Archive for August, 2008
Update on Subsidized Daycare in Ward 43
I wanted to do an update on the daycare situation in Ward 43 because I believe childcare is an essential aspect of any plan to assist parents in fighting their way out of poverty. You may recall from my post on this topic from July 20th some figures. If not, you’re forgiven and I will even admit, I needed to go back and double check a couple of things.
Here is a re-cap of some key facts from my last post on this topic:
Ward 43 has the highest rate of child poverty in all of Scarborough and the third highest rate of child poverty in the city of Toronto.
41% of children in Ward 43 under 14 live in poverty compared to 30% across the city as a whole.
In total, Ward 43 has 5125 children under 14 living in families below the low income cut off and only 985 of those children receive subsidized childcare. 503 children are on a waiting list. The City believes of the 24 000 subsidized spaces, Ward 43 is entitled to 1029, still more than 4 000 spots short of even just the number of children below the low income cut off.
The LICO – Low Income Cut Off is defined as $22,964 for a family of two or $34 572 for a family of four. It is also commonly referred to and generally accepted as the “poverty line”.
Ward 43 Vacancies in subsidy system:
July 10th – 113
July 18th – 110
August 10th – 113
Ward 43 Waiting List:
Number of Children in Ward 43 waiting for subsidized childcare spots (as of July 18th): 503
Number of children in Ward 43 waiting for subsidized daycare spaces (as of August 10th): 482
Ward Equity Target:
Ward Equity Target (stated July 18th): 1029 subsidized spots
Ward Equity Target (stated August 10th): 935 subsidized spots
Number of Children Receiving Subsidized Daycare in Ward 43:
July 18th: 985 (44 fewer than equity target)
August 10th: 988 (53 more than new equity target)
If I am reading the data correctly, Ward 43 went from being entitled to gain 44 additional childcare spaces to losing 53 currently subsidized spaces, meaning these children who already have childcare will lose it. The result is actually 97 fewer spots than the previous equity target. This is unacceptable.
There are still over 5 000 children living in families under the poverty line in Ward 43. Ward 43 still has the highest rate of child poverty in Scarborough and 1 in 5 families living below the poverty line survive on less than 50% of what is considered the LICO.
I don’t understand why Ward 43 would suddenly be entitled to 97 fewer spots, and logic would suggest an additional 4 000 spots (to provide childcare for all children under the LICO) would make more sense.
I’m also concerned that the new equity guideline could put 53 current subsidies at risk for children who have daycare spaces right now and I don’t understand how if there are 988 enrolled and this is 53 spots more than the equity target there can be 113 vacancies within Ward 43, within the subsidy system.
I have written to Nancy Matthew’s who is the Acting General Manager of Children’s Services at the City of Toronto to see if she can make sense of this and provide some additional information. When I hear back with anything substantive, I will be sure to provide that information here.
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Canadian Idol Update — Mookie Lives to Fight Another Day
This isn’t news anymore necessarily, but it was when I wrote it… Mookie Morris is safe! Having risen out of the bottom three once again, he is now in the top six. I wouldn’t have said anything on this, but on August 5th I was at my parent’s and my mom was watching a recording of the show from a couple of nights ago. There were doing the elimination stuff when I came in so I sat to watch, just out of interest in Mookie.
I had to share this picture from a story Torontoist wrote about Mookie Morris’s quest to be the next Canadian Idol. It appears a campaign is underway…
My favourite line of the Torontoist story was:
“If you’re like us, you’re probably thinking, “Who the hell is Mookie?” And why are so many Rosedalians admitting to watching lowbrow reality shows? Shouldn’t they be taking their doses of reality schlock in secret shame like everybody else?”
The sign looks really close to the sidewalk. For his sake, he should hope Mark Day doesn’t have any fans in MLS (municipal licensing and standards) at the City or he could end up receiving a hefty bill and no explanation of the double secret appeal mechanism that apparently exists, just quietly.
I can’t promise not to poke more fun at this later, but I am really going to try. I told someone today that I couldn’t resist originally because I just thought the Mayor endorsing an Idol candidate brought new meaning to silly. I still do. The only reason I am posting this is because of my musing about the potential use of Miller’s political resources to help Morris and this picture made that thought just seem less out there what with an orchestrated sign campaign now underway.
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Scarborough Mirror: Scarborough has special connection to Simcoe Day
The Scarborough Mirror had a story I want to share because it is about something that touched me when I was very young. I went to Elizabeth Simcoe JPS from kindergarten until my grade six graduation. I don’t remember how old I was, but I do remember being taught why my school was named after Mrs. Simcoe and not Sir John Graves Simcoe.
The simple explanation is that Sir John Graves Simcoe as Ontario’s first Lt. Governor put in place a number of key planks our province was built on and that later came to define us. Abolishing slavery long before the British Empire had, our judicial system, the founding of York (and the expansion of Fort York) to defend it.
In some respects he showed a certain shrewd ability to stay in the good graces of those who kept him employed and serving as Upper Canada’s first vice-regal. Yonge st. was effectively named after is boss, Dundas has a similar story, the re-naming of Toronto to York was done so in honour of a member of the royal family. He is the reason London, ON is called London and why it’s river is the Thames.
There are quite a bit of reminders of Simcoe throughout Ontario, and in particular Toronto. Castle Frank is the name of his summer home, which was located near to where the subway station is now. There is a Simcoe County, a Lake Simcoe, Fort York – something I always associate with Simcoe and of course the (former) City of Scarborough.
Scarborough as a name for the settlement east of York was decided upon by Elizabeth Simcoe, his wife. The cliffs of Scarborough she recorded in her diary are said to have reminded her of the cliffs of Scarborough England. She kept detailed diaries of her life in Ontario in addition to being a painter. Her works are treasures to Ontario historians as they provide a glimpse of life in colonial Ontario.
In 1996 the City of Scarborough held it’s bicentennial celebrations and during this period much of the pride in Scarborough’s history was brought alive by teachers and local historians eager to have students understand the past of their city. I remember the big mural on the wall in the main entrance of Simcoe, and the copy of the painting of the Simcoe’s in a row boat on Lake Ontario off the bluffs on what looks to be a tour. It could be found hanging in a number of different places around the school then.
Scarborough’s history is a victim of the forced amalgamations that awaited Scarborough just after its bicentnnial year. There was a time when Scarborough was being referred to by the City as “Toronto-East District” exclusively. It still happens to some degree, but recently the Scarborough Civic Centre has reclaimed its old flag, a flag I am proud to have on my wall at home, and many residents are involved in community projects to raise the level of pride of Scarborough residents.
If you see a button that says GSA (Greater Scarborough Area) you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you are not fortunate to live in Scarborough proper, but in one of it’s neighbouring cities, than it is very likely you are a resident of the GSA.
Scarborough is an amazing place. Perhaps people don’t think about things like where the name comes from because it stirs up reminders of where the name went. I know for me, Scarborough’s immense parklands, higher than average rate of recycling and higher library book circulation are all things that I am proud to recall when talking about my city.
I’ve fallen off track, but I will end by saying, not all have forgotten the special connection Simcoe has to Scarborough, or the memory of city separate from the rest of Toronto, as Scarborough had been since the many pioneer families arrived and founded the varies settlements that back Scarborough’s neighbourhoods. Scarborough as a facinating history, one that if studied by current Councillors would shock them. Annual reports to voters, spendthrift policies that saw Scarborough go without a proper Town Hall or Council Chamber for decades. I better stop here, but some have not forgotten and all 600 000 residents of Scarborough share a connection to a beautiful city they ought to be proud of.
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