January 30, 2009 , 11:13am

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Mistreatment of nannies

My wife and I are a Caucasian senior citizen couple who became aware of the fact that many live-in Filipino nannies needed a place to stay on weekends. They needed a place where they could get away from their employers for the weekend, and an opportunity to eat the foods they are accustom to.

So, my wife and I decided to donate the use of our large recreation room on weekends, which the girls re-named the karaoke room. We love these women so much that we installed a stove for them. With the fridge we’d already had behind the bar, they had everything they needed for a weekend visit, except the fish and rice, which they brought with them.

Unfortunately, a neighbour complained about the six girls coming into our house each weekend, and the City of Cambridge sent us a notice which indicated that these women can no longer occupy our recreation room on weekends. The notice also indicated that the installation of the stove behind the bar was also a violation of some kind, and it must be removed. The City is calling it an illegal kitchen, and the women illegal tenants. They are minimum wage earners who send most of their money home, they are not paying us anything, so they are not tenants, they are our houseguests.

My wife and I are in shock. How can any municipal government be so harsh to these Filipino nannies? How can they control who visits us? If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to send a message to me.

John Newton
Cambridge, Ontario

Comments (2)

Most Thumbs Up
Newest
Most commented
Recently active

Hello, My name is Bill Kirby and I live in cambridge, ON. On January 30, 2009 you ran a letter to the editor from a Mr. John Newton from Cambridge Ontario. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Newton and I would kindly ask you to forward my contact information to him. Bill Kirby 519-267-0648 (home & office) billkirby2007@hotmail.com I apprceiate your doing so as I would like to learn more about the circumstance he described and see if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you Bill Kirby

Hello, My name is Bill Kirby and I live in cambridge, ON. On January 30, 2009 you ran a letter to the editor from a Mr. John Newton from Cambridge Ontario. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Newton and I would kindly ask you to forward my contact information to him. Bill Kirby 519-267-0648 (home & office) billkirby2007@hotmail.com I apprceiate your doing so as I would like to learn more about the circumstance he described and see if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you Bill Kirby
Reply

0 : 0

~Bill Kirby

16yrs ago

X
Hi John! I'm amazed and thankful of your kindness to the Filipino nannies. I wish you will not be discouraged of this issue welcoming the nanies to your home. Yes, you are right that most of their salaries are being sent to the Philippines and sometimes ended up broken and couldn't afford the canadian night life outside the employer's home. Getting together in one place, aside from the fact that it is economical, it promotes good bonding and group support to unwind themselves and recuperate from the hard work. This also helps the nannies to be stronger and keep the faith of their reunification of their families in the future. Establishing contact with the filipinos could be a great relief in coping up culture shock of the nannies and the upcoming family members. We should undrstand that if they could afford the life back home,

Hi John! I'm amazed and thankful of your kindness to the Filipino nannies. I wish you will not be discouraged of this issue welcoming the nanies to your home. Yes, you are right that most of their salaries are being sent to the Philippines and sometimes ended up broken and couldn't afford the canadian night life outside the employer's home. Getting together in one place, aside from the fact that it is economical, it promotes good bonding and group support to unwind themselves and recuperate from the hard work. This also helps the nannies to be stronger and keep the faith of their reunification of their families in the future. Establishing contact with the filipinos could be a great relief in coping up culture shock of the nannies and the upcoming family members. We should undrstand that if they could afford the life back home, they wouldn't be here sacrificing being away from their respective families. Aside from a minimum wage earner, they are also restricted to get an additional job (which they agreed to before coming to Canada), for them to afford what ever expenses they may wish to spend. I regret that I hadn't met you guys when I was still in Cambridge, Ont. I was there for almost 3 years and currently residing in Saskatchewan. Don't get me wrong, I'm always having good time with the Filipino friends singing karaoke and eating with our favorite filipino dishes. It is either I will bring my karaoke microphone to their place or invite them to come to my place with my employer's permission. This is how we celebrate our frustrations in life (joke) hi, hi, hi, but seriously, it is for us to feel at home in a foreign land. As far as the neighbor is concerened, I'm curious how did your neighbor know about the installation of the stove? Had they've been invited to one of the occassions to know the whereabouts of the weekend gathering? Was the Karaoke too loud enough to disturb the neighbors? And, What have they got to do with the installation of thestove and you accepting visitors to your home? It sounds that, your neighbor wants to start a war. In my own opinion, no one has the right to tell you whom you want to provide the use of your home and visit your house unless your are making disturbance in the community. Visitors are not tenants. If the municipality sees this as tenants, they might as well prohibit relatives, for example, that consistenly visit the homeowner during weekends and also those children that has parental shared custody that has a consistent weekend visits to their other respective parents. I don't know the connection of the children for this topic, I'm just basing it from the wrong conlusion between visitor and tenant. But the children that has a shared parental custody considered visitors but not a permanent resident while visiting their non-custodial parents. Somehow, it got me lost....whewww...pardon me for this. In Canada, the basement is always used as the recreation room for the most part. Correct me if I'm wrong, the basement is not included in the property tax unless it's been improved. The way I understand, your basement is already developed and just added the stove. Adding a stove doesn't make it as an apartment. But I'm sure you had an electrician for the installation, perhaps, all you need to do is get an inspection performed. I really don't know the city ordinance about this. Even if you should decide that it would be easier to remove the stove from the basement, there is nothing in the law to prevent you from inviting your filipino friends over and have a karaoke night every weekend. If you permit them to use your kitchen stove to prepare their refreshements, again, no law can stop you. Happy singing!!!
Reply

0 : 0

~LPBD

16yrs ago

X

Hello, My name is Bill Kirby and I live in cambridge, ON. On January 30, 2009 you ran a letter to the editor from a Mr. John Newton from Cambridge Ontario. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Newton and I would kindly ask you to forward my contact information to him. Bill Kirby 519-267-0648 (home & office) billkirby2007@hotmail.com I apprceiate your doing so as I would like to learn more about the circumstance he described and see if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you Bill Kirby

Hello, My name is Bill Kirby and I live in cambridge, ON. On January 30, 2009 you ran a letter to the editor from a Mr. John Newton from Cambridge Ontario. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Newton and I would kindly ask you to forward my contact information to him. Bill Kirby 519-267-0648 (home & office) billkirby2007@hotmail.com I apprceiate your doing so as I would like to learn more about the circumstance he described and see if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you Bill Kirby
Reply

0 : 0

~Bill Kirby

16yrs ago

X
Hi John! I'm amazed and thankful of your kindness to the Filipino nannies. I wish you will not be discouraged of this issue welcoming the nanies to your home. Yes, you are right that most of their salaries are being sent to the Philippines and sometimes ended up broken and couldn't afford the canadian night life outside the employer's home. Getting together in one place, aside from the fact that it is economical, it promotes good bonding and group support to unwind themselves and recuperate from the hard work. This also helps the nannies to be stronger and keep the faith of their reunification of their families in the future. Establishing contact with the filipinos could be a great relief in coping up culture shock of the nannies and the upcoming family members. We should undrstand that if they could afford the life back home,

Hi John! I'm amazed and thankful of your kindness to the Filipino nannies. I wish you will not be discouraged of this issue welcoming the nanies to your home. Yes, you are right that most of their salaries are being sent to the Philippines and sometimes ended up broken and couldn't afford the canadian night life outside the employer's home. Getting together in one place, aside from the fact that it is economical, it promotes good bonding and group support to unwind themselves and recuperate from the hard work. This also helps the nannies to be stronger and keep the faith of their reunification of their families in the future. Establishing contact with the filipinos could be a great relief in coping up culture shock of the nannies and the upcoming family members. We should undrstand that if they could afford the life back home, they wouldn't be here sacrificing being away from their respective families. Aside from a minimum wage earner, they are also restricted to get an additional job (which they agreed to before coming to Canada), for them to afford what ever expenses they may wish to spend. I regret that I hadn't met you guys when I was still in Cambridge, Ont. I was there for almost 3 years and currently residing in Saskatchewan. Don't get me wrong, I'm always having good time with the Filipino friends singing karaoke and eating with our favorite filipino dishes. It is either I will bring my karaoke microphone to their place or invite them to come to my place with my employer's permission. This is how we celebrate our frustrations in life (joke) hi, hi, hi, but seriously, it is for us to feel at home in a foreign land. As far as the neighbor is concerened, I'm curious how did your neighbor know about the installation of the stove? Had they've been invited to one of the occassions to know the whereabouts of the weekend gathering? Was the Karaoke too loud enough to disturb the neighbors? And, What have they got to do with the installation of thestove and you accepting visitors to your home? It sounds that, your neighbor wants to start a war. In my own opinion, no one has the right to tell you whom you want to provide the use of your home and visit your house unless your are making disturbance in the community. Visitors are not tenants. If the municipality sees this as tenants, they might as well prohibit relatives, for example, that consistenly visit the homeowner during weekends and also those children that has parental shared custody that has a consistent weekend visits to their other respective parents. I don't know the connection of the children for this topic, I'm just basing it from the wrong conlusion between visitor and tenant. But the children that has a shared parental custody considered visitors but not a permanent resident while visiting their non-custodial parents. Somehow, it got me lost....whewww...pardon me for this. In Canada, the basement is always used as the recreation room for the most part. Correct me if I'm wrong, the basement is not included in the property tax unless it's been improved. The way I understand, your basement is already developed and just added the stove. Adding a stove doesn't make it as an apartment. But I'm sure you had an electrician for the installation, perhaps, all you need to do is get an inspection performed. I really don't know the city ordinance about this. Even if you should decide that it would be easier to remove the stove from the basement, there is nothing in the law to prevent you from inviting your filipino friends over and have a karaoke night every weekend. If you permit them to use your kitchen stove to prepare their refreshements, again, no law can stop you. Happy singing!!!
Reply

0 : 0

~LPBD

16yrs ago

X

Hello, My name is Bill Kirby and I live in cambridge, ON. On January 30, 2009 you ran a letter to the editor from a Mr. John Newton from Cambridge Ontario. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Newton and I would kindly ask you to forward my contact information to him. Bill Kirby 519-267-0648 (home & office) billkirby2007@hotmail.com I apprceiate your doing so as I would like to learn more about the circumstance he described and see if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you Bill Kirby

Hello, My name is Bill Kirby and I live in cambridge, ON. On January 30, 2009 you ran a letter to the editor from a Mr. John Newton from Cambridge Ontario. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Newton and I would kindly ask you to forward my contact information to him. Bill Kirby 519-267-0648 (home & office) billkirby2007@hotmail.com I apprceiate your doing so as I would like to learn more about the circumstance he described and see if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you Bill Kirby
Reply

0 : 0

~Bill Kirby

16yrs ago

X
Hi John! I'm amazed and thankful of your kindness to the Filipino nannies. I wish you will not be discouraged of this issue welcoming the nanies to your home. Yes, you are right that most of their salaries are being sent to the Philippines and sometimes ended up broken and couldn't afford the canadian night life outside the employer's home. Getting together in one place, aside from the fact that it is economical, it promotes good bonding and group support to unwind themselves and recuperate from the hard work. This also helps the nannies to be stronger and keep the faith of their reunification of their families in the future. Establishing contact with the filipinos could be a great relief in coping up culture shock of the nannies and the upcoming family members. We should undrstand that if they could afford the life back home,

Hi John! I'm amazed and thankful of your kindness to the Filipino nannies. I wish you will not be discouraged of this issue welcoming the nanies to your home. Yes, you are right that most of their salaries are being sent to the Philippines and sometimes ended up broken and couldn't afford the canadian night life outside the employer's home. Getting together in one place, aside from the fact that it is economical, it promotes good bonding and group support to unwind themselves and recuperate from the hard work. This also helps the nannies to be stronger and keep the faith of their reunification of their families in the future. Establishing contact with the filipinos could be a great relief in coping up culture shock of the nannies and the upcoming family members. We should undrstand that if they could afford the life back home, they wouldn't be here sacrificing being away from their respective families. Aside from a minimum wage earner, they are also restricted to get an additional job (which they agreed to before coming to Canada), for them to afford what ever expenses they may wish to spend. I regret that I hadn't met you guys when I was still in Cambridge, Ont. I was there for almost 3 years and currently residing in Saskatchewan. Don't get me wrong, I'm always having good time with the Filipino friends singing karaoke and eating with our favorite filipino dishes. It is either I will bring my karaoke microphone to their place or invite them to come to my place with my employer's permission. This is how we celebrate our frustrations in life (joke) hi, hi, hi, but seriously, it is for us to feel at home in a foreign land. As far as the neighbor is concerened, I'm curious how did your neighbor know about the installation of the stove? Had they've been invited to one of the occassions to know the whereabouts of the weekend gathering? Was the Karaoke too loud enough to disturb the neighbors? And, What have they got to do with the installation of thestove and you accepting visitors to your home? It sounds that, your neighbor wants to start a war. In my own opinion, no one has the right to tell you whom you want to provide the use of your home and visit your house unless your are making disturbance in the community. Visitors are not tenants. If the municipality sees this as tenants, they might as well prohibit relatives, for example, that consistenly visit the homeowner during weekends and also those children that has parental shared custody that has a consistent weekend visits to their other respective parents. I don't know the connection of the children for this topic, I'm just basing it from the wrong conlusion between visitor and tenant. But the children that has a shared parental custody considered visitors but not a permanent resident while visiting their non-custodial parents. Somehow, it got me lost....whewww...pardon me for this. In Canada, the basement is always used as the recreation room for the most part. Correct me if I'm wrong, the basement is not included in the property tax unless it's been improved. The way I understand, your basement is already developed and just added the stove. Adding a stove doesn't make it as an apartment. But I'm sure you had an electrician for the installation, perhaps, all you need to do is get an inspection performed. I really don't know the city ordinance about this. Even if you should decide that it would be easier to remove the stove from the basement, there is nothing in the law to prevent you from inviting your filipino friends over and have a karaoke night every weekend. If you permit them to use your kitchen stove to prepare their refreshements, again, no law can stop you. Happy singing!!!
Reply

0 : 0

~LPBD

16yrs ago

X

Hello, My name is Bill Kirby and I live in cambridge, ON. On January 30, 2009 you ran a letter to the editor from a Mr. John Newton from Cambridge Ontario. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Newton and I would kindly ask you to forward my contact information to him. Bill Kirby 519-267-0648 (home & office) billkirby2007@hotmail.com I apprceiate your doing so as I would like to learn more about the circumstance he described and see if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you Bill Kirby

Hello, My name is Bill Kirby and I live in cambridge, ON. On January 30, 2009 you ran a letter to the editor from a Mr. John Newton from Cambridge Ontario. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Newton and I would kindly ask you to forward my contact information to him. Bill Kirby 519-267-0648 (home & office) billkirby2007@hotmail.com I apprceiate your doing so as I would like to learn more about the circumstance he described and see if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you Bill Kirby
Reply

0 : 0

~Bill Kirby

16yrs ago

X
Hi John! I'm amazed and thankful of your kindness to the Filipino nannies. I wish you will not be discouraged of this issue welcoming the nanies to your home. Yes, you are right that most of their salaries are being sent to the Philippines and sometimes ended up broken and couldn't afford the canadian night life outside the employer's home. Getting together in one place, aside from the fact that it is economical, it promotes good bonding and group support to unwind themselves and recuperate from the hard work. This also helps the nannies to be stronger and keep the faith of their reunification of their families in the future. Establishing contact with the filipinos could be a great relief in coping up culture shock of the nannies and the upcoming family members. We should undrstand that if they could afford the life back home,

Hi John! I'm amazed and thankful of your kindness to the Filipino nannies. I wish you will not be discouraged of this issue welcoming the nanies to your home. Yes, you are right that most of their salaries are being sent to the Philippines and sometimes ended up broken and couldn't afford the canadian night life outside the employer's home. Getting together in one place, aside from the fact that it is economical, it promotes good bonding and group support to unwind themselves and recuperate from the hard work. This also helps the nannies to be stronger and keep the faith of their reunification of their families in the future. Establishing contact with the filipinos could be a great relief in coping up culture shock of the nannies and the upcoming family members. We should undrstand that if they could afford the life back home, they wouldn't be here sacrificing being away from their respective families. Aside from a minimum wage earner, they are also restricted to get an additional job (which they agreed to before coming to Canada), for them to afford what ever expenses they may wish to spend. I regret that I hadn't met you guys when I was still in Cambridge, Ont. I was there for almost 3 years and currently residing in Saskatchewan. Don't get me wrong, I'm always having good time with the Filipino friends singing karaoke and eating with our favorite filipino dishes. It is either I will bring my karaoke microphone to their place or invite them to come to my place with my employer's permission. This is how we celebrate our frustrations in life (joke) hi, hi, hi, but seriously, it is for us to feel at home in a foreign land. As far as the neighbor is concerened, I'm curious how did your neighbor know about the installation of the stove? Had they've been invited to one of the occassions to know the whereabouts of the weekend gathering? Was the Karaoke too loud enough to disturb the neighbors? And, What have they got to do with the installation of thestove and you accepting visitors to your home? It sounds that, your neighbor wants to start a war. In my own opinion, no one has the right to tell you whom you want to provide the use of your home and visit your house unless your are making disturbance in the community. Visitors are not tenants. If the municipality sees this as tenants, they might as well prohibit relatives, for example, that consistenly visit the homeowner during weekends and also those children that has parental shared custody that has a consistent weekend visits to their other respective parents. I don't know the connection of the children for this topic, I'm just basing it from the wrong conlusion between visitor and tenant. But the children that has a shared parental custody considered visitors but not a permanent resident while visiting their non-custodial parents. Somehow, it got me lost....whewww...pardon me for this. In Canada, the basement is always used as the recreation room for the most part. Correct me if I'm wrong, the basement is not included in the property tax unless it's been improved. The way I understand, your basement is already developed and just added the stove. Adding a stove doesn't make it as an apartment. But I'm sure you had an electrician for the installation, perhaps, all you need to do is get an inspection performed. I really don't know the city ordinance about this. Even if you should decide that it would be easier to remove the stove from the basement, there is nothing in the law to prevent you from inviting your filipino friends over and have a karaoke night every weekend. If you permit them to use your kitchen stove to prepare their refreshements, again, no law can stop you. Happy singing!!!
Reply

0 : 0

~LPBD

16yrs ago

X

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Mistreatment of nannies

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Mistreatment of nannies

Comments (2)

Categories