REGINA – A cabinet minister was caught in a dramatic moment at the legislature – Donna Harpauer was called out about an announcement made last week. The government said they had eliminated a wait list for people with intellectual disabilities to access group homes and day programs, but that’s news to one family who says they’re still waiting after several years.
Jennifer Birns has been caring for her brother, Devon since he graduated high school two years ago. Devon has suffered a brain injury and has been waiting to be accepted into a day program ever since. It’s been difficult for them both.
“If he did not have me to take him out into the community, he’d never leave the house,” said Jennifer of the need for Devon to be in a day program.
Get weekly health news
Last week, the government announced a 440 person wait list for people needing similar services had been eliminated. The Birns came to the legislature Thursday morning to find answers, which prompted a heated exchange.
“He’s been offered services. The families don’t always agree or want the services that are being offered,” said Harpauer, the former Minister of social services, in the media scrum.
Jennifer responded, “The fact you can say we’ve been offered them and refused them is disgusting. If we were offered them, we would know.”
At the human services committee meeting on April 22nd, the opposition member, Danielle Chartier asked as was recorded by Hansard, “So is everybody then taken care of? Or do you have an additional number of people who are still waiting for services? Or a new list?”
The current Social Services Minister, June Draude replied, “No, there isn’t a new list.”
However, Jennifer is confused by that, saying she’s not the only one in this situation. “There are, I can imagine, hundreds of people,” she said. “In our network and community alone, there are more than a handful of people that we know personally who are still waiting for services.”
“Very, very clearly in committee, the minister said there is no new list; it’s just dealing with the children who will need services down the road. That would suggest the people who were needing services were taken care of. What we saw here in Question Period and by the Birns coming to the assembly, that is not the case,” said NDP Leader, Cam Broten.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.