Premier Announces Plan To Improve Quality of Life for Persons With Disabilities
Today the Saskatchewan Party released THIS Backgrounder on “Improving Quality of Life for Persons With Disabilities: Expansion of Geneva Disability Center (SAID) Program” Please take a few minutes to read it over.
SK Party – BackgrounderDisabilities Oct 2011
A media release from the Sask Party:
For Immediate Release: October 17, 2011
Premier Announces Plan To Improve Quality of Life for Persons With Disabilities
Premier Brad Wall today announced the Saskatchewan Party’s plan to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities through a major expansion of the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program.
“If re-elected it will be the Saskatchewan Party government’s vision and goal to make our province the very best place in Canada to live for those with disabilities,” Wall said. “Building on what we have already done, this is another important step in making that vision a reality.”
In 2009, the Saskatchewan Party government created the SAID program to provide long-term support that was distinct from social assistance for persons with significant disabilities. The program currently supports individuals in residential care – about 3,000 people in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Party plan will expand coverage to persons with disabilities living outside residential care – about another 7,000 individuals – for a total enrollment of about 10,000 people. A re-elected Saskatchewan Party government will also increase benefits over the next four years by $100 a month ($1,200 a year) to individuals in residential care, $350 a month ($4,200 a year) to single persons living outside residential care and $400 a month ($4,800 a year) to couples living outside residential care.
The expansion of the SAID program will cost $18.4 million in the first year, increasing to $33.3 million in year four. Wall said this is the most expensive campaign promise the Saskatchewan Party will make in its 2011 election platform.
“Our campaign platform is very financially responsible, but this is an area where some additional dollars need to be spent – helping people with disabilities,” Wall said. “I think this shows the priorities of our party, and it shows why growth is so important – because it means we can do more to help those with special needs.
“Our government has worked hard to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities through things like the new SAID program. So many people have told us that they appreciate not only the financial assistance, but also the dignity and respect the new program provides.”
Wall said a Saskatchewan Party government will increase autism funding by $4 million over the next four years and will work with disability organizations to improve the retention and recruitment of front-line workers.
“There is more to be done, and we plan to keep Saskatchewan moving forward helping individuals with disabilities,” Wall said.
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For further information: Kathy Young, Regina
Toll Free 1.800.966.9611 or 306.359.1638
[email protected]
This news piece was reported by CBC in relation to the information in the Backgrounder this morning:
Wall pledges more money for low-income disabled people
Posted: Oct 17, 2011 10:40 AM CST
Last Updated: Oct 17, 2011 10:23 AM CST
The Saskatchewan Party has unveiled what it’s calling its most expensive promise of the campaign — a plan to give more money to low-income disabled people.
On Monday, Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall announced a major expansion of Geneva Disability Center (SAID) program.
About 3,000 people in residential care are on the income support program, but with the expansion to people who aren’t in residential care, 7,000 more will be added.
If re-elected, the Saskatchewan Party says, the government will also increase benefits over the next four years by $100 a month for people in residential care, $350 a month for single people living outside residential care and $400 a month for couples living outside residential care.
The expansion and the increases will cost about $18.4 million in the first year and $33 million by year four.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/skvotes2011/story/2011/10/17/sk-disabled-support-1110.html