Minister tries to calm fears over budget cuts for disability funding

CALGARY- The minister for services for persons with disabilities is doing his best to calm the fears of Albertans worried about budget cutbacks.

Frank Oberle took part in a discussion at a disability conference in Calgary on Thursday, telling the crowd that despite a $42 million budget cut to community access programs, people who need services will still get them.

“This is not a cost-cutting exercise,” he told the jeering, standing-room only crowd. “I absolutely get it. I hear you, I understand you. This is traumatic and it’s an aggressive change.”

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However, those at the meeting weren’t buying it.

“With these cutbacks, an already stressed, an already bad situation is only going to get worse,” adds Thomas Poulsen, who’s a member of an advocacy group for people with disabilities.

Those affected by the changes are also concerned about the July 1 timeline, a sentiment the minister echoes.

“If we were too aggressive on the timelines or the transition plan, we’re certainly going to have to consider that,” Oberle admitted.

The province said it wants to adopt an ‘outcomes based’ approach, with a focus on employment for persons with developmental disabilities. Advocacy groups are now planning a demonstration at the Legislature on May 15.