Cut CAS Costs

July 5, 2009 permalink

Ontario's Minister of Children and Youth Services, Deb Matthews, continues her low-profile leadership, positioning herself mainly as a poverty-fighter. Last week she addressed a letter to the leaders of all of Ontario's children's aid societies, inviting them to a meeting on July 29 in Toronto:

The Commission is responsive to concerns I’ve heard from CASs about funding and their ability to meet the ministry’s changing requirements for child welfare and to the ministry’s concerns related to significant variations between CASs in the costs of services and the unsustainable rate of expenditure growth.

Translation: The economic downturn requires the government to cut funding for everything, especially unnecessary foster care. The MCYS website has the entire letter of Deb Matthews (pdf) local copy.

July 5, 2009

Deb Matthews
Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Minister’s Office
56 Wellesley Street West
14th Floor
Toronto ON M5S 2S3
Tel.: (416) 212-7432
Fax: (416) 212-7431

submitted through web form

Subject: Commission to Promote Sustainable Children’s Aid Societies

Reference: http://www.gov.on.ca/children/graphics/274528.pdf

Honorable Minister:

On June 25 you addressed a letter to Ontario's children’s aid society board chairs expressing your concerns over growth in costs and inviting them to a meeting with you on July 29 to provide input.

Many outside of the social services system may be able to help by providing ideas to reduce costs while sustaining, or even enhancing, the welfare of children. Do you also welcome input from them?

I regret that owing to the short time frame, I am unable to communicate through the more businesslike Canada Post.

Robert T McQuaid
558 McMartin Road
Mattawa Ontario P0H 1V0

phone: 705-744-6274
email: rtmq@fixcas.com

Addendum: With a delay of ten weeks, here is the response:

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Ministry of Children and Youth Services Minister's Office 56 Wellesley Street West 14th Floor Toronto ON M5S 2S3 Tel. : 416 212-7432 Fax: 416 212-7431

Ministère des Services à l'enfance et à la jeunesse Bureau de la ministre 56, rue Wellesley Ouest 14e étage Toronto (Ontario) M5S 2S3 Tél. : 416 212-7432 Téléc. : 416 212-7431

SEP 14 2009

Mr. Robert T. McQuaid
558 McMartin Road
Mattawa, Ontario
POH 1VO

Dear Mr. McQuaid:

Thank you for your letter regarding the sustainability of children's aid societies in Ontario. Let me begin by saying that I appreciate your concern for the well-being of children and youth in our province and your interest in contributing ideas towards promoting sustainable children's aid societies.

While the Commission has not yet been appointed, once they are, I would encourage you to contact them directly to share your input. The ministry will be posting this information on our website as it becomes available.

Thank you again for sharing your concerns about the child welfare system.

Sincerely,

Deb Matthews
Minister