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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 23, 2009 · 8 Province won't cover CAS 2009-10 budget shortfalls Continued from page 1 about two-thirds of the staff are frontline social workers. It had 3,400 requests for service in 2008-09 with 2,000 investigations into alleged child abuse or neglect. At any time, the agency has 350 active cases and 240 children in its care. MacGillivray said the Halton Children's Aid Society received $17.5 million in funding for 2008-09, including coverage of a $700,000 yearend deficit. She said the ministry has told her that the final funding allotment for 2009-10 will be $16.3 million, a drop of $1.2 million (6.9 per cent) from last year. However, its projected budget for 2009-10 is $17.2 million. "With the reduction (we) are expected to deliver the same level of mandated service," said MacGillivray. Children's Aid Societies protect children from abuse and neglect, promote their well-being within their families and communities, and provide a safe, nurturing place for children and youths to grow up. MacGillivray said no CAS wants to be in a position where it has to consider borrowing money to continue operating and then not know how it's going to pay it back. "That's what boards (of directors) are concerned about, who is going to be on the hook for that? We have used our line of credit this year to cover our cash flow. Is our board prepared to fund the budget on a line of credit? There are a number of agencies that will run out of money before we do. I know our board will be (reluctant) to use a line of credit," she said. Paris Meilleur, spokesperson for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS), which funds CASs, told the Beaver the government covered the budget shortfalls for some CAS's for the 2008-09 fiscal year, including Halton's $700,000 deficit, but that it does not intend to do so again in 2009-10. She said CAS's can carry a deficit over to the next year. However, Meilleur wouldn't say who is ultimately responsible for covering a deficit if the government doesn't pay for it. The ministry is setting up a newly-established Public Sustainability Commission to look at cost containment strategies for all CAS's. Meilleur said funding for Ontario CAS's has increased to $1.4 billion from $510 million over the last 10 years. "These sorts of (funding) increases aren't sustainable now," she said. "CAS's are working with our regional offices to work within (their) budget without that year-end (bail out) money. MacGillivray said Halton CAS employees' workload will be impacted this year as follows: · Intake workers will carry nine new case assignments per month (an increase of one) · Existing case workers will carry an average of 18 cases per month (an increase of one) · Residential workers will carry an average of 19 cases per month (an increase of two) · Resource workers will carry an average of 40 foster homes (an increase of five); · Secretarial support to be cut by one position. · Supervisor ratios were targeted at an average of 1:7 staff from previous 1:6; the provincial average is 1:5 · The number of lawyers on staff dropped from three to two, based on a downward trend in legal cases. Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada MAYOR'S ADVISORY GROUP UNIFORM PUBLIC NOTIFICATION STANDARDS Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 7:30-9 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road - Trafalgar Room Ward 2 Councillor Cathy Duddeck is leading one of the five Mayor's Advisory Groups (MAGs) recently created by Mayor Rob Burton: Uniform Public Notification. Its primary purpose is to look at opportunities to increase public involvement in town initiatives by standardizing and ultimately enhancing communications. MAGs are focus groups that enable councillors to collect information on chosen topics and then deliver their findings and recommendations to the Mayor. This particular MAG is a vehicle for people from all wards to provide feedback to Councillor Duddeck about the current procedures regarding public notification and to offer suggestions for improvement. All Oakville residents are invited to attend. Cathy Duddeck Town Councillor 905-815-6003 cduddeck@oakville.ca NOTICE OF STUDY COMPLETION Class Environmental Assessment for Speers Road Improvements (Bronte Road to Kerr Street) The Town of Oakville has completed a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study for roadway improvements in the Speers Road corridor between Bronte Road and Kerr Street in the Town of Oakville. The study was undertaken to address various issues including, but not limited to: The ESR is available for review at the following locations starting Wednesday, October 21, 2009: Town of Oakville, Engineering and Construction Department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6. Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Town of Oakville, Clerk's Department, 1225 Trafalgar Road Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6. Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Town of Oakville Library, Central Branch, 120 Navy Street (corner of Lakeshore Road and Navy Street), Oakville, Ontario L6J 2Z4. Monday to Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please provide any written comments to the Town of Oakville by Friday November 20, 2009 (within 30 days from the date of this notice). If concerns regarding this project cannot be resolved through discussions with Town of Minister of Environment order the project to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act (referred to as a by the Minister in writing, at the address provided below by Friday November 20, 2009. 2009, the Town of Oakville intends to proceed with the detailed design and construction consistent with the the above information or would like additional information on the project, please contact either one of the following project team members: Mr. Irfan Arab, Senior Project Leader, Engineering and Trafalgar Road,Oakville, ON L6J 5A6. Tel: iarab@oakville.ca Mr. Manoj Dilwaria, Principal, Transportation Division, Delcan Corporation, 4056 Dorchester Road, Niagara Falls, 905-356-7008. m.dilwaria@delcan.com This notice first issued on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. The Study was undertaken in accordance with the planning process for Schedule "C" projects under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, October 2000, as Amended in 2007. Based on recommendations from the consultant and input received from town staff, technical agencies and the public, a preferred design has been developed for the subject portion of Speers Road. Key features of the design include, but are not limited to, the following: sides. The Environmental Study Report (ESR) has been prepared to document the planning and decision making process undertaken for this study. This notice is to inform all interested individuals and parties that the ESR for this project has been completed and placed in the public record for a 30-day review period in accordance with the comments received as a result of this notice and the receipt of necessary approvals, the Town of Oakville intends to proceed with the detailed design and construction consistent with the documentation in the ESR. Minister of the Environment, 135 St. Clair Avenue West,12th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5 must also be sent to the Town Clerk. If no Friday November 20,