The Executive Director of the Hastings Children’s Aid Society isn’t surprised C-A-S’s across the province are having money problems.
One office in northern Ontario may have to close in mid-December if it doesn’t receive operating funds from Queen’s Park, and the provincial C-A-S shortfall is 67-million dollars.
Len Kennedy says societies are hurt because Ministry of Community and Social Service funding announcements aren’t made until well into the fiscal year, and there won’t be any more money this year.
He says the Hastings C-A-S reduced its projected 2009-10 deficit by 900-thousand dollars by laying off two child and youth workers and closing special support classes, as well as making other administrative changes. The Society now expects a shortfall at the end of March of 150-thousand dollars.
