Ontario Early Years Centres in Bruce County are not going to be facing any cuts due to shortfalls.
Bruce County Council in their Social Services and Housing meeting yesterday agreed to cover any budget shortfalls on an annual basis.
Director of Social Services Terry Sanderson says early years centres in the County have seen their services reduced over the last few years.
He says that is because the Province is not providing any new funding since the Centre’s inception in 2001.
Sanderson says over 20 thousand people use the early years centres in Bruce County.
He says had the County not stepped up to the plate it would have meant cutting more programs and staff over the next few years.
He says they would have continued cutting to the point where they would end up with nothing.
Sanderson says Ontario Early Years Centres in Bruce County are facing a 44-thousand-dollar shortfall this year.
He says they would have seen a 41-thousand-dollar shortfall for 2009 and a 70-thousand-dollar shortfall in 2010.
Sanderson says the decision by Council shows the County is committed to early childhood development.
He says without the service, a lot of children and their parents would not be able to benefit from early learning and be exposed to some of the educational options at an early age.
