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Province must do more to fund GTA social services, says Region MELANIE HENNESSEY Special to The IFP Halton Region is calling on the Province to improve the way it funds health and social services in the GTA. At a recent council meeting councillors passed a motion supporting recommendations to Queen's Park on what can be done to help municipalities deal with growth pressures facing everything from child care to hospital services. The suggestions council endorsed, which were originally put forward in a report from the Strong Communities Coalition, ask the Province to: · Immediately provide growth funding for health and social services in the GTA/905 regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York · Revise the way funding is allocated for health and social services across Ontario so that it's distributed on the basis of population size, growth and characteristics · Develop a health and social services strategy for Ontario's highgrowth regions to complement the Places to Grow plan in consultation with GTA/905 stakeholders, including members of the Strong Comm- unities Coalition. "There is no doubt that health and social service providers are feeling very stretched to meet the increasing needs in the community," said Halton Commissioner of Social and Community Services Adelina Urbanski. "If these recommendations are acted on, it would improve the capacity of Halton Region and nonprofit agencies to GARY meet that growing CARR demand." The Strong Communities Coalition's report contains the findings of a recent audit completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers that shows there's a large and growing gap between funding the GTA receives for health and social services compared to the rest of Ontario. The document explains the inequity has come about because "funding is primarily allocated on the basis of historical patterns. Population growth and demographics are generally not being considered." In fact, the audit found the annual funding gap for provinciallyfunded social services in the GTA has grown over the last several years to more than $550 million, while in health care the gap is over $900 million. More specifically, GTA residents receive $181 less per person for social services, and $246 less per person for health care services compared to the average Ontarian. "The report demonstrates that provincial funding for health and social services in the GTA/905 are not keeping pace with the population growth taking place in Halton Region," said Regional Chair Gary Carr. "While Halton is taking a proactive approach in including health and social service issues in its response to Places to Grow through the Durable Halton Plan, we urge the provincial government to take action along with the federal government in coming up with solutions to fix the funding gap." The Strong Communities Coalition is comprised of the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance and the United Ways of Peel, York, Durham and Halton (represented by the Oakville United Way). Youth alliance wants name change for Weedless Wednesday in 2008 The Halton Youth Action Alliance (HYAA) is working to get the title of the annual quit smoking day-- Weedless Wednesday-- changed for 2008. The group believes the title is misinterpreted by youth and is drawing attention to marijuana. In early January, the HYAA surveyed 56 youth aged 13 to 18 in Halton to explore their understanding and awareness of the term Weedless Wednesday. The results of the survey indicated that: · 95 per cent hadn't heard of Weedless Wednesday · 88 per cent didn't think the title Weedless Wednesday represented the ideas behind the day · 81 per cent thought the day had to do with marijuana. The group sent a letter to the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (CCTC) that identified their concerns on the issue and included results of the survey and some suggestions for alternative titles such as QUIT (Quit Using It Today), TGIF (Tobacco Goes Invisible Friday) and Wheezeless Wednesday. The youth DR. BOB alliance will be NOSAL following up with the CCTC to discuss the recommendations. The group suggested in its letter that a contest be held in high schools across the country to come up with an alternative title for Weedless Wednesday. The HYAA is comprised of 21 high school youth employed by Halton Region to support youth tobacco prevention efforts in the community. "It is of great value that we have the peer leaders on staff to assist us in making sure the health messages we are promoting are clear to all Halton residents including youth," said Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal. National Non-Smoking Week and Weedless Wednesday are coordinated by the CCTC. The public education campaign takes place during the third week of January and has been running since 1977. Weedless Wednesday is a day set aside during National Non-Smoking Week to encourage people to have a smoke-free day. The idea behind the day is to promote a one-day-at-atime approach to quitting smoking. For more information on the HYAA call 905-825-6000 or visit www.halton.ca.