Ed: This response was received by email today although dated 6 days earlier. The response is almost word for word the speech that Minister Chester Gillan gave in the Legislature on April 3, 2007. It even includes the same misspelling of benefiting (benefitting) which is reported in Hansard. Apparently the PC Party thought Chester Gillan’s words were so golden they bore repeating. Nothing new here. This is a rather pathetic response from a party that doesn’t understand the issues or its citizens.
May 18, 2007
Mr. Stephen Pate
disabilityalert@gmail.com
Dear Mr. Pate:
Thank you for your letter of interest regarding our PC Government’s Disability Support Program initiative. Islanders with disabilities have real challenges and real needs for supports to go about their daily lives and work. The primary goal of the Disability Support Program is to support clients with their most essential disability-specific needs.
Today, more than 1,000 Islanders are benefitting from the Disability Support Program in their daily lives and work. On average, the monthly assistance provided to a client is just over $600. Other clients receive up to $3,000 per month. Social assistance and other income supports are separate programs that individuals may access in addition to the Disability Support Program. In a small province such as Prince Edward Island, however, we are constantly challenged to provide a growing spectrum of health and social support.
This past year’s budget for the Disability Support Program was $8.1 million. During this time, staff were asked to assess applications within the existing program guidelines. Administrative procedures were also better managed across sites. This direction has improved fairness and equity across the program regardless of where a client lives. Over this past year, we have heard from individuals, families and groups about limitations of the program, but we have also heard about positive outcomes.
Currently in its fifth year, the Disability Support Program continues to evolve and yes, some adjustments are needed. Work is underway on changes to the program screening tool and the review process. Our recent budget built on the PC government’s ongoing commitments for persons with disabilities and the community organizations that provide direct service to support them. Significant progress has been made but we recognize that we need to do more. We will continue to build on the success of the Disability Support Program with an additional investment of $1 million, enhancing the more than $8 million currently spent though the Disability Support Program to support Islanders with disabilities. As well, we will increase the Disability Tax Credit to $6400, and funding for the PEI Council of the Disabled has been increased.
We will continue to work with the federal government to encourage more dollars for programs that support persons with disabilities. For example, we will pass along the tax savings from the new Federal Working Income Tax Credit and Registered Disabilities Savings Plan. We will also continue to work with community organizations and the disabilities community, including the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, to evaluate and improve supports for Islanders with disabilities. As well, we will introduce a Policy and Services Framework to increase the opportunities for Islanders with disabilities to participate in all aspects of society.
Once again, we thank you for your interest, and we commend you for your hard work in advocating on behalf of Islanders with disabilities.
Kind Regards,
PC Party of PEI
Leave a Reply