federal government has an obligation to provide the direction and funds to stengthen the day- care services offered in individua1 communities. and in so doing, develop a day-care system that meet, the needs of all Canadian families The Special Committee on Chile afford day care. enrolment has Care will continue its hearing unu dropped, which in turn means daily late June and its report is due to b.fees must rise to cover the cost of tabled by November. The commil staffing and running the centre. It tee will accept written submission~ becomes a vicious cycle that can jeopardize the quality of care the children receive. The only way out. according to many day-care advocates. includ• ing those who made submissions to the Special Committee on Child Care. is a federal funding scheme that would see new dollars flowing into the svstem for each· licensed day-care space. from any concerned individuals or groups until June 2. These shouk be forwarded to The Clerk. Specia Committee on Child Care. Suit 308 151 Sparks St. Committees anc Private Legislation Branch. Houst of Commons. Ottawa. Ont. Kl,> 0A6. Holl.-.Rupert 1s a da_v-careadL·oeat, and freelance writer living lake. in Rec �[4] Day-aue funding was an issue repeatedly nused during public hearings conducted by the Special Parliamentary Committee on Child Care May 12 at the Best West.em Motor Inn in Dryden. Among those making presentations to the committee were representatives. of the Dryden Day-Care Centre, the Dryden . Day-Care Parents Group and the Norah Love Children'sCentre in Siowt Lookout. . ' Heather Corner, supervisor of the Dryden Day-Care Centre, told the committee, "During the years when couples are raising their families, t.ieir income is the lowest and their household costa are the highest in relationahip to that income. ., __2~ couples are trying to ·.,............, a home, pay a mortgage, raise a family and genera1; ly start a life. Today, many couples find they bot.h have to work to maintain the household. "l'hrough aft'ordable day-aue programs,• she said. "this can be accomplished.• Ms. Comer said direct sub, sidies will take effect in Dryden Jan. 1, 1987, "and we have tried to come to grips with this problem. • "We have loet approximately 20 children because of the implementation of direct subsidy.• Noting that day-care costa have rilien due tocleclinin« enrolment from $19.30 in Novemller of 1983 to $27.22 in November o{ 1985, Ms. Corner recommended that for parents in need. funding should be 20 per cent municipal and 80 per cent federal/provincial, and parents not in need should provide 55 per cent themselves, with 10 per cent from the municipality and 35 per cent from the federal and municipal governments. Jeri Tymura, spokesman for the Dryden Day-Care Parents Group, said. "I'he need for aff'onlable quality care for our children is real, yet this care is not accessible for reasons of aft'onlability, availability and the lack of 0exibility within the fragile support system that exists ,;ww." ' She told the ci:rmmittee, "If child<are services are limited to certain children, whether the criteria be the age or. ability of the child. or the 6nancia1 status of the family, t.hen the purpose of day care has been forgotten.• By pricing day-aue services beyond the means of middle income families, said Ms. Tymura, "we are reducing its chance. of survival." In conduaion, sbe told the committee, "There muat be a longt.erm commitment to aft'ordable, quality child care in Canada. "There muat be a concerted effort to eetabliah a reasonable and consistent means of supporting our existing child<are faci!i; ties. There muat be in place a sy&t.em by which the private sector. whether it be by business or industry, (can) establiah child care in the workplace.• Saying it would be "disastrous to- see what bu evolved disappear," Ms. Tymura apresaed hope that the committee will come up with some tlnn reeolutions and direction for the future. A written brief pre.nted by the parents committee of the Norah Love's Children's Centre in Sioux Lookout. stat.es, "Our children are not a social burden - they are an investment.• The centre usually has a waiting.list of about 10 children. but the brief state&. "Although we need more-cay<are services. our moat urgent concern is that we will lea lhllM we already have. "IC need be,. it suggeeta, •cut back on welfare programs that serve adults; had their childhood been bettar, they may not have needed help as adults.• Accompanied._by 13 individual letters. the Norah-Love submission states, • At our day-<:are, many of the children are from middle-income eaming families. "Without funding, fees for 'these parents would increase to $25 or ,$30 a day. Moat ,would have to -it other, lea, satisfao. t.ary- child care 8ffllllgemmta. If theN parents withdraw their children, there would not be enough others to keep the day care open. Thus the service would be loet to the poor, the rich and the special needs children.. 'Recommendations in the brief include providing a comprehensive day-aue system, "which P= vides numerous options to fami. lies, including leaves, infant care, latch key programs, toddler and pre-school care 80 that caring parents can make the best choice for their children and their economic condition.• The committee will erid its croaa-eountry hearings near the end of June and will table a report on its findinp to the House of Commons in November. • l RED lAKE DISTRICT NEWS. MAY 1986 ·1n China some parents send their· children to "week care." A firefighting team from China visited the Red Lake Day-Care Centre May 8. 'The children were excited with their guests and pleased with the opportunity to sing their repertoire ofsongs. Their Chinese guests were impresaed bJ the centre - and the children. There are dilferences in day care • like a lot of everyday things • between Chins and Canada, according to Ding Haicheng and Piao Jimbe. "Some parents drop oft' children to day care centres during the daytime and pick them up in the even• ing," Ding explained. "Some centres are different • parents drop oft' children on Monday and pick them up on Saturday." . He explained that this type of childcareisfor~olderchildren who look after themselves.• He explaiiled that this situation happens particularly with younger couples in which both. parents work during:_ can the day and go to school in the evenings. "ln Chins the young couples like to study," Piso Jimbe added, to in• crease eaminp. • Ding said that generally day care centres in China are similar to the one .in Red Lake, "but there are • more of them and more kids." "In China.• he said. "the children are grouped in classrooms scoording to age because there are ;o many children." He explained that most far.1ilies have only one child in Chins. Day care centre supervisor Lee Moorley explained what the children eat at the day care centre. "Do the children order their own dishes," ssked one member of the delegation. After singing their guests an enthusiastic selection of songs the children listened· as the men returned the favor. Each child was presented with a Panda bear lapel pin. The Panda is the official symbQI of China. • Norah Lqve Children's Centre: DRYDEN OBSERVER, MAY '86 Day-care cos~s cause concern Day-care for pre-school chi!- Ms. Wilkinson told the ~mmit- usually carries a waiting list of dren "muat be accesail!le to every- tee, "This is not a woman's issue. about 10 children, Ms. Wilkinson one," Janet Wilkinson. president "Ibis is a children's issue. It is said. • Although we need more of the Parents' Committee of the their well-being which is at day..:are services, our most urNorah Love Children's Centre in stal:e. Therefore, if it is given gent concem is that we will lose Siowt Lookout, told the Special that women will' be out of the those we already· have." Parliamentary Committee on home(orwhateverreason.young Many day-care children are Child Care during its May 12 children must be given the best from middle-income earning public hearings in Dryden. care and nurturing that can be families; she said. Ms. Wilkinson attended the substituted. ''Without funding, fees for hearings along with fellow Sioux "l'his is an all-encompassing these parents would increase to Lookout area representatives goal but better that than to lose $25 or $30 a day. Most would Deanna Koval,· day<are super- forever the enthusiasm and have to seek other, less satisfacvisor; Madeline Blum; Gamet creativity of early· childhood to tory child<are arrangements. ff Angeconeb; Delma Clace and our society," she said. these parents withdraw their Margie Perroa. "Consequently, your commit- children, there would not be Anticipated federal cutbacks tee must look at program re- enough others to keep the dayto day-care subsidies have re- moved from welfare that wtll care open. Thus the service suited in the province's decision serve all children.• would be lost to the poor, the rich to only. fund those 'day-care _ __Ms~ Wilkinson said..chil~ll _· and the special needs children." clientswhoqualifyforfullorpar- aze"aninvestment"asop~~ Among the recommendations tial subsidies through a special a "social burden" and suggeste\l, . the parents' committee made at needs test. "IC need be, cut back on welfare the hearings is "a comprehensive Margaret Mitchell, Vancouver programs that serve adults; had day-om, system which provides East MP and a committee mem- their childhood been better, they numerous options to families. inber, said the day12re system "is msy not have needed help as eluding leaves. infant care. latch for the rich or for the poor" and adults." key programs, toddler and prethat middle-income workingpeoTelling the committee the school care 80 that caring parents pie don't really have any means Norah Love Centre serves about can make the best choice fur their of funding at all. 75 parents using 48 full-time children and their economic , Reading from a written brief, spaces for children and that it situation." • �• Federal government must be convinced more mon.ey needed for child care By 10-ANN MUIALICH Qnalcle-J-- lh.c Cfhronidt•Journ11l w - , , ...,1c,ia Tbo federal 1over1mo1t muat be "coovinced" that IIIOft mooey hu to beplaced i• cbild care illclucllnl ntra ar■ ats for Nortbera Ontario comm• nlUes, says a member of the Federal · ~~•Uamentary Committee•: MP Marpret Mltcbell lNDP•V - : ver Eull also said Ille recammeodl the • federal 1ovemme111 establllh day care lelislaUOll tbat will elimloola the CID-ada Assistance Piao and place day care under 1 , _ act wblcb mikes II available to families of all lacoma. ==-- ==·:~ ine~ la l o ~ c:llild care ill li&ht of tbe sibility for care 1mq parents, tbe prt. vate sector, the voluntary sector and 1ovemmenll. In developin' ■ lteru- ~1:e!~~'!n~~ ~U:toe:=: the special circumstances of v■riOUI families u well u tbe fuwx:ill implica•• Uons ol any sovenment lniUatives.Following i:::talionl b y - • 111 CJl!ID· ~ allocaled duri!I& 11111, •cb...:.. "Mell mt <Ultry to 1111d ,.___, Bui sometimes, we feel that we don't hive freedom 11 aU! " lbesaid. • _Wally Mcltly, executive director of Tillinlpn Child and Family Services ill Siowi _Lookout diSCUlled tbe need for appropruate communlty-bued child care facilities in the area ae"ed by lhe ~the ~time. tbereareaoday care or child care pn,cnnw 11 all ill our reaion- We iqt tbe federal--~~ t b e ~ l o f cbildcare procnma bent and eornc1 11111 1aeqlllty," Mid llcXay, IDdlaa ..... nlulloa ..,... nearly 10,000 Cree and Ojibwa natives llvilJC ill the Nor1II lnllll Thunder Bay to Hudloll Bay Call but of tbe communlllel ID Ille recion are,:r:only. ullfor't:::!:""'-i::-..= of the communl~•- McKay aaya aeveral cnmmualUea ba,.. told them Ibey bave DOI been ableto ........ uwadiDI or uW development taacblDl........,.. beca... "the-wbo expreu _ _ , . t ca1111a1 find ad•' 111111todaycarelarlbelr-." Slallsl'Wllllf aodl'byllla Dadloy fllwi lD f._ lie 'l'Nul Lau to..,_. their female Cne COllllllllllilJ-111& Trour. Lake, located 400 mllea aortbeaal of ~ Bay, la allo la . . . . . . need I Tht of 111e community repn1in& cbild care mllll be a factor ID tbe de- l llvery of aervice, Miller explained. The ''Toronto" nperiencesbould DOI dictate :re&ulatory meuurea. lle&ional dlaparl,Uea mllll be lalrea lalocoasideralion. lllBer-:T'onner city mayor,added lbal thecnmmi-ooecla torecapizalbalill mrtberD citiea 1ucb u TlwDder Bay, hi&her COiia for fOlld and healillfl create hl&her facility costs, tbua hi&her per dlema. Salartea of cUenll are DOI aec:• eautily bi&ber, sbe said. A special Northern remicuon should be induded ID the per diem formula. , ,, ..,. ' ! ,. t I, ' 'I. ,. .,,, . : :· ," 'f '. . "' •. ·, Karbtedt aaid lbat Ille atabwty oc nl~=carecenlrelcaaonlybeaccom by Ille reducllon ti mer cbarled to parents. • "We, IMrefora, l'COIIIIDelld lbal Ille f - . i aovenimeat immediately vide direct .....,11 to municipal and ...,. profit day care centres to atabllize the ailliq aenlce and enaure the contlaaod..,enlionof thecenlrel." Karlsllldl apc,te about 1be silllalloo of rural famllleo. Resean:11 baa llllicated =t~~;en~•..::i::-i:;: or r~ with them wbile Ibey wort., •:ii:~:r =~u.:: ~y b6la':rcf;!~0 wamen are often rellrlcted from allellclmNllap became of loodequato cbild can and/or lack of llDaac9 lDl farm l o x : ~ ~ =·:.. ..... be UID ''llrllu---." uidKarla, .Jedi. Tbe N.W.O. llelillllAI Day Can Cocamllloe hu aludlecf tbe Report ot the Tau Force on Cllild care. chalrecl by Dr. KalleCooke-. Tbecnmmilleeaareo,I with mnat-ol Ibo recommuclail... • made ID lhat report. llanlhlll'• Can! Vie,' a - t r denlopalaal worter and Ju Garden, bmlDeaa admlnlstrlar for Ille Marathon Day Care Centre DOied lbal ,,_ .,. Q lely-W tollnaace - lD- Ille y-care centre, localed of Ille Penlecostal Church. •, . :\1h·/1 ' _.,y r:=::::;~-~~-..:-...::~~i:;:.:,;~~ many ot,. are siDgle parent women between 15 and 21 years iii aae. So tbe need for &Olld cbild care facWllea 11111 more lillelytoiacralelDBIC'l'l'Oal~lllaa- dac~==!fectea:·~com• THUY LY Thuy Ly. CO--OnllDIIOr of the Immigrant Women·• Employment Place in Thunder Bay toJ!lf the committee it'• "not (air" for low income earners to pay the same price for day care u hi&h iJI. come earners. She said most immi• grants see day· care "an expensive thing." The needs of immigrant women. i~';;!~~ es4.i:~~~! ~i~'in.m in 1980 with her husband and two children. She said Ibey departed from their homeland for freedom, which they lhou&hl , they would obtain here. Bui Ibey louad . otherwase. • =-~:.ii~ be llaibili% ~ the nature of ~~ e l l u acl~~r~.;' exi3.""=of~ dressin& of day care ladiaa need■ communlllea should not be subject to JurlsdicUon dlaputa·i.c- federal and en,vincial 1overnmen1a. -· - ThWICler Bay alderman Dua1y lllller, cbairmaa of the community aervica committee told tbe live-member panel tbal tbe lederal aovernmenl must establish a standardized formula ill determiain& tbe per diem u well u eliminate iJI. din!ct adminiltraUve COiia from tbe per diem formula. FIONA KARLSTEDT Tbe Nar11nN11ent Oalulo ReciOllll Day Care Commiltee, represented by Fiona Karlltedt, told Ille lederal•appolaled committee that ID illveatmenl m tbe well-bela& of cbildren and IIIDi• lies mall:• social and econctlDic sense. The commilmenl~ ll tbe development of a com ive child care syatem that woul meet tbe aeecls of all children and lamiliea. "We Nquire a child care syatem lbal la accessible to au familiea irrespective of their economic 1111111, their employ• . ment status or their 1eocraphic residence," noted Karlsledt. N.W.0. lla vutre&ionandlaaerviced by approximately 12,000 mile■ of hitlh• way Witb many communities accessiile only by rail or air. Approximately 236,000 people live io one city, seven towns, 36 towashipo, three improvement districts, 51 lndiaa reserves and 73 rural communities. "Of the 171 communlliea ill N.W.O., only II provide day care service■," she said. :;"'~ ,/,:-·; .--•-~,- , ~ MONIQUE MORGAN-MERCIER AND JORDIN BONIFERRO . .,.lime to play dulq aaamiltee) Ilaria& hen .!~.:r~ti;. of wily lbla la a prior• ity form, let me note that relaUve to tbe rest of Ille Canadian population, our populalioa ill BIC Trout Lake la very youa1. 1•1 Cenaus n..,.... &bow tbat aver 60 per cent of. our popwltioa ii .i BEV ROMANIUI ~~ .;g,.=:.i:...~.::.• loooilllfl,0001 mOGlh. e.. Bomantut, social ■enlcea •clmlnislntor for tbe Town ot Geraldton pleaded with tbe cnmmillN lo not place day care out ol reachlor middle incnm• families ID ■mall N.W.O. communltiea: Romanluk said middle illcnme earner■ are tbe "backhoae" of our tu bueand already pay more !baa lbeir lhlre for tbeae aervicea. "Ontario la llvlnl IOUlbera and eul• ern Onterlomore subaldlied apace■ . Give Northern Ontario back iadirecl ~~~- ~ =~lloo ■ee DWIJ of ,a bavilJC lo cloleCNlf mmB due to lack of enrolment u day can becomes more and more unaffordable. We do not hive enoup community-baaed service■ for our people-,"~ said. la • ..,-...- - . ..., doa DOI llllllll lbe ooec1a of Iba pubjlc, said Judilh MoacralD, president ot the Caudiaa Unlocl ot Public Employ-. Local rl. M_.ia, local ~ reaenla about IOO member■ told Ille , cnmmlltee lD Tbuader Bar, service■ provided 11 the mualclpa day care level, an~totallyforlholewwt• lnlda,o. • "There la DOI adequate fundillll naU• able for cblld care .._1oa to lacludt tbe aeecls of famillea wllh lhlll woe!<· era," she said, IIOllag lbal tbe majority of local f - must 11W dellODd on iJI. formal or private care u city service■ do DOI amrnr lbelr-. • -llyabotb_pd_ ment must •ye tbe cbiJd CIJ'e illue to see wbal w, be dOGe, "tbe best way." Sbe said tbe federal aovernment la alao employer and Iba! OPSEU expect, .. a leadership role" io Je1isl1tive chaqea, which then would lead to • ' tudinal c:ban&e- ID =.:::f:1:~~ cial~~ Pllbllc Service Employees Ualoa la one of seven women ...,.....iilli 51,GOO public aervlce employees ill the proviace. Roui told Ille paMI of 11Pa lbal unm bave barpiDiDI for day care for sometime. " II hu ID luue lhal hu been foupl both al tbe baruinlDI table■ and ill le&ialabnl acrau tbe ""'811ry. However, perbapa like medicare and pensm, unlom will bave to will child care al the barpininS lablea before lecia• latms will be pnaured to acL" . ....... u, ...... �• 20 THE CHRONICLE-JOURNAL: Salurday. Ma)'24. 1!186 Should informal hqme day care be regulated by government?_ TORONTO <CP) - Diane belongs to lD underpowld, seU-employed worldon:e that makes hundreds of mUlioas of dollars a year. She la one of an unknown number of l'"!'Pie who provide day care In their homes for an estimated 400,000 children of •onlna parents In Onta• rtoalone. Of!H out of desoeraUon, parents lurn to people Uke Diane because of :::-::::a~. a~~f.':.l"'~:'/f.C:: ~--~iw'J:.S:~:,~ :.::liccentre. • Diane, who didn'I want her last name used, cares for seven children at her Toronto home and doesn't declare her Income. Under Ontario's Day Nunertea Act, she should only be handling a maximum of five children, Including DO more than three kids under three years old and two under lhe ac• of two. To care for moni than nve children requires a licence. Bui Diane doesn't have a licence for her Informal day-care operation and DO level of government II aware of what sbe's doing. MOST UNREPORTED P~blic support for day c-are r:ivals other issues, poll finds !!•:•, Canadian Presa ,,,tc, Ofi:AWA " ~ •• •. Three out of lour Canadians say child care Is an Important Issue that should be high on government priorlty -lists, according to a poll comm issloned In June by Canada's two largest unions. •'Ihe poll sponsored by the Canadilln-Union ol Public Employees and Ille National Union ol Provincial Gelrernment Employees also sbawed a majorltx of people favor .,..eminent suppott for non-profit daf care centres over profit-making OQWprises. --Kami Stotsky, a research omcer for CUPE, said the results conflrrqed and "substantially supported the views that we've had on the 111.. •of day can,, particularly the lmpoi:tance ol day care to the pul>llc.c _-:•• -~A.' lot of times people feel child e,u:,t is not as lm_portant as other halller economic Issues such as free tra~or matters of the economy," Ms SIOISky said. "But these results cle.arly show, I think, that child care is" a ·very important Issue to Canadiill1;i .and It's something that goveinments have to deal with and are e~ted to deal with." 'l'.ise Corbell-Vincent, a spokesman ..for the Canadian Day Care A~vocacy Association, said lhe findin&, · 4;onfirm what the special par. llamenlary committee on day care hdrd from hundreds of people ac,:o.s, the counlry during public h~arlngs this spring. 11\e poll, based on 1,200 !llndom teJepJtone Interviews between June 7-20 11Cilh people over age 18, found 311 pi!r. cent of respondents feel child 'ls very important comoared ~re~ with other Issues, while 37 per cent said It was somewhat Important. Women, younger people, parents with children under 8 years, those with lower Incomes, part-time workers and those "leaning tn federal politics toward the Liberals and New Democratic Party" were more likely to Dnd the issue very lmportant J.;.t over hall ol parents rated day care very Important, compared with 35 per cent of non-parents. Ms Corbell-Vincent said she Is pleased non-parents rate it as highly as they do. "Hopefully It's because people understand that children are Canada's most precious resource and something has to 'be done for the crisis that exists In Canada around child care," she said. Other poll results, accurate wtthIn plus or minus three percentage points 95 llmes out of 100, varied liltie between parents and non-parents. Sixty-one per cent felt day-care money should go to child-care cenIres run by non-profit groups. Only 18 per cent supported more centres run by government and 13,per cent favored more public dollars spent on centres nm by companies for profit. And 58 per cent ol Canadians felt government 1noney would be beller spent• on more non-profit centres rather lhan subsidies paid to paren1s lo lake time oll work lo care for lheir awn children. Thirty-two per cent favored subsidies. . Ms Slotsky said the unions will 5end the results to the parllamenta. ry commluee. which has concluded Its public hearings and Is drafting·• report due tn November. A lludy by lhe Onlarlo CoaliUon For Better Day Care, a priv,te lobby group, indicales that 80 per cent of lhese Informal providers In lhe province lake !heir fees under lhe table, lgnortns any klnd of - · ~~iuatton isn't unique lo Onla· rlo -authorities aaree It applles In other provinces " Nobody knows much about lhem <home day•care worken>, aside from tbe fact lhey are mostly women who want to make a litUe money on lhe side," admlla Paul Sieme11s, manager of lhe children's unit at lhe Ontario Ministry of Communily aod Social Services. "We don't even know !heir numbers, and they areo'l telling qs because they don't want govenunent inl2rference... The ministry can only guess - by rough census calculations or the ::i~g~~~ c~s~ :;:i about 500,000 children In Onlarlo are receiving some form of day care. Further estlmales Indicate that only about 20 per cent of !hem, or 100,000, are In licensed day care. RAISE FEARS Horror stories abound at what happen, In some of the private homes u 10 children being kept In lhe basement where a teleYislon Is lhe real babysitter. And once In a while-a lragedy oceurs. . Last November In Bolton, near Toronto, a 49-year-old woman and lhe four childreo she WU looking af. ter died of smoke lnhalaUon when Ore swept lhrough her home. A con,ner's inquesl revealed lhe woman t:M:-:r~.':'"a:"r:i~':':1~.!: amounts of anU-depressant and diet drugs, malting her Incapable of reacting lo lhe emergency. 1bese revelations came u a shock to lhe parents, who from their Um• ited knowledge of lhe woman's Ille had beeo sslisfied with lhe aA"1!fll• menl • ''Tbere:s always a cUns.,. kind of fear In lhe back of your mind that somethJng's going to go wrong, " ssys Brigette Vlanna, admlnlslra· Uve assistant with lhe Ontario Status or Women Council, who at one time had her soa in private home care. BEOIOOSEY Erika Baker, who cares for nve chlldreo at her home near Toronlo, says parents "Just have to be a lilUe more chooly. • ta;~t~.::~~~ be a reason. I have to keep very sbict records In order to claim expenses. But I do have to pay Income . tax at lhe end of lhe year and thal's • why moat people don't give out recelpla . . . Ibey don't wanl to give up that money at lheend of lhe year." However, many day-care crillcs 111119 that parents often have HIiie choice about where they can place their children. Vluna finds fault with lhe whole government philosophy of providing subsidized formal day care-for lhe _ . but UWe for lhe middle clus. ''There ia a huge gap," she says. ~~':lr:i::t;1!-'"u!"!~i!'i: =L.C:l'!'~~~~~~--~or COST IS LOWER A space In a day-care cenlre cao coot $5,000 a year, while unlicensed home care usually coots much less. Although Linda Becker feels lortunate to hive her two.year-old daughtet under Baker's care, she acknowledges lhe uneasiness of first seeking out home day care. "Here I wu, beainl a woman to take my child and filidn'teven know her," says Secker. "But I was relerred to her by a friend and I went over to see her house and talked to her for qullea bit. • " Whal I 111ink when I hear hon-or stories Is, 'Thanll God I have Jodie where she is."' A parliamentary committee on day care currenUy making Its way around the country has found thal many parents are staunch supporters of home day care. IN NEIGHBORHOOD • " People pref'er day care to be in - their neighborhood· and in more familiar surroundings." says Shirley Martin, the Conservative MP for ~::;,''!,::: ~::: i~~Tj!;:::~t and will report to lhe House of Commons in November. "' And in other arus, such as rural communities, they see it as the best way to meet tbelt needs where no formal day carenlsts." • Noting thal lhe situation in Onla· rio la typical of lhe rest of Canada. Martin said she expects her group lo take a more far-ranging approach to the day-care issue than a recent federal task force beaded by sociologisl Katie Cooke. Last March, Cooke recomrilended a universal day-care system be established In lhe country. " I think a lot or people were scared off by the figures that were mentioned," said Martin, referring to an estimate in Cooke's report ol SIi billion for child care costs to all 1overnments. " We want to understand lhe various needs of parents and provide alternatives." Martin admits she doesn't kno-.· yet what slruelllre could be develo~ to screen home day-care provtders or how lhey would be encour aged to come forward and conduct lheirservices In theopen. But Baker isn'i sure any incen lives would be attractive enougl since "the bottom line is you're no· going to make a lol of moneyl pro vtdlng home day care. "You do it because you like kids otherwise you shouldn!I be doing i1 ataU. " °' � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News, July 1986 Subject The topic of the resource Organizations Description An account of the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News July 1986. Includes information about the Federal Government Special Committee on Child Care hearings; City of Thunder Bay Child Care Advisory Committee; Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care Video Project; Provincial Day Care Policy Review; Red Lake Day Care news; Annual Conference and Lobby of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care; NWO Regional Forum. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986-07 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee: under copyright. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context nwodcn_86july Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Thunder Bay Canada - Ontario - Red Lake https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/b7ec5779fa8ad801ff5bf1068f80ab19.pdf 9f829eb671fff8a957202156b1cca8c0 PDF Text Text II • - 4 Northwestern Ontario Day Care JUNE 1987 News NWO DAY CARE NEWS is a forum for the sharing of information between day care groups throughout Northwestern Ontario, as wel I as providing information about what's happening on the federal and provincial scenes, both in terms of governmenta I po I icy / Ieg is I at ion and advocacy groups' activities. We hope that this newsletter wi I I combat some of the isolation that day care workers and advocates feel and that through the sharing of resources, ideas and action plans we can develop strategies to ensure the growth and strengthening of qua I ity day care in our region. We welcome submissions to this newsletter from every day care centre and committee throughout Northwestern Ontario. Please send articles, news clippings, letters, etc. to Box 144, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 4V5 RE-CONVENING THE FORUM - A SUMvlARY Northwestern Ontario regional day care representatives met in Thunder Bay on Apri I 24-25, 1987, to continue the process of collective Northwestern Ontario action to ensure the security and development of day care services in our region. The Forum began with reports from al I regional representatives, including the viewing of the video that the Geraldton Parents' Group produced. Delegates reported on the various local campaigns that had been organized fol lowing the September Forum, which involved massive letterwriting campaigns and telegrams to Premier Peterson, the Honourable John Sweeney, and Ioca I MPPs and MPs, as we I I as various local events to raise pub I ic awareness and enhance commun i'ty support. The comprehensive action taken by many communities was very impressive and produced position results. As Committee Chair Fiona Karlstedt told the gathering, "It was your letters, your petitions, your videotapes, your lobbies, your action that resulted in our meeting face-to-face with John Sweeney, Minister of Community & Social Services, to discuss our concerns fol lowing our September Forum. Although we didn't achieve our first goal - to get the provincial government to rescind the withdrawal of the indirect subsidy we can take credit (even if we can't prove it conclusively) for the implementation of the transitional grant which ensured the short term financial stab ii ity of our existing day care centres. We have proven that by working together, we can have an impact, we can make a very rea I difference. It's an uphi I I struggle most days, but if we al I stand together and don't lose sight of the broader and deeper vision of the ends to be served, we wi I I succeed in our efforts." The Forum was a hard-working session with workshops for Municipal and NonProfit day c~re people on Friday afternoon, and Commerc ia 1. Issue and Workers' Concerns workshops Friday evening. The Commercial Issue workshop participants viewed the video "Chi Id Care: The Price of Profit" and discussed the imp I ications of public funding of for-profit day care. Carrol Anne Sceviour, Director of Human Rights, Ontario Federation of Labour, was the guest speaker at the Friday evening dinner. Carrol Anne discussed labour's role in day care and the value of bui Iding coalitions to achieve day care goals. Saturday morning was information-gathering time with Julie Mathien (a Board member of the Canadian Day Care Advocacy Association) speaking about federal pol icy and the problems posed by the recommendations of the Special Committee on Chi Id Care. Sue Colley (Executive Coordinator of the Ontario Coal it ion for Better Day Care) then provided a provincial perspecti~e and discussed both short term and long term prov inc i a I issues that d-ay care �groups must address. These sessions provided Forum participants with a comprehensive information base from which to develop Northwestern Ontario action plans. At lunch Saturday, lain Angus, MP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan, and Forum delegate, briefly addressed the gathering, indicating the value of continued advocacy by community groups to ensure that day care is adequately considered within the busy and diverse political agenda facing al I politicians. Saturday afternoon participants divided into workshops to plan Northwestern Ontario action for the next six months. Commitments were made by delegates for action in their local communities by (1) participating in the "Countdown for Child Care" petition campaign, and (2) planning local action in preparation for the forthcoming provincial election. The Forum resolved to send telegrams to Prem·ier Peterson, the Honourable John Sweeney, and Northwestern Ontario MPPs (1) to advocate for provincial direct grants to non-profit (including municipal) day care services, and (2) to oppose the provision of public funds to for-profit day care. In order to strengthen the ongoing work of the Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee and to ensure more active involvement of regional representatives, Holly Rupert <Red Lake), Phy I I is Ke! lar (Fort Frances), Brenda Rikkonen (Thunder Bay), Judith Mongrain (Thunder Bay), Diane Sarrazin (Geraldton), Naomi Vodden (Marathon) wi I I join core Committee members Fiona Karlstedt, Liz Poul in, Joan Wi I Iiams and Margaret Phi I I ips in directing the activities of the Committee for the next six months. The Forum wi I I re-convene in the early fa! I of 1987. NOTE: If you wou Id I i ke more deta i Is about the workshop discussions and action plans formulated at th~ Apri I Forum, contact your Centre Supervisor who has a fu I I report. ( In Thunder Bay, contact Joan Wi I Iiams (Thunder Bay Advocates) at 767-9582.) NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO DAY CARE STUDY The two reports detailing results of the surveys of Northwestern Ontario Day Care Services and Northwestern Ontario Day Care Workers undertaken by our Committee are now available. We feel the reports provide a very useful data base from which long term planning - locally and regionally can begin. The Day Care Services report wil I be sent automatically to each person who completed the centre survey. Additional copies wi I I be available to any Northwestern Ontario person who wants one. The Day Care Staff survey report wi I I be sent to al I respondents who provided us with their name and address. Extra copies wi I I be sent to al I Centre Supervisors. Additional reports wi I I be available from the Committee (Box 144, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 4V5). A very sincere thank you to everyone who participated in the study. We hope it wi I I be helpful to you. ONTARIO COALITION FOR BETTER DAY CARE 5TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE & LOBBY Advance notice of the Coalition Conference and Lobby to be held November 6,7,8 and 9, 1987 has been received. We really hope to have a large delegation of Northwestern Ontario day care people attend this year's conference and lobby. Set aside the dates November 6 - 9, 1987 and p Ian to attend. LONGLAC Lots happening in Longlac. A Parents' Night was held in May where everyone enjoyed a delicious home-made supper. While the children watched fi !ms, the parents I istened to Supervisor Agnes Vincent explain the cha I lenges and concerns facing day care at present, viewed the video, "The Price of Profit", and discussed future letter-writing plan~. The children of the Long lac Day Care Centre recently sent an artistic, creative message to the Honourable �131 Mr. Sweeney. A col I age of children's drawings of their families was ~ent to the Minister with the message: ments put forward largely echoed those we al I made to the Special Committee on Chi Id Care last year. "Dear Mr. Sweeney: These families of the Long lac Day Care Centre would I ike to see direct grants implemented to maintain adequate funding to support the continued qua I ity care that exists at this centre. Our children like it here." The first presenter was Doug Miranda, the provincial NOP candidate for the Kenora riding. He spoke of the role day care plays in meeting the enrichment needs of children in smal I communities in which few other recreational programs are avai Iable. At the same time, he stressed that day care is an employment equity issue; when chi Id care is not available it becomes the key barrier to women entering the workforce. Miranda added that shift work is a fact of I ife in the North, yet our day care services do nothing to accommodate workers on this schedule. Longlac participated in the "Countdown for Chi Id Care" campaign, and future plans include having a booth at "Summerfest" in July. CHILD CARE: THE PRICE OF PROFIT The NWO Regional Day Care Committee has purchased the video "Chi Id Care: The Price of Profit" which is an excel lent vehicle to use to promote discussion of the commercial issue. This video is avai Iable for use by any Northwestern Ontario day care group. CHILD CARE UNDER DEBATE: REPORT ON THE CHILD CARE FORUM, DRYDEN, APRIL 21, 1987 - Holly Rupert On Apri I 21, representatives from the Ontario Federation of Labour brought their pre-election campaign on chi Id care to Dryden. They met local labour leaders and spent the morning discussing the commercial issue on the . local open I ine radio program. The real purpose for the visit was the evening forum on chi Id care sponsored by the OFL and the Ontario Coal it ion for Better Day Care. I participated as the OCBDC representative. About 25 people attended the forum and three formal briefs were presented to t'he pane I. While Carrol Anne Sceviour, the chief OFL spokesperson, reiterated concerns about public dollars going to commercial operators, this was not the focus of the forum from the standpoint of the other participants. Instead, the argu- Carol Wicks, President of the Women Teachers' Federation (FWTAO) in Kenora, was the first of two teachers to speak. She opened with the FWTAO pol icy statement on child care ratified in March 1987, which stated that al I children should have access to chi Id care programs with parents determining the level of each chi Id's participation. Wicks discussed the merits of establishing day care centres in schools as a way of improving the continuity of care, particularly for junior and senior kindergarten children. She also pointed to a successful pilot project for latch-key kids which the Windsor Board of Education has undertaken. She noted that, to date, none of these program improvements has been considered by the Kenora Board. The third brief was presented by Julie Notta, a Family Studies teacher at the Dryden high school. She pointed to the need for more day care spaces in Dryden and, I ike Carol Wicks, she felt the Board of Education could play a role in providing those spaces. Her discussion centred on a cooperative chi Id care program offered in the school setting and tied to senior Family Studies chi Id development and parenting courses. In this program, the Grade 11 and 12 Family Studies students become day care "teachers" who regularly interact with the children, under the s~pervision of their teacher and the centre supervisor. Pi lot programs have been successful in other communities, notably London, Ontario. �In the past, such programs have been funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Julie Netta saw this model as a useful way to provide nonprofit spaces, while working toward the neighbourhood hub model for child care services. When asked for my comments, I stressed that it was the continuing uncertainty of the provincial pol icy that was causing much anxiety for the municipal centres throughout the region. Centres which had manageable to healthy enrol 1ment have lost ground because of the uncertainty over fee increases. Bui Iding confidence among parents wil I take time. I ~lso stressed that lobby efforts can have a powerful impact and it is important not to underestimate that power. The efforts of the Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee on the indirect subsidy issue are the best case in point. It's valuable any time more than two people gather to talk about the day care issue. After the formal briefs were presented, there was a lot of worthwhile discussion around the day care issue. It was especially encouraging to identify some new supporters in Dryden and Kenora. thanks to Doris Rossi for her work in organizing this effort. (2) Countdown for Chi Id Care: This national petition campaign appealed to the federal government for direct funding to non-profit centres, rather than the tax credit system. The campaign culminated with local organizers across Canada stapling the petitions to a green ribbon and sending them off to Ottawa to be presented to the Prime Minister on June 18th. Hopefully, this demand for action wi I I positively affect the federal pol icy promised for the end of June. Loca I I y, our "Countdown for Chi Id Care" event took place June 13th at Waverley Park, - where 500 balloons were released high into the air by local dignitaries and children. (3) Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care: May 24, 1987 Meeting. This Counci I meeting was most interesting and informative with a variety of workshops offered and issues discussed. Ruth Wei Is was replaced on the Executive by Joan Wil Iiams. Discussions with others revealed once again the vast differences in municipal policies, as we! I as disparities in provincial pol icy and practices from one centre to another, and served to further reinforce our urgent need for a comprehensive, unified system. THUNDER BAY ADVOCATES - UPDATE PROVINCIAL POLICY (1) OFL Forum: The Ontario Federation of Labour has been working closely with chi Id care advocates to lobby the government to take responsibility for the chi Id care cr1s1s. To provide concerned people with an opportunity to voice their concerns and views, forums were held across the province during Apri I and May. A pub I ic forum was held in Thunder Bay on Thursday, Apri I 23rd, just prior to our own Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Forum. Thunder Bay Advocates provide~ their support and assistance in the organization of the Forum. We appreciate the priority given to the "Kids Not Cash" campaign, and we wish to extend our The long-awaited Ontario pol icy paper on day care, "New Directions for Child Care", was tabled in the legislature by the Honourable John Sweeney on June 4, 1987. "It's the first good news regarding day care in ten years" was Margaret's initial react ion. We hope we aren't being overly optimistic but from the statements reported it does appear that the government has I istened to the recommendations that parents, workers and other day care advocates have been putting forward. Mr. Sweeney stated "The government of Ontario has stated its commitment to �. . . bui I ding a comprehensive chi Id care system in this province - one that recognizes chi Id care as a basic pub I ic service, not a welfare service." He also acknowledged that" ... chi Id care is a necessity ... it is also essential to make the equality of women in the workforce a realizeable goal". Mr. Sweeney talked about bui Iding "a comprehensive, integrated and affordable chi Id care system" and how the new moneys the province expends "wil I be used to strike a balance between expanding the availabi I ity of services and improving the affordabi I ity and stab ii ity of services". wi I I cial that care The initiatives out I ined in the pol icy paper include: DRYDEN - UPDATE Direct operating grants to nonprofit day care in this fiscal year Change to income testing (from needs testing) in 1988-89 Capital funding for non-profit day care for new construction and renovations Child care spaces in al I new school construction Projects to strengthen Boards of Directors and involve parents in child care decision making and management. The major problem is that insufficient funds are being al located to really produce a comprehensive system. SO OUR MJVOCACY WORK IS NOT YET DONE! However, the direction of the pol icy seems positive and, hopefully, our future discussions with Mr. Sweeney and other politicians can focus on re-bui Iding a QUALITY system, rather than our consistent crisis problems of the past (and present). The Northwestern Ontario Regronal Day Care Committee plans to do a thorough analysis of this pol icy paper. We have concerns stil I about the commercial issue (which the paper indicates be conditional on federal - provinnegotiations). We are also concerned the province implies that "informal" is part of the "system". We have asked Ministry to forward a copy of "New Directions for Child Care" to al I Northwestern Ontario day care supervisors/administrators and parent group representatives. We would be pleased to have your feed-back about this paper. If centres, communities or individuals want additional copies of the paper, you could ask your local MPP to obtain them for you. Parent meetings are being held once a month; an Executive was elected in May to plan activities and fundraising events. In June the children gathered at the local radio station to record "Children of the Day Care". The song was played at the Town "Safety Night". The children have been invited to sing their song to residents of Patricia Gardens, fol lowing which tea and dainties wil I be served. Al I but three parents were able to attend a Bag Lunch picnic on June 15th. Bal loons were blown up and released to mark the local "Countdown for Child Care" campaign. The event received good press and radio coverage. June 19th was "Circus Day" at the Dryden Day Care Centre with the children performing various circus acts for their friends and parents. Fundraising activities of the Parents' Group include a raffle, and a Clown Face-Painting event held June 27th. In July the puppeteer from "Fraggle Rock" wil I be in Dryden to put on a show for day care children and parents. CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE INCLUDE Holly Rupert, Karen Warbin, Joan Wi I Iiams, Agnes Vincent, Margaret Phi I I ips and Fiona Karlstedt. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News, June 1987 Subject The topic of the resource Organizations Description An account of the resource Northwestern Ontario Day Care News June 1987. Includes information about NWO Regional Forum; Northwestern Ontario Day Care Services Study and Day Care Staff Study; Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care Conference and Lobby; day care news for Longlac and Dryden; Child Care: The Price of Profit video; Child Care Under Debate: Report on the Child Care Forum, Dryden, April 21, 1987; Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care; Ontario policy paper "New Directions for Child Care". Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987-06 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee: under copyright. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context nwodcn_87june Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada - Ontario - Thunder Bay Canada - Ontario - Longlac Canada - Ontario - Dryden