The provincial government has told disability agencies to return more than $11 million to provincial coffers, but some plan to ignore a directive they say will hurt vulnerable citizens.
The province’s request for agencies in the Calgary region to give back $3 million is “unacceptable,” says Ryan Geake, executive director of the Calgary Scope Society. “We can’t do it…. It would actually put our organization in a deficit.”
Geake says his organization is being asked to give back over $200,000, which would involve breaking agreements with disabled clients. “It looks like actually an illegal process, in our opinion,” he says. “We’re thinking that we actually won’t agree to open our contract up. Then we’re not sure what will happen.”
Dan Laville, government spokesperson for Seniors and Community Supports, acknowledges that agencies face “tough choices,” but says the $3 million is “a relatively small number” — two per cent of the region’s annual $155 million budget. “[We’re hoping] the first area they’ll start looking at is their administrative efficiencies.”
Disability advocates, meanwhile, plan to hold a tongue-in-cheek bake sale on Friday to bring attention to their plight, offering three cupcakes for sale at $1 million each. “They’re big cupcakes though, and they are decorated nicely,” says Geake.
Comments: 3
Scott F wrote:
I can appreciate that all Governments are going through difficult financial times, as are all private companies, which would justify cutbacks and discretionary spending.
HOWEVER, the idea of retro-active cut-backs is completely insane! Come to think of it, I'm going through a tight financial time now, so sorry Government of Alberta, but you'll need to return all of the taxes I've paid for the last 5 years... this is just a small percentage of the total taxes that I've paid so it should be okay.
Decision making like this gives me grave concerns about the leadership of our province. I thought our Alberta Government was saving for future recessions like this with things like the Oil Royalty review, the Heritage Fund etc. Apparently that wasn't good enough so we need to leave our special needs and disabled people without any support or work opportunity to help them support themselves while contributing to society. I'd love to see an economic study of what these funding cuts will actually cost the economy in the long run by way of negative economic stimulus. These costs would be through a reduced workforce, increased social burden and removal of independence for those currently supported by these services, not to mention those currently employed in these fields.
Sorry Alberta Government, keep looking and stop making short sighted decisions.
-Scott (a concerned citizen)
on Dec 18th, 2009 at 12:06pm Report Abuse
aneegadole wrote:
on Jan 6th, 2010 at 4:54am Report Abuse
aneegadole wrote:
on Jan 6th, 2010 at 12:13pm Report Abuse
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