New developmental services law raises alarm in Ontario

'We reject a government policy that closes quality care centres and puts people at risk.' - OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas

Toronto (21 May 2008) - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) says legislation to change the way Ontario provides services for people with developmental disabilities contains a serious flaw and must be reconsidered.

The union, which represents 10,000 developmental services workers across Ontario, said the plan to "entrench individualized funding" in the legislation is misguided and should be changed.

Moving towards such a system will mean a loss of quality control and add further complications to the lives of families, the union argues.

"It will also lead to the destabilization of the funding and staffing of community agencies, lowering the quality of services across the board," says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

OPSEU is also gravely concerned with what it calls "short-sighted plans" to close Ontario's three regional centres for people with developmental disabilities. The centres are staffed by highly trained and skilled workers who specialize in the care and support of people with severe developmental disabilities and provide unique support for aging people with developmental disabilities.

Presently the government is placing individuals into long-term care facilities ill-equipped to provide the specialized supports these individuals need, OPSEU says.

"We reject a government policy that closes quality care centres and puts people at risk, often with inappropriate care," Thomas adds. "What families need is an easy way to access services and the peace of mind that their loved one is receiving quality support they can count on." NUPGE