CS-6-2009-INFO_A THE DISTRIG MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA

70 PINE STREET, BRACEBRIDGE, P1L 1N3 Telephone (705) 645-2231 Fax (705) 645-,5319 1-800-461-4210 (705 area code) wwwmuskoka.on.ca

Office of the District Chair

May 25,2009

The Honourable Deb Matthews Minister of Children and Youth Services 55 Wellesley sfWest, 14th Floor , ON M5S 2S3

Dear Minister Matthews:

Re: Best Start Funding Beyond March 31, 2010

Thank you for your letter regarding the one-time investment of $18 million to help families maintain their child care arrangements through to the end of the 2009/10 school year, We are somewhat encouraged by the funding announcement as that indicates the Province's increasing awareness that the end of Best Start funding effective March 31, 2010, will have a negative impact on child care systems"

This letter is intended to provide support for the provincial Best Start initiative and to request ongoing Best Start funding to continue those activities, The Muskoka Best Start Network has provided the community support and input for The District Municipality of Muskoka to develop a full complement of activities, including effective program expansion, creative program initiatives, and constructive community collaboration" -

In the years of Best Start funding since 2005, an increased proportion of Muskoka's child care system has become reliant on that funding, and the potential elimination of Best Start funding after this year will have a very de-stabilizing impact on our local child care programs, related children's services, and families with children" Although the announcement of $18 million was welcomed, the anticipated Muskoka portion will be insufficient to meet Best Start budgeted activities in our local child care system. At this point, it is unclear to us as to the proportion of federal funding that will be discontinued by the Province effective March 31, 2010"

We strongly believe that the Best Start Network in Muskoka has worked remarkably well. It is a strong example of positive municipal leadership in the community" It can be a useful example for future Early Learning initiatives, We are in the process of evaluating the Muskoka Best Start program (outcomes and processes) and we look forward to sharing that with you in the coming weeks"

Managing Our5!gegac!1 Together We look forward to hearing more from your office regarding stable Best Start funding as we approach our 2010 municipal budget planning cycle ..

Yours truly,

Gord Adams District Chair cc:: The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario The Honourable , Minister of Industry The Honourable , Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development The Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women) Mr. Norm Miller, MP.P, Parry Sound _. Muskoka Margaret Buddo, Program Supervisor, MCYS Northeast Region Rick Williams, Commissioner of Community Services Brenda Patterson, President, OMSSA

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