Andrew Mason, NDP candidate on Deinstitutionalization

Thank you for your letter and request for information on the position of the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan’s platform regarding the Deinstitutionalization Coalition of Saskatchewan work with individuals with intellectual disabilities.

You will be aware that our NDP government has provided 14 years of sound fiscal management alongside a balanced platform on social program spending and infrastructure investments. It is our commitment to build on this record. We will continue to give to the people of Saskatchewan a government that provides leadership and vision – a government that will see our province remain a leader in economic growth, job creation and program innovation alongside investments in services to people.

You can expect an answer in the near future.

Once again, thank you for your question. Please contact me if you have any further questions of require further information.

Sincerely,

Andrew Mason

Liberals' plan for social assistance

David Karwacki has released the following information about the Liberal plan for social assistance. Click here to read their platform.

Saskatchewan Party Social Policy Platform

The Saskatchewan Party sent a copy of their social policy platform in response to SACL's election questions. Click here to read the platform.

Second Response from the NDP

On October 23 we posted the official response from the NDP to our questions on income for people with disabilities. As the response was vague we asked for more specific details. The response we have received is:


"Thanks Judy, we would be pleased to provide a more detailed reply once the NDP is re-elected. It is not possible for a political party to provide detailed responses regarding government department activities because we do not have access to this specific information."


People with disabilities need to know what each party will do for them! Are they expected to stay on welfare?

Deon Kalaman, Liberal candidate - Last Mountain-Touchwood candidate

This is a response received to the questions submitted to candidates by DISC (Disability Income Support Coalition)


Thank you for submitting these questions, I hope I am able to answer them to your satisfaction.

To start, I would not presume to speak for the entirety of the Saskatchewan Liberals but I will gladly present my own personal response and proposed initiatives which I could commit to as an elected MLA.


If your party forms the next government, would you commit to creating a separate disability income program that assures people with disabilities the financial security and dignity they deserve?

Whether as part of a majority government or not, my commitment would extend to working with groups representing disabilities to work out a solution, whether it would involve reworking the current social assistance programs, branching out with the proposed disability income program or other method of ensuring progress in the administration.



Would your party be willing to commit to an open process and full partnership, involving the disability community in the creation of a new income program?

Partnership with the disability community would be essential in working towards an acceptable income program. Consultation and direct meetings with disability groups with open dialogue and possible partnerships would be discussed. Commitment would be based on the outcome of the consultations.



You have a very important task in front of you with many obstacles ahead. I hope that we will have a chance to work towards helping the vulnerable in Saskatchewan attain some measure of security and confidence.



Deon Kalaman
Last Mountain-Touchwood candidate
Saskatchewan Liberal Party

David Parker, Liberal Candidate - Saskatoon Sutherland

The following questions were sent by the Disability Income Support Coalition (DISC). The response is from David Parker.

1.If your party forms the next government, would you commit to creating a separate disability income program that assures people with disabilities the financial security and dignity they deserve?

2.Would your party be willing to commit to an open process and full partnership, involving the disability community in the creation of a new income program?
Hello Judy,


My name is David Parker, Liberal candidate for Saskatoon Sutherland.My answers to both questions would be a resounding yes.

Yours truly,

David Parker

The Official NDP response to questions on income for people with disabilities

On behalf of all NDP candidates please find attached the responses to the questions from your letter dated October 22.

Thanks

Chris Haluk
NDP Central Campaign Headquarters



DISABILITY INCOME SUPPORT COALITION (DISC)

1.If your party forms the next government, would you commit to creating a separate disability income program that assures people with disabilities the financial security and dignity they deserve?

Since the release of the Saskatchewan Council on Disability Issues’ Disability Action Plan in June 2001, the NDP government has invested almost $49M to support people with disabilities. The Disability Inclusion Policy Framework, released in June 2007, is government’s formal response to the Disability Action Plan. The Disability Inclusion Policy Framework will continue to guide the development and delivery of the province’s disability programs once the NDP is re-elected.

2.Would your party be willing to commit to an open process and full partnership, involving the disability community in the creation of a new income program?

When re-elected, the NDP will continue to pursue important changes so that people with disabilities have better access to the supports they need. An NDP government will continue to work together with the disability community in developing solutions to disability issues.

Response from Jim Elliott, Green Party candidate - Regina Wascana Plains

I am responding to your questions in the best way I know how to at this time.

1. I would hope that we would not have any barriers to quality education but that cannot be kept without constant scrutiny and a full commitment to the principle of consistent access. Our party stands for affordable education and providing the needed provincial funding to school boards to address needs like this. We may need to have you and others provide us with guidance so as to set the supports in the best and most efficient manner.

2. When you set up general guidelines and principles, there will always be those that don't fit the form or the mold. These would need to be assessed individually to see if there would be modifications that would allow us to fit the intent with the action while staying fiscally responsible.

3. Poverty has always been a problem that we want society to respond to and it would be our intent to push strongly to get the level of poverty in this province down. Ideas that have been suggested would be increasing social assistance rates, disability benefits and something more comprehensive like a guaranteed annual income. We would achieve this through a better redistribution of wealth in this province.

As a last note, I have worked with a number of individuals with disabilities and count them as my friends and co-workers on a number of community initiatives.

Yours sincerely,
Jim Elliott,
Green Party of Saskatchewan
Regina Wascana Plains

Response from Larissa Shasko, Green Party candidate for Moose Jaw-Wakamow.

These answers are direct from myself, Larissa Shasko, your Green Party of Saskatchewan candidate for Moose Jaw-Wakamow.
1. One of the Founding Principles of the Green Party of Saskatchewan is
Social and Economic Justice:

"We believe in the right of every person of working age to socially useful and environmentally sustainable work, access for every person to free education and health care, as well as adequate food, clothing and shelter."

In otherwords, a Green Party government would hold school divisions accountable to ensure children with diabilities are included as equals within every school in Saskatchewan. The Green Party would also restore provincial funding to school districts to provide schools with adequate resources so that children with intellectual disabilities have the support they need. We will require that the school districts enable these beautiful children to be included in class among their peers, while ensuring that their needs are fostered and met on a continous basis.

2. Absolutely! Our Founding Principle on Participatory Democracy is:

All citizens must be able to directly participate as equals in the environmental, economic and political decisions that affect their lives.

The Green Party feels that those with intellectual disabilities and their families should be able to make the decisions that are best for their own lives, and respects that all of us have individual needs. Individualized funding is an excellent objective.

3. Yes, yes, yes! I am a strong believer that Saskatchewan's welfare system should not be utilized by those with health problems because the welfare system is extremely inadequate for people who are unable to work due to their health. People with intellectual disbilities must not be cast into the same system of those who don't want to work. They need a seperate income support plan that ensures all of their needs are provided for, that no one is living in poverty, and that they are not being punished by our governmnet because of their disabilities. I would make this one of my highest priorities. All poverty must be eliminated in Saskatchewan and Canada, and the Green Party supports eliminating poverty. We would make drastic improvements to the welfare system to raise the current below poverty rates, but it is wrong to have welfare as our provinces income disability system. It doesn't work, it isn't fair, and the Green Party of Saskatchewan would fix this.

Thanks for your questions! If I can help bring these needs to the government's doorstep through meetings with MLAs or the press after the election, I would like to help.

Thanks, and take care,

Larissa Shasko

Moose Jaw-Wakamow Green Party of Saskatchewan Candidate

Response from Vic Lau, Green Party

The following are answers we received from Vic Lau in response to the SACL questions which were emailed to all candidates:

1. Parents of children with intellectual disabilities across the province are struggling to ensure an inclusive education for their sons and daughters, with little opportunity for accountability at the school division level. If elected, what would your party do to ensure that children and youth with intellectual disabilities have consistent access to an inclusive, quality education with the supports they need?

WE IN THE GREEN PARTY WOULD WORK WITH YOUR GROUP AND OTHERS TO REVIEW THE NEEDS IN THIS AREA AND IMPLEMENT A GUARANTEED LIVABLE INCOME www.livableincome.org AS WELL AS OFFER ANY POSSIBLE AID AVAILABLE.


2. When people with intellectual disabilities become adults, there is very little offered in the form of services, and virtually no opportunity to create a personal plan for supported living. SACL is leading the development of individualized funding for services, something that many of our families want. Other provinces have had this option available for people with intellectual disabilities for many years. Does your party support individualized funding for people with intellectual disabilities?

YES. SEE www.livableincome.org


3. Poverty is the greatest impact of disability that most people with disabilities face in their lifetime. Right now 77% of the social assistance long term caseload are citizens with disabilities. Would your party support taking people with disabilities off of welfare and creating a separate income support program that addresses poverty and provides security?

YES THE GREEN PARTY IS CERTAINLY DEDICATED TO DOING THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING ELECTED. AS AN MLA FOR DOUGLAS PARK, I WOULD WORK WITH YOU AND SACL TO DO THIS RIGHT. I ALSO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTING A SEPARATE DISABILITIES ACT THAT WOULD ENSHRINE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS FOR THE DISABLED!

Questions to ask candidates

SACL has prepared three questions for candidates in the provincial election. Feel free to ask the candidates one or more of these questions whenas they come to your door. Send us their responses and we'll post the results on the blog!

1.Parents of children with intellectual disabilities across the province are struggling to ensure an inclusive education for their sons and daughters, with little opportunity for accountability at the school division level. If elected, what would your party do to ensure that children and youth with intellectual disabilities have consistent access to an inclusive, quality education with the supports they need?

2.When people with intellectual disabilities become adults, there is very little offered in the form of services, and virtually no opportunity to create a personal plan for supported living. SACL is leading the development of individualized funding for services, something that many of our families want. Other provinces have had this option available for people with intellectual disabilities for many years. Does your party support individualized funding for people with intellectual disabilities?

3.Poverty is the greatest impact of disability that most people with disabilities face in their lifetime. Right now 77% of the social assistance long term caseload are citizens with disabilities. Would your party support taking people with disabilities off of welfare and creating a separate income support program that addresses poverty and provides security?

Sask Party - Caregiver Personal Tax Credit

Brad Wall announced that a Saskatchewan Party government will double the Caregiver Personal Tax Credit for persons taking care of a parent or grandparent aged 65 or older in their home, or persons who have an adult-aged dependent with a disability living in their home. This will increase the benefit from about $442 to $884 per year.

NDP Candidates response to all questions

The NDP candidates we are hearing from are telling us that all policy questions must be answered by their provincial office. We'll keep you posted as we hear responses to our questions.

Response from Jim Pulfer, Liberal

1.Would your party be willing to state that institutions no longer play a role in the lives of citizens with intellectual disabilities in Saskatchewan?


As for your concerns, I too share them. Institutions of many types are an abomination to the integrity of human personhood. You can count on me in whatever way I can to move towards community and family settings for many types of institutional situations. You are definitely preaching to the choir on this one.

Response from Green Party Candidate - Douglas Park

Poverty is the greatest impact of disability that most people with disabilities face in their lifetime. Right now 77% of the social assistance long term caseload are citizens with disabilities. Would your party support taking people with disabilities off of welfare and creating a separate income support program that addresses poverty and provides security?

YES THE GREEN PARTY IS CERTAINLY DEDICATED TO DOING THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING ELECTED. AS AN MLA FOR DOUGLAS PARK, I WOULD WORK WITH YOU AND SACL TO DO THIS RIGHT. I ALSO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTING A SEPARATE DISABILITIES ACT THAT WOULD ENSHRINE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS FOR THE DISABLED!

Candidates are out canvassing in their ridings!

This weekend will be a busy time for candidates as they are out trying to contact as many voters in their ridings as possible. If they call on you ask them about the issues that affect you and your child. It might be inclusive education, it might be supports for your adult son or daughter or it might be about your teenager's transition from high school to the the adult world where supports are harder to find. Let us know the responses you get from the candidates and we'll post them on the blog!

People with Disabilities and Welfare

Did you know that people with disabilities make up over 75% of the welfare case load? Welfare was designed for short term needs but people with disabilities need long term support. This isn’t the system for them. We need a new separate system that respects the needs of people with disabilities.

Economic Prosperity Leading to Social Prosperity

November 7 is the day! As he announced the election last night, Lorne Calvert said that economic prosperity should lead to social prosperity. Let's see how the parties respond to requests for individualized supports for people with intellectual disabilities!

How to post your comments

How to post a comment
Anyone interested in posting relevant comments to this weblog can do so in one of three ways:

1. At the bottom of the message (like this one) click on the word "comments." This will show you any comments that have already been written about the message. At the end of the list of comments you'll find "Post a Comment." Click on it and add your thoughts. You will be prompted to either sign in with a username and password if you have a blogger account (to add your name to your comment) or you can choose to post anonymously. Our recommendation is to post anonymously, and then add your name at the end of your message if you want to have it known to others.

2. by e-mailing your message to sacl@sacl.org

3. by phoning the SACL offices at 306-955-3344.

In any case, please keep your comments civil and clean. We will delete comments that are judged to be unsuitable.

We will post observations, positions and discussion issues here throughout the Saskatchewan provincial election.

This is a place where we can post information about parties and candidates, particularly related to issues of concern to the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living and the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in our province. Join us here. Feel free to comment on anything you see, and if you want to post an entry of your own, contact the SACL office at sacl@sacl.org or phone us at 306-955-3344.

2007 Provincial Election Rumoured

Time to wake our blog from its gentle slumber. You have probably heard that a provincial campaign and election is imminent, and it is also possible that we will find ourselves in a federal election. These are exciting times, and we will again cover issues of importance to people with intellectual disabilities and their families, friends and advocates. Stay with us at SACL Election Watch as the campaign(s) and issues unfold, and we invite you to comment on any of the issues that catch your attention.