Suicides plague area set to lose aid agency
November 19, 2009
Tanya Talaga
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
Nearly 80 youths have attempted suicide in the James Bay area in the last two years and 11 have succeeded, yet the only children's aid agency in Moose Factory will shut its doors next month because it can no longer afford to pay the bills.
The agency plans to close Dec. 16, laying off 120 managers and front-line staff. It is one of 49 provincial children's aid societies facing a combined shortfall of $67 million this year.
Suicide has not historically been a problem there, Ernest Beck, executive director at Payukotayno James and Hudson Bay Family Services, told the Star.
"This was primarily a sad situation that existed in the northwest. Now it is suddenly exploding in our area and we are the only game in town," Beck said.
Beck is now agonizing over what to do with the 120 children in Crown care if the agency closes next month. "What do we do? We need to know soon."
The agencies serving First Nations and remote communities are facing historic funding shortfalls, said Marcelo Gomez-Wiuckstern, director of communications for the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, which represents 51 of the 53 provincial agencies.
Some agencies have faced shortfalls for years as a result of the government neglecting the higher costs of providing services in remote areas, he added. "Aboriginal and First Nations (agencies) are already seriously under-resourced, but are amongst the agencies with the largest funding cuts."
On Monday, a delegation of First Nations chiefs spoke with Children and Youth Services Minister Laurel Broten to plead their case.
In the Legislature Wednesday, Broten defended the Liberal record on children's aid, saying they are putting kids first by fixing historic funding issues. "We have seen a 40 per cent increase in funding, which is far outpacing the usage of the services being provided," she said.
But NDP MPP Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay) rebuffed Broten.
"Putting Ontario's kids first?" he asked. "We can't keep on going to funeral after funeral in James Bay because of your inability to deal with this."
Premier Dalton McGuinty said Wednesday he is aware of the situation in Northern Ontario, adding it may be possible to "reorganize the funding."
He also said the government is setting up a commission to look at how the agencies operate and what can be done to put them on a solid financial footing.
Toronto Star