Community Living Ontario

Community Living Ontario is requesting an audience with Premier Dalton McGuinty, Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan and Minister of Community and Social Services John Milloy to discuss ways government can help meet the increasing needs of Ontario's citizens who have an intellectual disability, their families and those who support them.

The association is calling for immediate action, particularly around the need for funding. But it's also inviting government to become a world leader in shaping a society here in Ontario where people with disabilities "have their rights to full citizenship realized through the application of a broad, effective and inclusive social policy framework."

A version of the letter is posted here.

Dear Premier,

I am writing to bring to your attention the growing despair that is shared by many people who have an intellectual disability, their families and, those who work to support them.   For people for whom funded supports and services are essential for living their life in, and contributing to their community, the current economically turbulent times are creating huge challenges and risks, challenges that are amplified in ways that few can appreciate.  For these individuals and their families, diminished services and funded supports is far more than an inconvenience; their health, security, dignity, networks of social support and/or family stability are in real jeopardy.

The scale of the problems confronting the Developmental Services sector is staggering and cannot be ignored.  According to the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ own figures, more than 12,000 people are waiting for support to live in a home in the community and close to 10,000 are waiting for support to assist in daily activities.  There are stark realities behind these numbers! Many young people graduating from school sit at home, in isolation, waiting for the support they need to be successful, contributing participants in their community. Aging parents, some in their 80’s and 90’s and facing health issues themselves, remain the primary care providers for their adult children.  Except in a crisis situation, such as the hospitalization or death of a primary care giver, there is little hope that they will access any supports. And, even when such a crisis occurs  there is no guarantee the person will receive the support that they need. Often, in the absence of other services, people end up in hospital wards or long term care facilities. Imagine the anxiety and dread that families experience as they face such uncertainty after a lifetime of commitment to their child!

This is unacceptable in a wealthy, contemporary society and should not be tolerated by any of us, especially by those in government who have the capability and responsibility to rectify the situation.

Community organizations are struggling to provide supports and services; they are under tremendous stress.  Funding has been stagnant for some time while their costs have continued to rise. Many of these costs are being imposed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services as it requires funded organizations to undertake increasingly complex  and time-demanding administrative/accountability functions within existing budgets, all the while requiring no reduction of supports and services.  Funding promises made by the Ministry to the developmental services sector were withdrawn last year. Based on these promises, service organizations signed labour agreements and made financial commitments that they can no longer cover. Now, with imposed wage freezes, many Developmental Services organizations are facing unprecedented, province-wide labour unrest that threatens to erupt at any time directly threatening both their ability to provide services and their financial viability. 

The Developmental Services sector is in crisis. There is a moral imperative to act now. Inaction will place people who have an intellectual disability at immediate risk and will do significant harm to the services and the integrity of community-based organizations, organizations that form that backbone of the Developmental Service sector in Ontario.

I have written to the Minister of Community and Social Services, the Honourable John Milloy, outlining these problems and I hope to meet with him soon.  I am also seeking a meeting with you to discuss these critical issues.   While Minister Milloy must play a significant role in working to address these issues, the responsibility does not lie solely with his Ministry.   We will never resolve the challenges facing people who have an intellectual disability and their families through incremental investment in the social services Ministry; change is needed across society.  Changes are needed to the education system to ensure that children who have an intellectual disability are educate in inclusive classrooms where they develop the skills and relationships needed for later life, effective employment support systems must be developed to assist the many people who currently to do not have the opportunity to work to earn a living wage and reduce their dependency on government assistance.  Access to affordable housing, transportation, health and dental services, these are all areas where change is needed.    Immediate and significant investment is need in the developmental services sector to address the crisis that currently exists, but in the long run, that will not be enough.  The United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which Canada has ratified, points to a society in which people with disabilities have their rights to full citizenship realized through the application of a broad, effective and inclusive social policy framework.  Ontario has the opportunity to be a world leader in shaping such a society here in Ontario.  Our members call on you, Premier, for action.

I look forward to an opportunity to meet with you in the near future to discuss these critical issues.

Yours Truly,

Deborah Rollier
President