Article Review: Children’s Aid Societies Seek More from Province

Summary
The Children’s Aid Societies (CAS) in Ontario require more funding in order to effectively rescue children from abusive environments. According to the article the CAS is starting to use their line of credit in order to pay the bills and it will need to lay off one-third of its staff if funding is not acquired. Although they have requested funds, the province has declined their request for more funding. The new minister of children’s services has also given no indication that CAS will be given any more money. The lawyer who chairs the board for Toronto’s Native Child and Family fears that the lack of funds will keep social workers from reaching all cases and that it might take a child’s death for them to get the additional funding from the province.

Critical Review
Is this situation a result of the government benefiting the strong at the expense of the weak of an economic recession? This is a very important question to ask and it can be answered by examining the factors surround this article. Although the former does contain some truth, the latter appears to have a better understanding of the situation.
First, the federal and provincial governments are running on a deficit. The federal deficit automatically affects all of the provinces and territories in terms of how much financial support they are going to get in the budget. The provincial deficit also means that even though the province is getting money from the federal government, it will have to be wise in how it spends and allocates the money. Second, there are many other organizations crying to the government for money. Giving money to all of them would only deepen the deficit. It is unfortunate that the CAS is low on funds but during a recession everybody is and the government cannot financially help everybody without raising taxes. Therefore, the CAS will have to find other ways to get money or wisely use what they have been given for the time being.

A Christian’s Response
As believers, we should be concerned about people in need and try to help people in abusive situations. Although the government cannot help the Children’s Aid Society, the church can by raising funds and providing homes for foster children. If the churches of Ontario rally together to help, it would be a tremendous witness to the people of this province and to the children, especially teenagers, in need of foster homes.

References
CBC News. (2009, October 14). Children’s aid societies seek more from province. CBC News-Toronto. Retrieved October 15, 2009, from http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/10/14/cas-budgets.html

-Andrena LeBlanc

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Out of the Cold

Every year, organizations such as Oasis, Dream-centre, and the Soup Kitchen, do what they can day after day. Serving food and help those who are living on the streets, or living in hard times, giving all they can.  Sadly there is one thing about working in Canada that cannot be so easily dealt with; the season of winter.  Cold winds that can chill you down to your bones; that causes you to freeze, and make you wish for one more blanket just to hold on to what warmth you have.

It is in these moments that churches have so graciously opened their doors, starting something that can only be described as acts of service.  What I am speaking of is known as the “Out of the Cold” program. This involves nine church buildings, many more volunteers, and other churches assisting in serving meals, and setting up cots and beds for and sometimes over 200 people a night.  This allows them a place to eat, and a place to sleep that is warm.

With all that work, it is amazing to see churches pulling together, willing to go the distance in what it truly means to live to serve as we are asked to in Matthew 25:34-36.  It has been said by more then a few volunteers and workers with the street mission organizations, how painful it is, knowing that many of those we serve as going to be alone, cold, and we can do nothing to help them outside of what we are capable.

Let me share this in a different light.  We as students, many of us who are on campus, have meals prepared for us, secured entrances to our rooms, and people all around us to encourage and support us in what ever we need; from maintenance to education.  What if those things were not there? How would you react?  How would this affect your mood and attitude towards life?  Would you be able to keep focused on the tasks you have acquired at school?

In these days ahead when you are praying for school, your world, and where God is taking you; have a pause and thank Him for the great work he is doing in churches here in Kitchener/Waterloo for those we see as poor, marginalized and rejected.  We have been blessed, and are continuing to bless others in this way by letting people in, Out of the Cold.

If you are interested in what all is going on with Out of the Cold, or how you can be a part, please contact myself, and I will be more then willing to share more about this great ministry that serves in such a fantastic way.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Mark Dakin

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