ALLISTON – The Simcoe County Children’s Aid Society (CAS) could be bankrupt by the end of February.

If an agreement isn’t reached with the provincial, the local child-protection agency has indicated it won’t be able to pay its creditors.

“This is a situation no one wants to see happen,” said CAS executive director Mary Ballantyne, “but the agency was cut back 10.4 per cent and (is) facing a $4.9-million budget shortfall that has yet to be resolved. Negotiations with our funder continue, with hopes that a resolution can be reached that will not affect our ability to provide quality service to children and families.”

The Simcoe County CAS had 442 children in its care as of Dec. 31. In total during 2008-09, the agency served 10,890 children.

For each child in CAS care, the Simcoe County branch gets $73 per day from the province. The actual cost to care for each child is $89 per day, according to information provided by the agency.

By comparison, CAS branches in the Greater Toronto Area get $103 per child per day.

“We have always put children first and will do everything possible to not put any child at risk due to the financial situation,” said Ballantyne. “I know the government does not want that, either. We hope to resolve the crisis through our continuing negotiations with the government, and are hopeful that we can do so.”

The local branch was one of 36 child-protection agencies in Ontario that filed for a review last year after being unable to balance their mandate to protect children with the funding received from the province.

In November, the local CAS received $1 million from the province as an advance on its 2010 funding in order to help cover a $4.9-million deficit.

When the CAS had a deficit in the past, there was opportunity to negotiate with the province to mitigate the problem. Last year, the government said it wouldn’t be supporting the societies with the year-end funding that had been available before.

To trim spending, the CAS delayed replacing departing staff, and trimmed its mileage, stationery and building repair costs.

Use kindergarten cash to help CAS: Dunlop

The province should postpone its plan to implement full-day kindergarten and use the savings to help struggling Children’s Aid Society (CAS) branches, says Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop.

Including the $4.9-million deficit faced by the Simcoe County CAS, the accumulated deficit for all CAS branches in Ontario is $70 million, he noted.

“To meet the needs and provide protection for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged (children) in our communities, they need funding,” Dunlop stated in a press release. “They haven't been able to balance their mandate to protect children with the funding they receive from the province.”

Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government has announced 580 schools across the province will provide full-day kindergarten for four- and five-year-olds starting this fall. The government has said the program will cost $1.5 billion once it’s fully implemented.

“Given that there is no plan with any detail, it is difficult to understand how the $1.5 billion will be spent,” said Dunlop. “Instead of moving ahead on an initiative without a plan, it would be more responsible to divert a portion of that money to the Children’s Aid Societies to help children in need now.”

The Progressive Conservative MPP said this would also allow time for public input and consultation on the kindergarten proposal.

Dunlop said he plans to raise this issue in the Ontario legislature when MPPs resume sitting next month.