Social services get huge cash boost
![3D""=20](3D"mhtml:file://F:\management\real)
=20
Funding boost. Federal Transport and=20
Infrastructure Minister John Baird travelled to Brampton Saturday where =
he=20
unveiled Ottawa=E2=80=99s $5 million contribution toward the =
construction of a new a=20
30,000-square-foot social services facility. Minister Baird (right) =
poses for a=20
photo with former Ontario Premier Bill Davis (centre) and Mark Creedon =
of CFSPD=20
in front of a conceptual drawing of the centre to be built at Bovaird =
Drive and=20
Chinguacousy Road. Photo by Ken Hay
Baird, joined by several dignitaries, including former Ontario =
Premier Bill=20
Davis, presented $5 million to Catholic Family Services of Peel-Dufferin =
(CFSPD), which is now set to start work on the multi-use building at the =
corner=20
of Bovaird Drive and Chinguacousy Road.
Federal cash for the project =
comes=20
via Canada=E2=80=99s Economic Action stimulus plan, and represents =
exactly half of the=20
total $10 million price tag.
=E2=80=9CThe Government of Canada =
is proud to=20
invest in projects that will create and maintain jobs, support our =
economy and=20
help to improve the quality of life for residents in the =
region,=E2=80=9D Baird told=20
some 20 people during a press conference held at the CFSPD offices, 10=20
Gillingham Dr. =E2=80=9CThis project will provide lasting benefits to =
Brampton and=20
surrounding communities.=E2=80=9D
Brampton=E2=80=99s new social =
services facility will be=20
home to a variety of public and non-profit agencies, as well as house =
Peel=20
Region=E2=80=99s first family justice and child advocacy centre.
The =
complex will=20
offer a central location for individuals, couples and families who are =
in need=20
of counselling or support services.
Construction is scheduled for =
completion=20
by March 31, 2011.
Baird said although he believes on a =
philosophical level=20
that governments ought to play a limited role in people=E2=80=99s lives, =
elected=20
officials have an obligation to protect those most vulnerable. =
He=20
commended the CFSPD and community partners for working tirelessly to =
make this=20
new social services centre in Brampton a reality.
=E2=80=9CPeople =
here have worked=20
tireless over the years to help thousands and thousands of families face =
difficult situations,=E2=80=9D said Baird. =E2=80=9CThis centre has the =
expertise and the=20
resources to offer services to families. But the one problem it faced =
was a lack=20
of space so I am very pleased to announce (this money today).=E2=80=9D =
=E2=80=9CThis=20
will be a significant new asset for the region and it will now be able =
to=20
provide unparalleled services to families in need,=E2=80=9D Baird said. =
Andrea=20
Broadley, CFSPD board of directors president, thanked Baird for =
Ottawa=E2=80=99s=20
financial support.
=E2=80=9CThis is an incredible day, not only for =
our agency, but=20
also for service providers within Peel-Dufferin whose vision it is to =
ease the=20
suffering of people in their time of greatest need,=E2=80=9D Broadley =
said.
Today=E2=80=99s=20
funding announcement follows a $1 million contribution made by the =
provincial=20
government last year.
The CFSPD is responsible for coming up =
with the=20
balance of the cost.
During his address, Baird mentioned that =
Premier Davis=20
was =E2=80=9Cinstrumental=E2=80=9D in securing funding for the CFSPD =
project.
He called=20
Davis =E2=80=9Cpersistent=E2=80=9D and quipped that the Brampton icon =
had become somewhat of a=20
nuisance in lobbying Ottawa for the money.
=E2=80=9CIf you told me =
as a young Tory=20
at the age of 14 or 15 that I would be avoiding calls from Bill Davis, I =
would=20
never have believed it,=E2=80=9D Baird joked. =E2=80=9CHe was =
instrumental in this.=E2=80=9D
Other=20
dignitaries in attendance today included Mississauga Conservative MP Bob =
Dechert.
Dechert, a Brampton native, said the new facility will =
allow local=20
agencies =E2=80=9Cto keep up with the community=E2=80=99s demand for =
services" and will also=20
improve access to these services by bringing various social service =
agencies=20
together under one roof.
=20
Fugitive=20
nabbed in 50 break-ins
A Mississauga man on the lam from the U.S. since =
2002 has been=20
accused of breaking into 50 high-end residential homes in the =
GTA=E2=80=94 seven of them=20
in Brampton=E2=80=94 and stealing more than $800,000 in cash and =
property, according to=20
Peel Regional Police.
No=20
safe haven for electronic waste
Ontario=E2=80=99s high-profile electronic waste =
disposal program is=20
failing to recycle millions of computers and televisions it promised to =
keep out=20
of landfills.