Workers at the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society (CAS) in Peterborough, Ont., have been informed of significant staff reductions as part of a new deficit management plan, according to their union.
Announced on July 4, the layoffs will impact 21 full-time employees, representing a 20% reduction in the workforce. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) Local 334 attributes the cuts to inadequate provincial funding, raising alarms about the potential risks to vulnerable children in the region.
Ruby Taylor, President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 334 and a child protection worker, expressed grave concerns over the layoffs.
“We will continue to see an increase in the deaths of children, like we heard about a few weeks ago in Kingston when child protection is not allotted sufficient money to adequately protect children,” Taylor stated.
The Kawartha-Haliburton CAS serves the Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton areas. The planned cuts are seen as a direct response to financial challenges and will affect staff members in critical roles responsible for child protection and organizational efficiency, OPSEU said.
Taylor emphasized the serious implications of the staff reductions. “The cuts proposed will jeopardize the safety and well-being of the children in our communities, and we firmly believe that injuries and deaths will result. They will not be from ‘poor clinical decisions’ but rather from short-staffing and unmanageable workloads,” she said. “Without adequate resources, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep children and youth safe.”
The issue of underfunding is not confined to child welfare; it affects the entire public service sector. According to OPSEU/SEFPO, communities across Ontario are grappling with rising substance use, mental health concerns, housing shortages, and long wait times for services.
In response to the funding shortfall, OPSEU/SEFPO Local 334 has launched an email campaign targeting Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa. The union members are also engaging in community outreach, including distributing flyers at the Peterborough Farmer’s Market this weekend.
The union has previously reached out to the Minister, Premier, and local Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) with little response. The layoffs are expected to be finalized by March 31, 2025, affecting 21 out of the local’s 110 members.