The Ford government has cancelled its $28-million budget cut to children’s aid societies after growing concerns about the ability of cash-strapped agencies to protect Ontario’s vulnerable children. The agencies learned in late September, when their provincial funding arrived, that the government is instead increasing last year’s $1.5-billion transfer to them by $23 million.In an emailed statement to the Star, the ministry of children, community and social services said minister Todd Smith and associate minister Jill Dunlop decided it was best to keep funding “stable” while the government consulted the agencies about needed reforms.The ministers’ “first priority is to listen and learn,” the ministry said. “Our government knows it is important to give the sector time and space to contribute to discussions about any changes. Keeping funding stable has provided time to work together to find solutions.”Officials with Ontario’s 50 children’s aid societies applaud the government’s about-face. They add, however, that it will bring little relief to the 17 societies struggling with deficits that total $11 million.The reversal prevents a bad situation from getting worse.The government had signalled the $28-million cut in funding for children’s aid when it tabled its spending estimates in the legislature in May. With government popularity tanking, Premier Doug Ford has reversed other announced cuts, including to municipalities and to children with autism.But a breakdown of the government’s $1.526 billion in funding by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies indicates the extra money won’t be lifting agencies from their deficit hole.“It’s a bit of a shell game,” says Jennifer Wilson, executive director of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, referring to the extra funding.Last year’s funding was for 49 children’s aid ...
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