Advocacy campaign reveals cuts to services for people with disabilities

November 5, 2009
Media Release

A new campaign is asking Albertans to speak out for more investments in quality human services for our most vulnerable citizens, and to challenge the government not to cut these vital programs and services. 

“Cuts to community human services are going to have a terrible impact on people with disabilities, their families and caregivers,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta.  “For the past two years we have been advocating with our 'Who Cares? Alberta' campaign for this government to develop and invest in a three-year social infrastructure plan. While this government has provided a few small increases to address the very low wages of front-line staff, it now looks like that is all going to be cut away with little regard for the impact on these vulnerable families.”

One of the sectors being hit the hardest is the funding for People with Developmental Disabilities (PDD).  PDD has already told community agencies that they cannot give any wage increase this year, even though the money is in the provincial budget. Instead they are only allowing agencies to give a one-time bonus of about 2.5% to their staff.

“The looming possibility of significant additional cuts in the new fiscal year at a time when demand for our services is growing will require very difficult decisions to be made,” said Gary Rentz, Board member with the Alberta Council of Disability Services, a provincial network of 140 community agencies.  “We believe we really do have an obligation to empower our families and guardians with information, support, and connections, so that their voices and their concern can be heard.”

Families who are involved in the advocacy campaign and who are profiled on the Albertans Who Care website are very worried about the impacts cuts are going to have in the future when they are already struggling with finding enough support and programs. They are angry that cuts are already leading to reduced staffing levels, inexperienced care givers, closure of programs, and support not being available on weekends.

The new advocacy campaign called “Albertans Who Care” asks people from all walks of life to send a message to their MLAs and the Premier, to tell their stories and to stand up for better quality public services. 

Singer-songwriter Maria Dunn said, “Everyone needs to learn about how vital these community human services are to families and to be willing to show you care by challenging the government’s plan to cut these services and programs.”  Maria Dunn spent time with the mothers involved in organizing a demonstration at the legislature last year and has written a new song featured on the website, along with video profiles of two of the mothers.

To see the videos, learn more about the campaign and send a message to the provincial government go to www.albertanswhocare.com.

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Media Contact: Bill Moore-Kilgannon (780) 420-0471