In the TV western Gunsmoke, Chester was the Deputy with a “bad” leg. In the surreal world of PEI Disabilities circa 2007, Chester is now the Marshall and the Deputy (Minister) doesn’t like people with disabilities, or the old “bad leg”.
Jeanette MacAulay transferred from Holland College to her role as Deputy Minister in charge of the Disability Support Program. Other than a 2 year stint at CEO of a regional health authority, she has no disability background in her resume. And it shows in spades.
To the Deputy, DSP is just a program: define it, set the policies and procedures and keep on budget. So when she sees DSP spending more than she wants: whoa doggy! Pull in the reins here cowboy. We’ve got a wild horse on our hands. Hack, cut and slash. There, now she has DSP under control and God help those people in wheelchairs, if they can get one. “Ha! I just made a joke” the Deputy laughs to herself.
The Deputy told me that she thinks the DSP program can be capped at 1,200 people. She knows that there are still 17,000 Islanders with Disabilities who are not covered under the DSP. How will she do it?
In December 2004, the Provinces, Territories and Federal Governments released a joint report to which PEI concurred. The report said the number of persons with disabilities would likely double due to the baby boomers.
‘… as the baby boom generation enters their senior years, they will begin to comprise an even higher proportion of all persons with disabilities than they do now…the requirements for aids and devices in the total population could more than double in the next 20 years.’ Supports and Services for Adults and Children With Disabilities in Canada
How does the Deputy expect to keep the DSP to 1,200 Islanders? Get out her six-shooter or starve them to death?
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