Three years of lies and no action from two different governments on PEI

Former Minister Chester Gillan, remember him?

Three years ago this month, PEI Disability Alert was formed to bring attention to the problems of Islanders living with disabilities. Not much has really changed in three years except we have a new Minister of Social Services and Seniors telling us lies.

Sorry, people hate that word “lies” but there is no simpler way to explain the prevarication and deceit practiced by the Province of Prince Edward Island towards those living with disabilities.

We found the first story on this subject Province of PEI Gets Failing Grade for disability support program from December 10th,2006. It surprised me that the story was still relevant today.

What has changed in the meantime? Are seniors getting wheelchairs, walkers and hearing aids like people who are younger than 65? Do Islanders with disabilities have their needs met?


CBC Compass

During the time we were reporting this news, the PEI Council of the Disabled didn’t say a word. The President Trisha Clarkin knew the facts but the Board at the Council would not approve even a mild press release. The Board didn’t want to upset their government funding.

We also had the Minister’s Advisory Council on Disabilities. The Chair Twila Stone refused to comment on the issue and threw me a bone instead – speak to her husband’s class at UPEI. Myrtle Jenkins Smith over at the PEI Canadian Paraplegic Association was truthful when she refused to help saying the PEI CPA didn’t advocate for the disabled.

The Tories insisted they wouldn’t change the system and they lost the election.

The Robert Ghiz Liberals were making big promises back in the Spring of 2007. Robert in his victory speech said ‘We’re going to start showing respect for Islanders with disabilities.”

We were excited believing his words meant reform.

Instead of reform we got the Disability Services Review Committee (SRC) in 2007 / 2008 comprised of the same people who did nothing for the disabled before, PEI Council of the Disabled, Myrtle Jenkins Smith, and Twila Stone.

At the press conference announcing the SRC, Minister Currie promised to spend whatever it takes to fix the problems. I’ll get you the video.

Almost to the day three years later, Minister Currie announces another blue-ribbon council/committee/study group Doug Currie disability announcement big yawn. Who do they appoint to lead – or mislead – the group? Government appoints Marcia Carroll to Disability In-Action Council head of the PEI Council of the Disabled.

We have renamed it the Disability in-Action Council since they will spin themselves in more circles while the problem begs for a solution.

What we didn’t know was how craftily he would stack the deck with people who can’t find seniors with disabilities.

It’s a long story but the result is the same – seniors with disabilities have disappeared from PEI and from any discussion by the Minister of his plans.

How did we exchange one liar for another?

Note – the government has removed all references to the Minister’s Advisory Council on Disabilities from their website in an attempt to re-write history. Here’s the quote from Community Inclusions. It sounds remarkably similar to the DAC.

The Prince Edward Island Ministerial Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

The Prince Edward Island Ministerial Advisory Committee on Disability Issues was created in June 2004 to serve in an advisory capacity to the Government through the minister responsible for people with disabilities. The 12 members are selected from various communities across Prince Edward Island and is a diverse group. The committee is available to the Minister Responsible for People with Disabilities for ongoing consultation.