January 23, 2007: News Release from the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services:

McGuinty Government Supporting Grandparents Who Care For Vulnerable Grandchildren

Extended Family, Community Members May Be Eligible For Support

NIAGARA FALLS — Grandparents, extended family members and community members who care for children in need of protection may now be eligible for financial support and services as part of new reforms to Ontario’s child well-being and protection system, Minister of Children and Youth Services Mary Anne Chambers announced today.

“Children who are unable to grow up with their parents due to protection concerns should have the opportunity, wherever possible, to grow up with members of their extended families,” said Chambers.  “Protection of Ontario’s children is our number one priority.  These new supports and services will encourage and enable grandparents and extended family or community members to provide the stability and security where children are not able to stay with their parents because of safety concerns.”

Under the new policy, grandparents and extended family or community members who are looking after a child in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS), and who are approved as foster parents, will receive the foster care rate of approximately $900 per month from their local CAS.  This includes members of aboriginal communities who are looking after a child under customary care arrangements.

“Some grandparents have told us that they want a system that makes it easier for them to adopt their grandchildren or become their legal guardians or foster parents,” said Niagara Falls MPP, Kim Craitor.  “As a result of today’s announcement, more grandparents and extended family members will be able to provide vulnerable children with caring, secure homes.”

Grandparents and extended family or community members caring for Crown wards who obtain legal custody, or who decide to adopt those children, may also be eligible for funding and support services, up to the foster care rate. 

The changes also mean that grandparents and extended family or community members looking after children who are in need of protection, but have not been admitted to the formal care of a CAS, could be eligible for emergency financial aid for a variety of needs. 
(...)
These measures are part of the reforms the McGuinty government has made to strengthen Ontario’s child well-being and protection system.  In February 2006, the government also introduced a kinship regulation to require background checks on all adults in the home where children in need of protection will be living. 

Other improvements that came into effect in November 2006 under amendments to the Child and Family Services Act include:

• Increasing the accountability of children's aid societies through an independent and timely complaints process
• Allowing openness arrangements that will make it possible for more children to be adopted while keeping important ties to their birth families and communities
• Emphasizing customary care arrangements that allow Aboriginal children and youth to maintain important cultural and family ties
• Helping to resolve child protection cases outside of the courtroom more quickly through collaborative solutions such as mediation.
   

For more information, please click on the link below:

Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services - News Room

January 23, 2007: News Release from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development:

Canada's New Government Appoints Expert Panel to Study Labour Market Conditions that Affect Older Workers

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, January 23, 2007—The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, has announced the appointment of an expert panel to study labour market conditions affecting older workers. The Panel will look at potential measures to help older workers, including improved training and enhanced income support, such as early retirement benefits.

Speaking at the Public Policy Forum's Conference on improving Canada's business environment and competitiveness, Minister Solberg announced the appointment of the Honourable Erminie Cohen, a retired Senator, as Chair of the expert panel. Ms. Cohen will be joined by three other members, also selected for their experience in studying policy issues: Bill MacKinnon, Chief Executive and Senior Partner, KPMG Canada, LLP; Craig Riddell, Professor, University of British Columbia; and Diane Bellemare, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Conseil du patronat du Québec.

"The fact is that seniors and older workers have helped build this country," said Minister Solberg. "Our population is ageing and we are facing labour shortages. Now is the time to look at issues faced by older workers and make sure that they have the knowledge and tools they need to contribute to a strong Canadian work force."

"It is important to promote the continued participation of older workers in Canada's labour market," said Senator Marjory LeBreton, Secretary of State (Seniors). "I welcome the announcement of the panel and their work on issues of interest to older Canadians."

"My colleagues and I are eager to get started with the work that lies ahead. Older workers are often an overlooked asset in the work force. Our objective is to provide the Government of Canada and Canadians with an impartial assessment of the needs of older workers," said Ms. Cohen.

The panel will consult extensively with provincial and territorial governments, as well as with employers, labour representatives, academics and other stakeholders and advise the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development on their findings.

The panel's study is the second part of Canada's new government's overall strategy to address adjustment issues faced by older workers.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Expert Panel is to undertake a feasibility study on older workers as outlined in Budget 2006: "...conduct, in partnership with provinces and territories, a feasibility study to evaluate current and potential measures to address the challenges faced by displaced older workers, including the need for improved training and enhanced income support, such as early retirement benefits."

SCOPE
The Expert Panel will examine:

• The broad labour market context and how older workers are positioned within that context, including sectoral and regional aspects of older worker participation and considerations related to under-represented groups, as well as considerations related to economic development initiatives;
• The impact of population ageing on the economy and labour force, and the impact of older worker participation in the labour force;
• The barriers and disincentives for older worker participation in the labour market;
• The characteristics and circumstances of displaced older workers;
• The current supports and services available to older workers to improve their labour market participation and resiliency;
• Possible initiatives, such as costing, for older workers including various passive (i.e. early retirement benefits) and active supports (i.e. suite of measures ranging from mentoring to new work experience);
• The interrelationship between respective levels of government and other stakeholders in the design and delivery of possible initiatives; and
• Potential program impacts on the labour market.

The Expert Panel will provide a report on these matters along with recommendations on potential government and stakeholder actions to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development by the summer of 2007.

January 10, 2007:
Company Press Release from Merck Frost on covering prescriptions to improve bone density

Please click on the link below to see the press release:

Ontario government invests in bone health

Briefing Papers and Other Research

 

	Under Funding of Local Community Health Care
	On September 17, 1998 the Board of the CCAC announced that more than 2,000 local people who depend on home care services will lose all homemaking services and one-third of personal care services for the period from November 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999. This brief, sent to the Minister of Health outlines the COA position on this issue. (Oct, 1998)

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