Angry Albertans protest cuts to persons with developmental disabilities
Posted May 31, 2013 7:40 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Opposition to planned cuts to funding for persons with developmental disabilities will move to the Premier’s doorstep Friday morning.
Angry Albertans and their supporters plan to protest in front of Alison Redford’s Calgary office and on the steps of the Legislature in Edmonton.
Their message: these cuts have been too big, too fast and they’re far too soon.
It all stems from an announcement made by Solicitor General Frank Oberle in early April.
Oberle revealed the government’s proposal to cut $42-million from the operating budget of Persons with Developmental Disabilities, or PDD, in a single year; that’s 44 per cent.
The cuts would take place on July 1st, 2013.
“Hundreds and hundreds of individuals, family members and service providers have spent weeks telling Oberle these cuts are harmful and will result in terrible things for disabled people who require services,” says Ryan Geake, Executive Director of the Calgary SCOPE Society.
Geake says even with all of those messages, nothing has changed, so it’s forced them to take their message outside in hopes of finding someone who will listen.
Jan Mason has three sons who benefit from services they receive through PDD funding.
Mason says they’re not sure how these cuts will play out; they’ve only been told that no one will be hurt.
“I have one son who is extremely disabled, he’s about developed mentally to a three to five-year-old and he needs 24/7 care,” she explains.
Pat Corbett has two adult sons who would also be affected.
She says her one son learned to use the bus system thanks to the funding that’s being cut.
“They’re able to get together sometimes outside of the program, they’ve met because of it and it’s just very comfortable. It’s what keeps them feeling like they belong,” she tells 660News.
Calgary’s rally in front of the Premier’s office is expected to get underway at 10 a.m., while things will start in Edmonton closer to noon.
Premier Alison Redford won’t be there though, she’ll be giving a keynote speech around the same time for the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships at the Fairmont Palliser.
Minister of Service Alberta Dave Hancock plans to address the media Friday afternoon.
