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Regional council approves child care plan to meet future needs The Caneaaiw. Jhampion, Tuesday, July 10, 2001--5 Watch for our Lifestyes section featuring Champion columnist Murray Townsend this Friday By RICHARD VIVIAN The Champion Halton Region is preparing for a predicted boom in child care needs through the implementation of a new child care plan. Health and social services committee members approved the plan Iast Tuesday, calling for, among other things. increased provincial funding. "Because we' re a high-growth commu- nity, it's (increased child care demands) a double whammy," Commissioner of Social and Community Services Adelina Urbanski said. "By not having our dollars increased to keep pace, but also with the growth of the community itself and the pressure of Ontario Works, the pressure keeps build- ing." In order to keep atop of the demand. Halton staff will pursue partnerships and linkages with child car-- facilities and organizations, conduct training, and advo- cate'additional provincial funding. Other steps wilI be addressed in the 2002 budget. Halton is anticipating a 9 per cent increase in the under 12 age group by 2005. Currently, 2 per cent of centres report vacancies (this bas traditionally been about 4.5 per cent). More than 420 children are on waiting lists for child care facilities in Halton today. The need for child care is made harder by the low wages offered to service providers, Ms Urbanski said. The average salary for child care providers with two years of collage training and experience within Halton is $13 an hourt That low wage has driven many to leave the indus- try, she said. The Region and Province currently oper- ate a partnership agreement with facilities to provide imited wage subsidies. Halton facilities received more than $3.6 million in subsidies last year (20 per cent from the Region and 80 per cent from the Province). Provincial funds have been provided as one-time instalîments in the past two years and are in no way guaranteed to continue, Ms Urbanski stressed. "Right now it's (the demand on the sys- tem) manageable, but we do have to keep an eye on it because it docs tluctuates. If the one-time bail out dollars do not contin- ue, we will have an immediate problem." Suggesting the Region's portion of the wage subsidy money could bu btter spent, Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison questioned the necessity for the prograro. 'l keep hearing about these low wages in the industry, this $13 an hour - almost double the minimum wage. If people real- ly want to get ahead, there is such a thing as working fuil-time for $13 an hour and then having a part-time job in retail." Regional council formally approved the plan Wednesday. i e& 342 Bronte St S. 12 Milon (90 76-Ïà The, ALL NEW 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer & Oldsmobile Bravada