Director claims CAS told: don't pay foster parents and rotate staff

Community Action, Jan 24, 2005

"It is a crying shame" Bruce Children's Aid Society Executive Director Bernard Smith wrote in a letter published in the Toronto Star. The Ontario government is failing to pickup $80 million for the 51 children's aid societies.

He claims his agency will be unable to pay its bills on Feb. 28. The Ministry of Children and Youth have recommended that they not pay foster parents and consider putting staff on rotating layoffs until the end of March, when the new fiscal year begins. He accused the government of failing "to conduct business by the rules it set in its own funding formula."

Responding to an inquiry from Community Action, Anne Machowski of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services denied they suggested that CAS not pay foster parents and rotate layoffs Of CAS staff.

"The ministry is providing more funding than ever before to CAS--almost $1.1 billion in 2004/2005,"she continued. In the last five years, funding to CAS has increased by over $400M (65%). The ministry and CAS are working together to ensure that our investment of almost $1.1 billion in 2004/05 is directed to meeting the needs of vulnerable children.