Tragedy at a home daycare in Vaughan, ON

[playfelt]

Some special needs kids DO need jacuzzi tubs. Just saying.

So does mine! But so what if there is no funding. Once a municipality runs out everyone else is out of luck no matter what their need is including necessary medical services not covered by other programs.

[Sandbox Sally]

I think the thing that short sighted folks on this subject are not recognizing is that without daycare subsidy and other child based government programs, it is the child who will suffer, not just the parent.

playfelt, I am so sorry that your daughter is not receiving the funding that she needs. She doesn't qualify? That seems bizarre to me based on the details I've read before.

I also want to say that I have no idea who these people are that all of you know that can afford to swan off to the Caribbean on a welfare cheque. I have encountered the wonderful world of social assistance, and the people I know who needed it could barely purchase substantial groceries, let alone lavish vacations and weekend parties. One friend in particular that I am thinking about received enough for a room in someone's home and groceries for the month. There were NO extras.

[Artsand crafts]

I also want to say that I have no idea who these people are that all of you know that can afford to swan off to the Caribbean on a welfare cheque. I have encountered the wonderful world of social assistance, and the people I know who needed it could barely purchase substantial groceries, let alone lavish vacations and weekend parties. One friend in particular that I am thinking about received enough for a room in someone's home and groceries for the month. There were NO extras.

I guess people just get smarter and work around the loopholes in the system. I now this girl since 5 years ago and she is still in the welfare system. Daycare for her 3 kids are paid for. I do not know how someone that is not working can travel and party like her, and even have an occasional on call nanny for when her mom cannot take care of the kids when she's partying. Maybe it has something to do with putting 2 welfare cases together since this history is pretty similar to the one Crayola mentioned. It's really refreshing for me hearing histories in here of people having good use of the welfare system, because I actually know other people taking advantage of it (not as much as this girl) but still.

[sunnydays]

Sally, I agree. When I was a single mother on welfare, I was really lucky and managed to get subsidized housing as well. With that and the welfare as well as some help from my parents, I was able to manage to feed and cloth myself and my son. We did not have cable or internet, we bought mainly used clothing, used furniture (just the bare bones essentials). I did not drink alcohol, nor did I go partying (couldn't have afforded that or the clothes needed to do it) and I certainly did not go on vacation. Without the subsidized housing, I am not sure how we could have made it or what kind of slum apartment we would have ended up in. I sold my car (which had been given to me by my grandfather before I had a child) because I could not afford to pay for gas, insurance and repairs (I had to claim the money I made off of the sale of the car and it was taken off of my welfare cheque). To go grocery shopping, we would walk and then have the groceries delivered. We were certainly not living the high live. At Christmas, I was entitled to a gift for my son, but I declined it as I had family who gave him gifts and I felt it was better off going to someone who needed it more. I also had to submit to the utter humiliation of having a social worker come to my home and look in my closets to see if my ex was actually gone and I truly was a single parent. And I can't tell you how many times I left the welfare office crying because I was treated like a piece of garbage and looked down upon by over-worked, over-stressed social workers. Any of you who think living on welfare is an easy life, I think perhaps you need to walk a mile in a young single mother's shoes and see how it feels. I think if we all had a litle more empathy and whole lot less judegment, this world would be a better place.

[sunnydays]

I am confused as to why she would have daycare paid for if she is on welfare and not working? You can only qualify for a daycare subsidy if you are working or if you have an illness or disability that renders it impossible for you to care for your kids or work. I wasn't even allowed to attend university while going to school, so I had to take out student loans instead.

I guess people just get smarter and work around the loopholes in the system. I now this girl since 5 years ago and she is still in the welfare system. Daycare for her 3 kids are paid for. I do not know how someone that is not working can travel and party like her, and even have an occasional on call nanny for when her mom cannot take care of the kids when she's partying. Maybe it has something to do with putting 2 welfare cases together since this history is pretty similar to the one Crayola mentioned. It's really refreshing for me hearing histories in here of people having good use of the welfare system, because I actually know other people taking advantage of it (not as much as this girl) but still.

[Artsand crafts]

Last time that I met with her in person (3 years ago) in her new apartment she was about to start the laser technician career at a college. Now she is posting in her Facebook she is starting and stylist career. 5 years ago when I met her she wasn't working. She had 2 kids and of course not daycare, but still she was on welfare and she was able to afford the on call nanny for partying back then. The mom is "supposed" to be injured from her last job, but that is not true. Mom travels often, too, but I do not know too much only what the daughter posts about her.

I am sincerely glad that you have used the welfare system properly, because when people don't do it it just paint everybody with the same brush which is what actually is happen with the case of the home daycare we are seeing in the news now.

[sunnydays]

Exactly Artand crafts...some people will abuse anything. But because some people don't follow the rules, do we stop the whole program? Do we close down all unlicensed daycares because some are going over-ratio? This is what many of us are fighting against here on the forum.

[Artsand crafts]

Exactly Artand crafts...some people will abuse anything. But because some people don't follow the rules, do we stop the whole program? Do we close down all unlicensed daycares because some are going over-ratio? This is what many of us are fighting against here on the forum.

Well in my case I am not against social programs, but I think there should be a limit and a good system in place so people is not milking it non-stop and just seating in their asses. I just do not agree how tax dollars are being spent currently.

[Sandbox Sally]

Anyhow, regardless of all the welfare talk, daycare subsidy is not welfare or a handout any more than the Child Tax Credit or government funded health care is welfare.

[sunnydays]

I don't agree with how tax dollars are spent either! Extra perks for senators and other politicians are much more of a problem than social programs I agree Arts and Crafts, there should be oversight for all programs and incentives for people to get back on their feet etc. Gov't in general needs a complete overhaul. A whole lot goes on with our tax dollars that we don't even know about. It makes me sick to think about the good that could be done with all of that money...instead it goes to pay for some rich senator's second home or vacation

Well in my case I am not against social programs, but I think there should be a limit and a good system in place so people is not milking it non-stop and just seating in their asses. I just do not agree how tax dollars are being spent currently.