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Economy sPco-w meetîng's issue for debate "Economics as if Peo- plè Mattered" will be the topic 0f discussion at the annual general meeting of the Social Planning Council 0f Oshawa-Whîtby, on Tuesday, Marcb 2. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Oshawa Public Library Auditor- ium, 65 Bagot Street. Is the' Canadian economy in trouble? Wby is inflation out of control? Why are Canada's industries s0 weak? Why is unem- ploymhent higher than anytime since the 1930's? These and other ques- tions will be addressed by the guest speaker, Lukin Robinson, a lec- turer, and writer on Canadian economic policy. Currently an indepen- dent economic consult- ant, Robinson has had a checkered career as an economist. To name only a few, hie has worked as an analyst for the Bank of Canada and Foreign Excbange Board,_ as research director for the Inter- national Union 0f Mine, Mil and Smelter Work- ers, and as lecturer on Canadian economic policy for Trent Univer- His most recent publi- cations are the books "Canada's Crippled Dollar" publisbed by the Canadian Institute for. Economie Policy and "Rising Prices" published by James Lorimer and Company. Ail members of tbe Social Planning Council of Osbawa-Wbitby, and any interested public, are invited to attend, wbat promises to be, an interesting and' informa- tive discussion on our srnng pocketbooks. Gîve. AdwIML Council i~1~ R11,/IIW Column By REGIONAL COUNCILLOR TOM EDWARDS Chairman, Recreation Department Town of Whitby Not toc, many years ago when people needed assistance they went to members of their own family, or they went to social or fraternal organiza- tions, or they went to the church. Unfortunately i this time of high inflation and complex increasingly difficuit problems which af- fect the family unit, an expertise is necessary that was not the case only a few short years ago. The churches no longer have the large congrega- tions whose weekly donations enabled the church to pay for the ministeral assistance and guidance by competent and trained practioners. The family is burdened already with its own struggle to remain abreast of increasing inflation. The fraternal and social organizations have diffi- culties paying their way for their regular activities, and are therefore unable to put aside monues for some good social use. This does not mean that ex-, tensive highly beneficial camnpaigns are not raised on a regular basis, but it does mean that these organizations no longer have the capacity to fulfili these needs i our modemn society. This then compels government to pick up the problemn that has been laid down by the organiza- tions already referred to. The level 0f governinent closest to the recipients is that which bas the task of administering these services, although it must be emphasized that the' senior levels of government contribute both in terms of money and in terms of insisting upon adequate standards. Essentially, the social services department of the Region of Durham break their responsibilities into two main areas. The areasý are the family services division, and the hom es for the aged division.. The Family Services Division has a variety of tasks the main aspect of which is the general welfare system. This department provides assist- ance to some people who have no income otherwise because of unemployment or because of somne tragedy, such as a fire, or physical impairment such as accidents etc.,, the typical recipient is an in- dividual -who is somebody whose employment has terminated because of plant shut-down and is unable to get by because bis/ber unemployment benefits have, been delayed for some reason or another. It includes also people waiting for Work- mens Compensation benefits to commence after sustaining an injury at his/her place of employ- ment. As is the case in any activity there are some 3-5% who take advantage of the system. To that ex- TH ECORPORATIO>NOF THE TOWN OF WH ITBY LOAD RESTRICTIONS TO ALL OWNERS AND USERS 0F TRUCKS AND TRAILIERS Load restrictions of 5,TONNES PER AXLE wiii be In effeot from MARCH 1, 1982 TO APRIL 30, 1982, n the Town 0f Whitby, where properly worded signs are displayed. The Highway Traff le Act$ On- tarlo Regulation 668178. R.A. KUWAHARA, P. Eng., Director of Public Works. WHTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982, PAGE 9 'social services needs justified staff-most of whom bave worked for many years at the establishments and know completely the, needà of th 'e people they serve., I started this column by describing the change that society has been compelled to make in this area. It* is very rare that people elected to the regional council desire to serve on this committee. The members of the social service committee are flot in the position to show a new bridge or a new road or something which can display i a positive manner where the taxpayers money goes. Neyer- theless I arn convinced that the service provided by the region is one that is needed and justifiable, and as long as I arn able I will do my utmost to ensure that the standard is maintained, and I arn grateful to the electorate in Whitby for giving me the oppor- tunity for serving in this area. tent the Region of Durham bas hired. a special in- vestigator who bas saved for the community thousands of dollars whicb would have gone other- wlse to undeservlng recipients. However, it is ac- cepted and established fact that in excesof 95 per cent of recipients 0f general welfare assistance have no other source. 0f income. They range frorn the physical or mentally bandicapped individuals, to whom employment is just not available, to those whose ability to earn a living bas been termporarily terminated for one reason or another. The general welfare assistance division employs some 60 personnel to cater to the needs of some 6,500 individuals on a monthly basis. The amount of money in the budget is some $10 million gross which is reduced to the taxpayers in Durham by the government subsidise ranging as high as 90 per cent and the net cost to the residents of Durham is some- thing a little under $1 million. The next largest activity of this division is the family counselling service. This division employs some 18 people and bas a budget of some six hun- dred tbousand dollars in 1981, 50 per cent of which. was contributed by.the Provincial Government. The Family Counselling Division deals with some 760 cases on a monthly basis, with some 1,800 persons involved. Apart from, the benefit which is derived from the recipients 0f family counselling, in 1979 a survey was done on the cost and benefits to the residents of Durham Region, figurse showed that somne $2 million annually was saved by .keeping families together. The involvement of the family counsellor prevented families from bréaking up, and becoming burdens on the welfare payments, therefore saving the taxpayer money while at the same time retaining the stability 0f the family unit. In the homes for the Aged Division there are some three nursing home for the aged establishments in the Region 0f Durham. The largest is Hillsdale Manor in Oshawa, the longest serving is Fairview Lodge in Whitby, and the most recent is Lakeview Manor in Beaverton. There are some 880 nursing home beds in these three establishments, about haîf of which are located in our 1l*argest home, Hillsdale Manor. The expenditures of this section gross to an amount of some $10 million and the net cost is around $1 million to the residents 0f the Region of Durham, reduced by governument subsidies. There are some 500 people waiting for beds in these nur- sing homes, there are 306 fuil-time employees and some 236 part-time employees providing the necessaryr care to the residents of our homes for the aged.' If you ever want to see the' value of your tax dollar, I urge you to visit any one 0f the three establishments I have mentioned. 'Despite some structural problems at the oldest 0f them, Wbitby's Fairview Lodge, you will find that the residents of~ these placesare well looked after, comfortable, and usually are in good spirits, you will find a dedicated DON'T GO BROKE ,.GO TRANSIT 7'.ý Winter flot only makes it harder ~»to get around, it makes running a car more expensive. Unless you leave your car at home and GO Transit. 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