EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Unusual events noted during federal election Page 2
School parents reach goal for playground Page 8
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015 PM40008236
Vol. 60 No. 43 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Retiring MP defends pension Colin Mayes: OkanaganShuswap MP to receive $47,126 annually.
By Richard Rolke Black Press
North Okanagan-Shuswap’s retiring MP is putting his compensation package in perspective. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says Colin Mayes, who was in office for almost 10 years, will receive an annual pension of $47,126 and a lifetime pension of $1,365,686. “I have to live a long time to collect that money,” said the 67-year-old. “I hope I do but Jim Flaherty (former finance minister) didn’t. They could do that with an RCMP officer or a teacher or anyone with a pension. It doesn’t make me special.” Mayes also points I have to live a out that he paid into the long time to collect parliamentary pension that money… They program for almost a decould do that with cade at about $117,393. an RCMP officer or “You go into a job a teacher or anyone and they say, ‘It’s your with a pension. It compensation package.’ doesn’t make me It was the contract for special. employment.” Colin Mayes For MPs who retired or were defeated on Monday, the CTF says taxpayers contributed $17 for every $1 put into the plan by an MP towards their pension. After Jan. 1, 2016, the ratio will gradually shift to a ratio of $1.60 in taxpayer contributions for every $1 put in by an MP or senator. “These pension changes are a welcome step towards broader public sector pension reform,” said Aaron Wudrick, CTF federal director. “We encourage the new government to take the necessary steps to ensure government employee pensions are more in line with what the vast majority of Canadians working in the private sector expect to receive.”
Under one roof: Sicamous Strong Start program facilitator Cori Miller lets Ryker Trotter take a play cookie while Jeshannah Foster and Azalea McMillan await their turn. Strong Start is one of the local programs that would continue to be offered through an Early Years Centre at Parkview Elementary. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Early Years Centre to include licensed daycare
By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
Local support is in place, now it’s up to the province as to whether or not it will fund an Early Years Centre in Sicamous through which licensed child care would be provided. District of Sicamous council has joined School District #83 in supporting an application by the Eagle Valley Community Support Society for funding from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. If successful, the funding – approximately $52,000 annually for up to five years – would go towards the es-
tablishment of an Early Years Centre at Parkview Elementary. The centre, explained the Society’s Janet McLean Senft, would serve as a hub for services and supports benefitting families and children. “In our vision, we would locate family supports, early years programs such as Strong Start, Parents and Tots kinds of programs… and then licensed child care, preschool, food security and nutrition all in one hub,” said McLean Senft. “Health services therapies, recreation would all be able to offer services… “I know there’s no one in this room that has not heard and agreed that a lack of licensed childcare is one of the
reasons families find it difficult to live here. We know that as a business venture, childcare is not an easy way to make a living in a seasonal economy. The best bet we have to provide safe, reliable, year-round childcare, is for it to be provided by a non-profit…” The ministry’s website states there are currently 26 Early Years Centres in the province, offering “one-stop” access to information, services and referrals for families and young children ages 0 to 6. Key to the success of these centres is access to early years programs, the quality of these programs and services and affordability.
The support society’s Gwyneth Gau emphasized the importance of the licensed childcare component. “I’ve talked to lots of moms here and ones that have left our community – childminding was a big thing, especially licensed child minding…,” Gau told the News. “I think what it will mean is when people are looking at our community, it will be a big asset to say yes, we have licensed childcare here.” Parents would be charged a fee for childcare, with a goal that it would eventually become self-sustaining. Gau says the province is expected to announce the successful applicants in January.