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Our Opinion Tuesday, February 19,2008 The Nipigon-Red Rock Gazette is published each Tuesday by Lakeshore Community Publishing Ltd. 38 Front Street, Nipigon, Ont. POT 2J0 Phone 807-887-3583 Fax 807-887-3720 2nd., class mailing permit #0867 Subscription Rates: Seniors (65+) $28.00 Local $38.00. Outside 60km $51.00 USA $67.00 (please add 5% GST) Memberships and Associations The Canadian Community Newspaper Association, The Ontario Community Newspaper Association Columns Policy - Letters to Editor The columns and letters accepted by this newspaper for publication, appear at the discretion of the Publisher. Names, signatures and phone numbers must accompany each submission for verification purposes. It is assumed that each submission fairly represents the opinion of the writer. E-mail address nipigongazette@shaw.ca Advertising and General Manager Linda R. Harbinson Reporter Photographer/Circulation Pamela Behun Managing Editor Paulette Lalonde Forsyth Publisher Linda R. Harbinson ‘We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program ‘PAP Registration No. 9030” toward our mailing costs.” Canada editorial.. Did you happen to hear about the U.S. satellite on a collision course with earth, and the Americans are presently scrambling with their missiles to destroy it before it enters the earth’s atmosphere? And did I mention that it contains toxic gases? Here we are, trying desperately to ‘go green’ and keep our environment healthy, and there they are, polluting the atmosphere with debris and toxic gases. Doesn’t it just make you feel like you’re in a losing situationâ€"that for every step taken forward, two are taken back? I tell you, before we even get the chance to make the trip to the moon or anywhere else in space, it will be polluted. Thanks to man and the strive to succeed at any cost. A1 Gore is gonna have fun with this one! Yesterday (February 18th) was the new government holiday, Family Day. I don’t really know the reason behind this day, because some family members still had to work. My question is, how can you enjoy a Family Day holiday with parts of your family missing due to work? I’m assuming that the meaning of the day is to spend time with family, right Prime Minister Harper? Perhaps it should be renamed so that its meaning matches its purpose, such as Income Tax Preparation Day, or Diet Day (so fitting after Valentine’s Day), or, Think Sun Day or February Is A Short Month Day. I’m open to suggestions. My point is, Family Day is a wonderful thought, but personally, if I’m going to acknowledge it, I’d prefer to have most of my family able to celebrate with me. Support for Province’s Poverty Reduction Strategy The Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) appeared before Ontario’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as part of the province’s 2008 budget consultations in Thunder Bay on Thursday, January 24,2008. A key part of the presentation was a call for the Government to increase support for residents on Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program. “We were extremely pleased to have this opportunity to have input into the provincial budget,” said TBDSSAB Chair Iain Angus. “The impact of the provincial budget on the people and the economy of Thunder Bay District can’t be overstated, and at this time perhaps more than any other, we need the attention of the province to address real and growing needs in the area.” In their presentation, TBDSSAB expressed their complete support for the province’s focus on a poverty reduction strategy. As the local provider of provincially regulated services such as Ontario Works, Social Housing, and Child Care, the DSSAB feels that the current level of financial assistance provided to the poor could be viewed as a punitive measure upon the most vulnerable Ontarians who are experiencing mental health and physical health issues, those who have diagnosed and undiagnosed psychological and learning disorders, and those who happen to reside in areas facing significant economic challenges. The DSSAB finds that many of its clients have undiagnosed mental health and developmental problems, and has had to pay for assessments that are not available in the health care system in order to help people qualify for disability funding. Using Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut Off (LICO) as a comparator to the annual social assistance Rates (which includes Ontario Works Basic Allowance and Shelter Costs) the DSSAB pointed out that there is a significant disconnect between what Ontario Works participants receive and what they need to survive in our region. For example, 49% of the Ontario Works caseload is single persons, and they get between $ 11,000 and $13,000 less than LICO. Fully 41% of the caseload are sole support parents who are short changed $9,400 if they have one child under 13, while couples with one child can get anywhere from $13,600 to $19,300 less than they need. In general , the larger the family the greater the challenge to make ends meet, as their income is anywhere from $17,100 to $24,200 below the LICO. “The effects of poverty on children are of course the most serious and the most lasting, and this really needs to be addressed,” said Angus. At the same time, the DSSAB applauded the provincial government for many of its recent initiatives, such as ending the clawback of National Child Benefit payments from Ontario Works families, for implementing Best Start and expanding the availability of child care in the District, and for the Northern Home Repair Program, which is helping low income homeowners to make repairs needed for health and safety reasons. The province also recently announced that it is funding a Centre of Excellence for Seniors Services in Thunder Bay in partnership with the City of Thunder Bay which will provide long-term care and supportive housing. “We think the province is definitely on the right track so far,” said Angus, “but there is a lot still to be done to provide our poorest community members, and their children, with a fair chance. Helping the neediest members of the community in a humane and dignified way will improve their chances of achieving independence and will really benefit all of us in the long run.” Letters to the Editor Send your Letters to the Editor to: Nipigon-Red Rock Gazette Box 1057 Nipigon, ON POT 2J0. Or fax us at 887-3720 better yet, e-mail us at nipigongazette @ shaw.ca ComParrot by Bonnie J. Malcolm Can you spot 12 differences between these pictures? Solution: 1. Design on boy’s ski boot is missing. 2. Branch under skier is missing. 3. Tip appears on ski pole. 4. Ski tracks appear on hill. 5. Girl’s hair braid is hidden. 6. Strap on ski goggles is colored in. 7. Pompom on hat is different. 8. Small skier has moved. 9. Snowball behind stump has moved. 10. Boy’s runaway ski is shorter. 11. Scarf is longer. 12. Branch is hidden under boy’s arm.