Doug Currie excited by disability review but does nothing

Doug Currie announces disability reform process

December 14, 2007 – Press Conference, The newly minted Minister of Social Services and Seniors responsible for persons with disabilities announces the Disability Services Review Committee as a response to the Liberal government’s commitment to disability reforms.

The review was to lead to improvements in the PEI Disability Support Program (PEI DSP), which deficiencies Disability Alert had made an election issue.

“That will probably mean more money,” replied Currie “We are very committed to this process. It was an election promise.”

Asked if the Government would spend new money to reform disability supports and services, the Minister said “this is a serious piece of business.” and he was “excited by the process.”

Two years later, the number of Islanders who qualify for assistance is still only 5% of Islanders with disabilities. Statistics Canada says that 20% of Islanders cannot afford to buy wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids and other assistive devices they need. 

9,000 seniors with disabilities continue to be excluded from the PEI DSP. 1,600 of them need help today.

“The key thing now is to focus on the process and to go out and listen and take the direction and recommendations ah from across the Province and the ultimate goal is to improve the supports and services for individuals across the Province with disabilities,” said Doug Currie Minister of Social Services.

“What if that means more money?” asked Anne McRae of CFCY Radio

“Um, that will probably mean more money,” replied Currie.

“And the government is going to do that?” asked McRae in followup.

“We are very serious about enhancing and improving the quality of support and services,” replied Currie. “It’s a little premature right now to give you figures and numbers and so on. But we are very committed to this process It was an election promise.”

“So the public consultation process starting February how long do you expect this to take?” asked McRae.

The director of the Disability Support Program, Kathy Jones, said the public consultation would start in the community in February and take six months for a report on the consultation to be produced.

McRae asked if any new money will take some time maybe a year.

“One of the things we want to do and it takes time,” replied Currie. “The expectation from myself on this community is that we listen and do it properly.

“This is a very very important area to my government This is a serious piece of work.”

“It’s a process where we do really need to identify where our presence… We got a little under 22,000 Islanders that are reporting disabilities in this province. It’s a large stake of the population which is a total population of 138,000.”

“We know we have challenges. We recognize those challenges.”

“We’re excited by this process. We’re looking to embrace it.”

History would prove the Minister knew the public consultation and SRC process was rigged to present a no action plan for the government.

Two reports later there were no serious reforms to disability supports.

Two years later, only 5% of Islanders with disabilities qualify for assistance. Statistics Canada says that 20% of Islanders cannot afford to buy wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids and other assistive devices they need.

9,000 seniors with disabilities continue to be excluded from the PEI DSP. 1,600 of them need help today.