Debates of May 17, 2007 (day 9)

Mr. Speaker, my questions this afternoon are for Mr. Dent, the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Speaker, it’s long been recognized that our disabilities and income support policies can prevent some significant barriers to families wishing to care for long-term disabled family members in their homes. We have had two initiatives underway for quite some time; several years, Mr. Speaker. These include the disabilities framework and the government-wide income security reform review. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise whether either of these initiatives will address the barriers that exist in our policies to providing and assisting families with long-term care for disabled members in their homes? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Honourable Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 107-15(6): Support Systems For Persons With Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By September of this year, the Income Support Program will be changed to provide a better level of support for persons with disabilities. We are also looking at changes that will accommodate some of the issue that the Member has talked about in terms of long-term planning for families who have youngsters with disabilities in a similar vein to the approach taken by the federal government recently. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, that’s underway. I am hoping in June to be able to announce the specifics of some of the changes we hope to implement in September.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 107-15(6): Support Systems For Persons With Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s very good news and I know a lot of families will be looking forward to hearing about this next month. Mr. Speaker, the Minister mentioned children and perhaps I missed something in his reply but I would like to confirm, are we also going to be acknowledging or accommodating adults, Mr. Speaker, who can sometimes find themselves in situations where they are perhaps as helpless as children but still warrant and can be provided the support of families? Will we be acknowledging the situations for disabled adults, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 107-15(6): Support Systems For Persons With Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are planning to change the focus of the Income Support Program from one of a program of last resort, to one that looks at what are the needs of an individual and a person who is disabled needs an ability to participate in society. They have different needs than somebody who is able bodied and perhaps just in between jobs. So the focus of the program is going to be significantly different. I believe we will be able to significantly improve on the supports that we are providing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 107-15(6): Support Systems For Persons With Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will these reforms enable families who are able to tap into our support system and provide that kind of long-term support in their homes as opposed to having to look perhaps only at institutions as their only real options? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 107-15(6): Support Systems For Persons With Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the big changes we are proposing with the Income Security Program is a focus on bringing more than one department together to work with individuals; case management, if you will. Some of the level of support that might be required by some of the individuals in our system wouldn’t necessarily be available through one department. They may not all be available to changes through the Income security Program, but perhaps by case management working with Health and Social Services and the Income Support Program and the Housing Corporation, we may be able to find ways to more adequately deal with people who up until now have been slipping through the cracks. That’s the overall goal of the change that we are proposing to bring forward in September.