Community Living Ontario

As 2011 winds to a close, the traditional optimism associated with the New Year is hard to come by in Ontario’s developmental services sector, for labour unrest and a desperate lack of resources dominate the thoughts of many.

This was the topic of conversation as developmental services executive directors and board members from across the province gathered in Toronto on Dec.15th.

Many were physically present while many more attended virtually over the Internet, and whether the voices connected from northern communities or came from a table in the room, they all held similar tones of concern and urgency.

With the possibility of strike action looming for many associations, the despair associated with an emerging overburden of regulation, and the growing sense of a not-so-well thought out Transformation process, the participants gathered to learn from past experience, voice their concern for the near future and discuss larger questions about the ongoing sustainability of the developmental services system as a whole.

While many unionized associations are facing the potential for labour unrest, there are those that have managed to come to ratified agreements and their stories were shared.

In terms of consensus at the end of the four-hour session, it could be found in the idea that the desperation of people who require support is real, and that ways must be found for these emergencies to be addressed.

While immediate discussion tends to focus on jobs and the urgent need for funds to negotiate fair contracts, the reality is that the crisis in the sector is about people; people who linger on "waitlists" with no support while their families struggle to cope.

"This reality must be seen and considered; stories about the negative impacts of chronically being set aside must be told and told now" said Community Living Ontario executive director Keith Powell.

"This was a very valuable forum" said Powell. "Everyone who participated was concerned about the harm that strikes and underfunding will do to people.  And they were worried about the increased risk that has developed for the support and services to people."

And, they were especially clear that despite the preference of the Government of Ontario to pour scarce public resources into health and education while taking “food from the mouths of vulnerable citizens" and those waiting, the well-being of people "must continue to come first."

Watch for more stories to come and if you have strategies to share related to these challenges ahead, do get in touch at 800-294-0051, ext. 24, or e-mail kristian(at)axiomnews.ca.