Grandparents fear loss of funding

Protest at Legislature after minister's letter sparks confusion among those caring for at-risk children

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Emily Mathieu

Tanya Talaga

Grandparents across the province who care for their special-needs or high-risk grandchildren are afraid they might lose the government funding they feel is crucial to support a decent quality of life.

Those fears were sparked by a reminder letter sent by the government in July reminding Ontario Works employees about who is eligible to receive funding under the Temporary Care Assistance program. "The little bit of money that we get from the government ... it's ridiculous that they are going to cut that off," said Toronto resident Helen Boland, 58.

But Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur said no grandparent will be cut off from benefits – if they were eligible for benefits before, they'll be eligible going forward. There were inconsistencies around the province as to who was getting funded and who wasn't.

"This program is in existence and will continue to be in existence," Meilleur said. ``We are supporting those children who are in need of protection and helping the parents or neighbours who are supporting them."

Grandparents and their supporters are arguing the tightened rules are changes and will force them to make serious cuts to their already strained budgets. A number of grandparents have already been ruled ineligible.

Boland was among more than 120 grandparents, their young charges and supporters who chanted, sang and carried signs on the lawn of Queen's Park yesterday. Boland has been caring for her 3-year-old grandson since he was 15 months old. He has a condition similar to Down syndrome and his parents "just don't want to take care of him." She lives alone, has no pension and relies on a combination of her savings, a baby bonus, her Temporary Care Assistance allowance and funds from the Ontario Disability Support Program to keep them afloat.

"It was too much to work because he is sometimes hard to get to sleep at night," she said. Without temporary care assistance she would be living on about $800 a month.

The confusion started after Meilleur sent a note to Ontario Works employees to follow the rules of the program set in place 30 years ago.

"They were told this program will end but it will not end," she said. Meilleur added she'll meet with the grandparents lobby next week.

But New Democrat MPP Paul Miller said there is confusion.

"She sent out new directives which have made no grandparents eligible in the province," he said.

"She says `We aren't cutting off grandparents' but it has been a slow process."

Yesterday in Question Period, Miller asked Meilleur to resign for how she has handled this.

In the House, Meilleur accused Miller of using scare tactics. "This program is not going to be cancelled like this member is telling us."