Kubinec 'not happy ' with handling of PDD issue

Local MLA Maureen Kubinec is “not happy” with the handling of proposed changes to the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program.

Kubinec told Barrhead Town Council she believed plans could have been communicated better.

However, she said it was wrong to suggest Alberta government was cutting PDD funding.

Instead, money was being shifted from Community Access funding to support the increased focus on employment for people with disabilities.

“Money has not gone,” she said last Monday. “It is going into different areas.”

She also said she had heard that organizations like Blue Heron Support Services now had until Sept. 1 to prepare for the changes. The original date was July 1.

Kubinec, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA, had been invited to the council amid province-wide concern over plans to slash spending on community access supports from $93.7 million to $54.9 million.

It is feared Blue Heron – worst-case scenario – could see a $1.6 million or 38 per cent cut to its budget, leading to about 40 full-time equivalent posts being axed and affecting 60 clients with developmental challenges.

Deputy mayor Ty Assaf, who was chairing the meeting, asked Kubinec what was being done to support Blue Heron and why the funding changes were coming to light two months after the budget.

Kubinec said it was a complex issue, but stressed PDD funding was not being cut. What was proposed was a shift in focus.

Coun. Madelaine Wessel said Blue Heron dollars had always been spent very well, enabling clients to make a contribution to the community.

Now suddenly people were feeling very vulnerable, afraid and fearful, she said.

Kubinec said she had not been happy with the way the matter had been handled.

She added it should have been articulated better so people could see what the future for the PDD program would look like.

Coun. Wessel said the provincial government had been making a lot of changes recently with unreasonable timeframes.

This demonstrated a lack of community input and resulted in government being forced to backpedal and extend deadlines for implementation, she said.

“It is creating a volatile situation,” she said.

Coun. Roy Ulmer said he understood 40 Blue Heron people could lose their jobs.

“What is going to happen to the clients?” he asked.

Asaf also asked Kubinec again what support was being proposed for Blue Heron in the light of possible job cuts.

Kubinec said published figures about cuts represented the worst-case scenario and added that she had heard Blue Heron staff were being given more time to plan for changes.

She also said there was a government proposal to measure clients’ needs by using the Supports Intensity Scale test.

Kubinec pledged to take on board councillors’ concerns and relay them to ministers.

She added that Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities Frank Oberle would be coming to Barrhead on June 18 to meet with families, individuals and service providers at Barrhead United Church. The meeting would start at 2 p.m.

Coun. Wessel said the Town and County councils had traditionally been informed of such visits as a courtesy.

Kubinec agreed the municipalities should be notified.