International Family Childcare Association -

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Press Release

2008-10-17

National Family Childcare Association (NFCA)

The NFCA would like to address Minister of Social Services in Ontario Madeleine Meilleur, comment on Grandparents loosing funding for fostering their own kin.

Reported from the Toronto Star

TORONTO–The Ontario government’s move to cut off funding for grandparents with temporary custody of their grandchildren was done out of spite, the New Democrats charged today, while likening Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur as a modern day Marie Antoinette.
Hamilton New Democrat Paul Miller first raised the issue of grandparents in Hamilton and Ottawa being cut off from the $200 to $300 in temporary care assistance funding they received each month to help raise their grandchildren.
Ms. Madeleine Meilleur comment was,
“Grandparents have the same rights as every other person in Ontario who is in financial difficulty,” Meilleur said.
“They can apply for and receive … welfare.”

“Ms Meilleur is misrepresenting her position by saying the Grandparents have the same rights as every other person in Ontario with financial difficulty. Facts are foster parents, and young families with 2 incomes using subsidized daycare are treated on a higher financial regard then any other parent/legal guardians in Canada. Grandparents are generally over the age of 60 with special needs of there own and cannot go out and join a union paid job, so they stay at home and protect their already abused grandchildren from any future nightmares.”

The NFCA would like to call on Ms. Madeleine Meilleur to fully reverse this decision on the funding cuts or resign from her position as Minister of Social Services.

Betty Cornelius of Cangrands has sent special notices to Grandparents across Canada to help fight Ms. Meilleur’s decision to cut funding to our most poverty stricken citizens.

Please contact Betty Cornelius
www.cangrands.ca
613-474-0035

“About 90% of Cangrand children are special needs, Grandparents are loosing their retirement savings, homes and going to snowsuit funds to keep their grandkids warm. In Ontario foster parents are paid over $1200 a month to help raise a child that is not kin, but if you a kinship of the child you are left at the food banks begging. This is not fair.”
Says Sara Landriault

Please contact for local grandparent contacts,
(Ottawa area grandparents are available to speak with the press)
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Thank you,
Sara Landriault
stay at home mom
President, National Family Childcare Association
www.careofthechild.com
www.incomesplitting.org
landriault@ripnet.com

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