Cornwall Standard Freeholder

27 January 2010

Posted By GREG PEERENBOOM

The provincial government is keeping the rain off 140 Children's Aid Society workers.

With roof repairs almost complete at the Children's Aid Society of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry building, MPP Jim Brownell announced the bill will be covered by his government's $50 million program for social services infrastructure.

"It was a concern (of CAS officials) to take funds out of the budget for retrofits for a building to make sure it was safe and was going to impact your delivery of services to children of the community," Brownell said, of discussions he had last year with the CAS.

"It really hit on me that I could not delay going back to Queen's Park and had to ask for some capital dollars," he said.

CAS executive director Rachel Daigneault said repair cost would have forced CAS into tough choices.

"Without the grant, what it meant for us is we would do significant (deep) cuts that we didn't want to do," Daigneault said.

"It would have effect our ability to pay for our foster care system and, we of course, we would have had to lay off some staff.

"It was absolutely unthinkable for us to dip into our (operating budget)."

The budget for 2008-09 was $25 million-plus, with salaries accounting for about a 30% share.

Foster home boarding rates are the biggest expense, making up about 45%.

There were 391 children under CAS' care in '08-'09.

Many other CAS organizations in the province have resorted to running deficits in order to keep up with demand. The local CAS was still breaking even, but Daigneault said previously the repairs would break the budget.

CAS board of directors chair Ron Samson said he was "absolutely delighted for the amount."

He said staff have been moved around the building during construction and everyone will be glad to get back a normal routine.

Contractor Grant Marion began the work last fall and is expected to finish the job next month.

Article ID# 2278571

 Support your local employment agency the CAS and the foster care homes

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #1 By majekin

140 employees 391 children under their care wow

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #2 By dodger

I may be wrong about this or been misinformed but I believe the Agency get's per day 408 dollars per child from the government of Ontario. Quite an industry.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #3 By dodger

Oh it is an industry. Back in the day before govt funding, CAS actually was very careful before removing a child or taking it into care, as they had to be financially responsible and do their own fundraising (this info is available on line in history of child welfare in Canada). Now that the Govt just signs a blank cheque, they take a child away if the parent doesnt dress it the way they want, they find "medical" reasons (unfounded and unproven) to take children - they take a newborn baby from first time mothers with NO history of abuse because they have "concerns" - AND YES I CAN BACK THIS UP I AM NOT STUPID or making idle accusations. The CAS is not about looking after our children, it is a business. The CAS should be looking after keeping FAMILIES together, getting them the resources for training, education, counselling, whatever it takes to keep families together. But that doesn't pay the $11 million in salaries to workers in 2008. More in 2009. Take a look at the budget people, take a look at your neighbour, and the children in their homes. Their own? or someone elses? Who loves their children more? paid caregivers or their mother?

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #4 By majekin

$1.5M for a roof repair??? Is it gold plated?

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #5 By CornwallNoMore

1.5 million is not that bad considering the size of the roof.

If the government pays 408 dollars per day per child CAS is being short changed. Just wait until we see how much it will cost per child once they have to incorporate all the changes from the inquiry .

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #6 By itinerant

Heck when did it become so expensive for roof repair? How big is the building, is it the size of the White House or something? I mean really could they not have found a cheaper roofing company. I agree it must be gold plated, or maybe even copper.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #7 By Tammy Racine

Costs will include new materials from the actual finishing materials to the drainage right down to any structural work that may have been required.

Cost of empoyees, cost of equipment, cost of permits, inspection. 1.5 million is not that much

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #8 By itinerant, 1 day ago | 0 Votes | Vote:    So $408 per day per child = $12,240 per month per child. I bet any parent would be happy to get even half that a month in order to raise their child properly. Hell my monthly income is about one quarter of that. Oh yes forgot to mention those children have to be apprehended by the CAS in order for them to get the funding so there is really not much incentive to help families fix their problems because more profit in just removing the child. Oh I forgot that was the past, right?

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #9 By dodger

dodger, how much do you think it costs to employ the people, pay the insurances, paperwork retainers for any legal representation and any other operating costs that are not considered maintenance costs.

This 1.5 would not fall under operating cost but perhaps a capital cost or maybe maintenance depending on what the allotment is set at.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #10 By itinerant

For a building the size of the CAS 1.5 million for a roof is crazy; or it would be for a non-public building. A new building could have been built twice for the cost. If you don't believe me think about this. You can build 10 homes or about 1 full city block of new 1500 square ft homes and make a huge profit for the same money as we spent on one medium size flat roof. If you dont like it; too bad. Just shut up and pay your taxes. After all the CAS has a perfect track record in this town of serving the children. LOL

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #11 By WestEndRep

residential homes do not compare to commercial buildings not even close.

Not sure where you live now but with the current costs of new homes rounding the cost of 200,000 not including development I think 1.5 million would be more like a trailer park

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #12 By itinerant

But 1.5 million wasnt for a new building it was only to replace a roof. If you think this is a good deal, I will find you a $40000 trailer and sell it to you for $150000. New homes on Hemlock Cres are going for $169000 with a small lot and a huge mark up for the developer. Just think of it this way; 1.5 million is more than you, your spouse and all of your children will ever pay in taxes in your entire life and that was for 1 simple roof. Anyone who thinks that this was a good fair deal that was no doubled just because it was public funds needs to give their heads a shake.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #13 By WestEndRep

 Just some facts - $11 million for foster care for one year, $8 million to salaries. Now I have a 4 year degree, 30 years work experience, several college diplomas and I don't make that much. Hmm, apprehending children is a full time job. And it seems that Ontario leads Canada in the number of children that require CAS intervention- well at least in CAS mind. They have to justify their jobs right? and 1.5 million for a roof, is a little "over the top" for an OFFICE

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #14 By majekin

Even at 169,000 you are still over 1.5 million to build the 10 houses you spoke about, and you have not even developed the land yet, how much for infrastructure, electrical, sewage, roads?

First you should understand how the roof is repaired, unlike putting shingles on your home there is s lil engineering involved, that in itself is not cheap. Then comes demolition, just look at how much a dumpster costs then removal of any garbage both environmentally and non environmentally safe. Then any repairs that need to be done to the existing structure. Then there is the cost of materials, employees, equipment, inspections, permits.

8 million in salaries is for how many people and what is the average salary? Shooting numbers like that is only going to irritate people because you have no references

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #15 By itinerant

8 million in salary for 160 people, go to the CAS of Stormont, Dundas Glengarry and read the yearly report - all I have been saying for a year, is please people in the Cornwall area, get the facts. They are available. Do you want a link to the annual financial report or can you get it from the website? http://www.cassdg.ca/ and then you can go to Publications, drop down menu for Annual Report 2008 - 2009. The facts and figures are there. Read it and weep for your children

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #16 By majekin

Here is the link for those that need it http://www.cassdg.ca/images/publications/annualreport08-09.pdf go to page 5 of the report

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #17 By majekin

- are you still irritated? Did you read the annual report? Can you do the math? $7,400,000.00 for salary with 140 to 160 employees. Thats a lot of money. That does not include office expenses, repairs, travel, etc as that is all itemized separately. Your apology is graciously accepted. Next time, when I say something, I can back it up, just ask.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #18 By majekin

First of all the house on Hemlock sold for $169000 would have the cost of everything included. The developer did not pay for all of those charges himself because he is charitable. Regardless of of what kind of roof which in this case is a flat peeble covered roof the price is bloated because of who the buyer is. I work in a downtown 2 story office building bigger than the CAS building and with huge lot included it is for sale for less than a million(yes it includes the roof.)

The salaries are so high because instead of hiring a part time fill in person for weekends at $200 a day the top case workers take turns taking the pager home to be on call just in case on weekends and get paid over $900 for the 2 days of on call work. Multiply 900 by 52 weeks and see where the money goes. Even itinerant can figure this one out. And before you say I dont know my co-workers spouse is one of those highup workers and they brag about it every time I see them.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #19 By WestEndRep

westend, I am not irritated, it was a rhetorical comment. You have switched from the cost of building 10 new homes to one existing home. Why?

As I said residential to commercial is a huge difference in building costs.

Majekin

8 million in salaries for 150 people would average to about 54,000/yr salary, or on an hourly rate approximately 25.00/hr. Do you think that is a lot of money? It is a good wage and for the times average.

I know it is a lot less for most case workers and a lot more for management but that is not the issue nor are the wages the roof costs are what this is about.

There is accountability for costs and construction is not quite as lucrative as it was in the past. In the end costs have to match up or the construction group and the CAS will be in court costing both more money. Hence it is highly unlikely they have fattened their wallets

On another note, how many people have asked for better paying jobs in Cornwall and now when you see numbers it seems to be a bad thing?

There is also using more qualified people, as I am sure our good friend dodger will agree, is it better to pay a more senior experienced person to make the visits, or a rookie or part timer just to save a few bucks.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #20 By itinerant

There is also using more qualified people, as I am sure our good friend dodger will agree, is it better to pay a more senior experienced person to make the visits, or a rookie or part timer just to save a few bucks. Yes a more senior one with more experience is usually better but human beings get burned out and can hold grudges. Especially with the power they hold over families and having no oversight of what they do wrong. They actually create their own work by removing children from families unnecessarily wish I could create work for myself.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #21 By dodger

I have no objections to them getting a new roof, all the more power to them. But don't you think they get enough money in funding allready.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #22 By dodger

We want better paying jobs but not at the cost of tearing apart families to keep some well paid very powerful people that are near untouchable in the money.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #23 By dodger

Ideally hey should break even as it is a non profit organization.

This additional funding will pay for a roof and not be taken out of capital operating budget

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #24 By itinerant

dodger with all the proof you have about what they are doing wrong why do you not charge them?

Or is it a deal gone bad in your life for which the whole system must now pay for?

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #25 By itinerant,