|
Our
Community
|
Childcare Forum Learns Canadian Spending Lags
The photo includes April Cullen, Chair, Durham
Region Health and Social Services and Roxanne Lambert, Director,
Children's Services, Durham Region and other members of the
childcare community in Durham.
Colleen recently attended a Community Forum on childcare held at the Durham
Board of Education Centre. The event was hosted by Schoolhouse
Playcare Centres.
Sue Collier of Code Blue talked about
childcare at the Federal level. Participants learned that
Canada' ranks last of 14 countries in
spending on childcare , even though we rank 4th in wealth.
Canada spends .25% of GDP on childcare compared to Denmark and
other countries who spend 2% of their GDP on childcare. Even
Korea spends more. Modeled on the Canada Health Care Act,
Bill 303, The Early Learning and ChildCare Act, has received
second reading and expected to be back to the federal legislature
in the fall. This Bill if endorsed will pave the way
for a universal national child care program. For more
information see www.buildchildcare.ca
Elisabeth Ablett, from The Coalition for Better Child Care spoke
of the $150 million cut to child care services during the Harris
years, which has not been reinstated. Although McGuinty
promised $300 million it has not yet been forthcoming. Only
$25 million for this year and a $50 million commitment for next
year has been made by the province. The subsidy system is flawed.
New criteria for funding without accompanying resources means more
families sit on the waiting list for child care. Staff
recruitment and retention have become major issues as pay is not
competitive with other similar professions.
In Durham the waiting list for child care subsidy is 1984 which is
the highest it has ever been and growing by about 30 to 50 a week.
The Best Start Network of childcare stakeholders has developed
plans for expansion of spaces etc. should increased revenues be
forthcoming from the provincial and federal governments.
see also Community 2
|
Council Highlights - June 25, 2007
Council Remuneration
Council approved that staff utilize the
resources of a citizens' committee to aid staff in the
development of a new salary structure and benefits package that
will more appropriately reflect and align with the Town's
comparitors therefore ensuring Council is remunerated at an
appropriate level and competitive with those comparitors.
The citizen's committee will be comprised of three members of the
public;
Mr Ross McMaster
President, Autodyne Machinery Inc
Mr Don Terry
Director, Nuclear Public Affairs, OPG
Mr Barry Wohl
VP Human Resources and
Administration, Messier Dowty
Currently Ajax council is the lowest paid council
in the urban lakeside communities in Durham, yet Councillors in
Ajax represent a larger number of constituents. In fact, the
compensation is as much as 28% below some comparators.
The committee is expected to report back to Council
in the fall as to a reasonable compensation package.
Runnymede Application - Miles Park
The application for the subdivision which included
a land swap with Runnymede to incorporate improvements to Miles
Park adjacent to Caddaraque P.S. was approved. Runnymede
withdrew its appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. A number
of public meetings and open houses were held, whereby
community members and school officials provided input to the concept
and achieved a plan that was supported.
Recommended 407 link route protects Ajax
greenbelt lands
News Release
A north-south route, running
east of Lake Ridge Road, has been selected as the
technically recommended alternative for a proposed
Highway 407 West Durham Link.
The preferred route, which
avoids a segment of the greenbelt south of Taunton
Road and connects Highway 401 to the proposed
extension of Highway 407, was recommended by the
407 East Project Team after extensive evaluation
and public consultation.
"Ajax Council is very
pleased with the location of the preferred
route," said Mayor Steve Parish. "This
decision respects Ajax's vision of maintaining and
protecting the green space between Audley Road and
Lake Ridge Road. It is also compatible with
provincial, regional and municipal planning and
development strategies."
The 407 East Project Team will
be holding a public information centre in Ajax to
present the preferred route, as well as the route
for the Highway 407 mainline extension. The
session is being held on Tuesday, July 3 from 4 to
8 p.m. at the Ajax Community Centre. All residents
are invited to attend.
Next steps include developing
conceptual designs for the freeway links (an
eastern 407 link is also planned in the Clarington
area) and Highway 407 mainline extension. The 407
East Environmental Assessment is scheduled to be
completed and submitted to the Minister of the
Environment by the Fall of 2008.
|
|
