May 21, 2008 Letters to the Editor
The Government admitted in the Legislature on May 2, 2008 that disability is the cause of poverty in many cases.
Replying to a question from the Leader of the Opposition, Minister Currie said that 65% of the heads of households on social assistance have a disability.
Quoting from Hansard, one could logically assume that a person with a severe disability is likely not working and therefore has a lower income. However, the actual impact of disability on poverty was not expected to be so high.
This statistic flies in the face of the neo-conservative rhetoric that people on social assistance are welfare bums, shirkers, not trying to carry their load.
One can ask why the government is not doing more to assist people of low income when in many cases it is beyond their control.
Why does the Province not organize programs to pro-actively employ persons with disabilities? That would take them off the social assistance rolls.
PEI’s 22,000 persons with disabilities did not choose to be disabled. They want to be well and able like the rest of the population. However, life has dealt them a hand of cards that they must play. For 9,000 senior Islanders with disabilities, disability is the normal result of aging. By age 75, half of the population has a disability.
Now is the time for the government to stop ignoring and abusing Islanders with disabilities and provide the support they need. We especially need to begin looking after seniors with disabilities who are our parents and grandparents.
Seniors worked to make the Island what it is and we owe them a debt that includes care.
Stephen Pate
PEI Disability Alert
Charlottetown, PE
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