But Minister Sherry waffles in Legislature under questioning by Olive Crane

The Standing Committee on Health, Social Development and Seniors made a recommendation that Minister Janice Sherry include seniors in the PEI Disability Support Program.

The DSP provides assistive devices like wheelchairs and hearing aids to non-seniors with disabilities along with comprehensive home care.

Following up on that report Opposition Leader Olive Crane asked the Minister in Question Period if she would commit to including Seniors in the DSP by April 1, 2011.

Minister Sherry waffled in her reply deferring to another government committee comprised of NGO’s and volunteers.

How long will the 8,980 Islanders 65 years of age and older have to wait for relief from the crushing cost of wheelchairs, hearing aids and home support that will keep them living independently?

On December 7th, 2010 during Question Period, Crane asked about Sherry about “a large number of seniors with disabilities in the province. Madam Minister, will eligible seniors be able to access this program in April 1st of this coming year?” (Hansard) 

When Sherry asked for the question to be repeated, Crane obliged ” My question to the minister is: Will this (PEI Disability Support) program be available to seniors April 1st of 2011?

Only a week ago on November 30th, 2010, the Standing Committee that reported on Seniors recommended coverage. As part of their recommendation 6, the Committee said:

“Sixth, that the Government of Prince Edward Island review the various recommendations put forward to your committee regarding services for senior citizens, particularly those with a disability, with a view to improve access to provincial services. Your committee also encourages government to expand its current offering of programs by the addition of programs tailored to the needs of Island seniors.” Hansard

Only a few minutes before that Minister Sherry had pledged herself  “The Department of Community Services,Seniors and Labour is committed to helping seniors and persons with disabilities of Prince Edward Island reach their full potential.” Hansard

Sherry said that she had received recommendations from the Disability Action Committee (DAC) but would not specify what those recommendations were.

Olive Crane questions treatment of seniors with disabilities (library photo Nigel Armstrong Guardian)

Crane pressed again for an answer “Are any of those recommendations for seniors? Will seniors that will be eligible for the program based on income, will they be able to access the Disability Support Program on April 1st this coming year?” (Hansard)

Minister Sherry fell back upon the unspecified recommendations of the DAC and would not commit to any assistance for seniors with disabilities.

Crane asked her about hearing aids for seniors but the answer was only if they were on welfare. Islander with disabilities do not need to be on welfare to get hearing aids if they are under 65, which is discrimination on the basis of age.

Crane pointed out that seniors are discriminated against. “In the future, Madam Minister, will you be having that program moved under the disability support so that seniors are treated in the same way that anybody else with a disability is in the province?”

Sherry said that unless they qualified for welfare they would get no assistance. Her answer wasn’t much help. Any senior getting CPP, OAS and GIS is above the limit for welfare assistance but still unable to afford disability devices.

Crane pressed the Minister on other disability issues to no avail.

Statistics Canada reported that as of 2006, more than 1,600 seniors with disabilities needed some assistive device to help them live independently. The most cited reason for not having the devices was they could not afford them.

Committee recommendations

PEI Disability Alert made a presentation to the Standing Committee that was acknowledged in the official report. “At its meeting on September 30, 2010 …Stephen Pate, representing PEI Disability Alert, briefed your committee on the need for support from the Disability Support Program for seniors with disabilities to prolong independent living in their homes.” Standing Committee First Report et al.

Our brief and testimony recommended the Province provide more support for seniors in their homes both as a tax saving and humanitarian policy.  The brief and testimony ran to 16 pages in the Committee records.  We summarized the report in a 4 part series of articles Not Enough Help for PEI Seniors with disabilities.

That testimony and others became the basis of recommendation 6 to the Legislature on November 30th.

The PEI Council of Persons with Disabilities made a similar but brief plea for seniors on October 20, 2010 “There’s no support for seniors, absolutely none.”

For additional information, the 4 part series is essentially the report to the Legislative Committee and the transcript contains my verbal presentation.