
CORNWALL – An unexpected increase in provincial transfers to Cornwall-SD&G Social and Housing Services will be going toward expanding service and pay increases.
Social and Housing Services Manager Debora Daigle recently told the budget committee they received nearly $1 million more than they were expecting from the province.
The transfers were confirmed Jan. 13.
Child Care Services Division Manager Monique Gunn told the committee, almost half of that ($516,377) will be flowing through the department to qualified early childhood educators (ECE’s) and program staff at licensed daycares.
They will see a $1 per hour raise, announced by the province last month.
Those that qualify must be making less than $26.27 per hour.
Gunn told Cornwall Newswatch the extra funding for core services delivery (an extra $39,991 on top of the $359,896 increase in core funding) will be able to address “pressure points” in the system, particularly Winchester.
Many of the licensed non-profit daycares are in a school building or school setting.
The remaining $57,375 will go toward program administration.
The city, which administers social services for the United Counties, will spend $4 million in 2015 on child care.

