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January 13, 2003
SOCIAL CUTS PROPOSED IN 2003 BUDGET
The Human Cost of the Expressway

The following is a partial list of the cuts proposed to social welfare in the 2003 City budget. The total cuts are LESS than the amount being allocated from City funds THIS YEAR for the Red Hill Creek Expressway. They include intentionally increasing homelessness, taking more than a $1.3 million from the poorest residents of Hamilton, squeezing $3.6 million out of public transit, slashing half a million from public libraries, and closing all the City’s wading pools.

Page
Description
Amount
503 Terminate homemaking services program for 480 "frail, elderly clients with multiple health issues living on a fixed income. This is the only program offering this support in the City of Hamilton."
313.5k
518 "Eliminate bus pass program for 660 Residential Care residents. 70% are recipients of Ontario Disability Support Program and have access to bus passes for medical purposes. Eliminating the program will negatively impact on quality of life, reduce socialization and contribute towards poor mental health. Neighbourhoods may increasingly be affected by loitering residents."
102k
519 Eliminate provision of funerals, glasses, prosthetics, dentures, etc. to 4800 low income families unable to afford or obtain needed medical supplies or personal health items.
312.5k
520 Eliminate funerals, glasses, prosthetics and dentures for elderly who can not afford to maintain their independence without these benefits. "The impact may result in increased demand for supportive housing / other community supports for transportation, homemaking and place additional burden on their families"
612.4k
523 Increase waiting time to 16-20 weeks for addiction counselling to 1100 people.
55.8k
524 Cut residential care subsidies from 869 to 800 beds/month. "Some of these residents will be unable to lead stable lives and will therefore add to the current existing problem of homelessness. The decrease in beds will also put an additional burden on the emergency shelter system which is already over 110% of capacity".
100k
432 Cut one public health nurse (of 9.5 FTE). Affects Pesticide advisory committee, heat alert program, addiction testing, food premises food safety program
32.8k
433 Cut secretary of Applied Research and Evaluation program of health services
22.6k
439 No money for "Development and Implementation of Social Development Strategy"
102.3k
456 Cut one staff from Ontario Works (OW) interviews. 28.4k
472 Cut booking clerk for OW interviews/appointments
20.9k
475 Eliminate buffer funding for OW caseload
1500k
491 Increase revenue by cutting people off Ontario Works benefits
600k
543 Eliminate one Public Health inspector, reducing inspections by 500-600 per year
31.9k
542 Eliminate smoking by-law enforcement (proactive monitoring)
32.5k
544 Eliminate flu immunization clinics
69.5k
545 No money for West Nile surveillance, inspections, distribution of info
145k
546 No money for permanent food premises cleanliness disclosure program
550k
559 Eliminate four staff (out of 8) for "Aging Wellness" program that does Cancer detection, Skin care protection and healthy heart program
134k
569 Cut half FTE from Macassa Lodge social services (270 residents).
22.3k
570 Cut half FTE from Macassa Lodge providing baked goods/desserts for Lodge and meals on wheels. Outsource these products.

22.6k
571 Eliminate the cafeteria serving staff and visitors at Macassa Lodge
50k
572 Cut half FTE from Adult Day program at Macassa Lodge
31.1k
668 Cut HSR evening buses to 1 hour after 9 pm, nothing after midnig 900k
669 Cut HSR Sunday service to 1 hour, none after 7 pm
500k
670 Eliminate three HSR routes "affecting approximately 37,000 passengers"
420k
671 Eliminate extra buses during peak school rush periods
500k
672 Eliminate Christmas and New Year’s HSR service
70k
674 Raise cash fares, ticket fares by 10 cents, monthly passes by $4, seniors by $20/yr
940k
673 Raise HSR ticket fares by an extra 5 cents
128.3k
784 Raise recreation program fees by $2 per session
14.4k
786 Cut playlots from 54 daily to 69 every two weeks (87% cut)
72k
787 Eliminate Sunday hours at 10 recreation centres
90k
788 Reduce grants to community groups
20k
791 Eliminate seniors program at Main Hess Seniors Centre
84.3k
794 Raise daily admission at city pools and rec centres
29k
797 Raise rec centre passes by $2 to $4 per person
30k
799 Cut community services staff training
51k
800 Raise aquatot fees by $1 per session
26k
801 Raise aquaquest fees by $1 per session
32k
802 Close all twelve city wading pools
50k
857 No money to train paramedics to industry standard
80.2k
858-9 No money for emergency services required by new provincial legislation
92k
860 No money for emergency training
25k
907 Cut $500,000 from Library budget
500k
  TOTAL OF THESE CUTS (There are $41 million altogether)
$9,546,300

The budget allocates $19.6 million to the Red Hill Creek Expressway in 2003. This includes $10.5 million from the City, with the remainder being a subsidy from the provincial government. The amounts allocated to the expressway in 2004 and 2005 are each more than double this year’s amount.


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