The president of an Albertan living assistance organization said she is disappointed after a meeting with the minister of Seniors and Community Supports about future cuts to programs for people with developmental disabilities.
Wendy McDonald, president of the Alberta Association for Community Living, was unable to come to an agreement yesterday with Minister Mary Anne Jablonski after discussing future cuts to programs for people with developmental disabilities.
“There was no commitment for anything,” McDonald said. “What we asked for was a table for better consultations and some collaboration.”
This meeting was a result of Jablonski asking organizations to make voluntary cuts to help with an $11 million budget decrease to assistance providers. Jablonski had changed her original request from back in December, when these same organizations would be forced to make the cuts.
McDonald said that whether their reduced funding is voluntary or enforced, it could keep people from carrying on with daily life, such as going to a job or even going outside.
“At the most harshest level, we are reducing people to a life of marginalization and being confined to their homes if there is no access to community services to work,” McDonald said.
