by Drake Poels
by Drake Poels
by Kyla Maki
by Lynn Juliak
Disparity in wages
In 2002, a salary review commissioned by the Alberta Council of Womens' Shelters found that "staff from women's shelters make, on average, 20% less than comparable positions in the government and not-for-profit sector."
Advocates Organize Bottle Drive Rally for Alberta Government
Send a Message in a Bottle - Bottle Drive to Raise $2.8M to Offset Cuts to PDD
On January 14th at 7:00 PM at McDougall United Church (10025 - 101 St.) in Edmonton, people with disabilities and their families, community organizations and other Albertans who care will be hosting a bottle drive to raise $2.8 million for the provincial government.
"The Premier made the decision last July to cut $180 million in potential revenue from increased liquor taxes (which worked out to a 10 cent savings on a bottle of beer), so we think it is appropriate to have a bottle drive to make up the funds the government has announced they are cutting immediately from programs for adults with developmental disabilities," says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta.
Community agencies in Edmonton have received letters saying the Edmonton Region of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) plans to give back $2.8 million dollars to the provincial government, so agencies must immediately revise their contracts and cut their budgets.
"There is simply no fat left in the system," says the Reverend Doctor John Carr, father of an adult son supported by PDD funding. "This government has cut the funding to the bone already. We must stand together to demand adequate funding for agencies providing supports for persons like my son."
"The Alberta government always says they're going to protect our families," says Wendy McDonald, mother and president of the Alberta Association for Community Living. "I say who's going to protect our kids from this government? My son is 15 and I fear for his future. Will he get supports, or will we be on a waiting list like so many other families? I think of all the work we've done to have him included in the community. Now it is all at risk, with even worse cuts coming in February's budget."
"Community disability service providers feel they have to take a stand for the vulnerable Albertans they support," says Lynn Groves-Hautmann, President of Chrysalis: An Alberta Society For Citizens With Disabilities. "Agencies will not breach their contract and commitment to individuals with developmental disabilities that rely upon them."
Organizations and individuals are asked to join the "Albertans Who Care" campaign to call upon the Alberta government to invest in human services, rather than cutting programs and supports for some of our most vulnerable citizens.
To download the Rally Poster, click here
For more information about the campaign go to www.albertanswhocare.com
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letters have been sent.
Latest letter
by D. Poels
sent Feb. 03 at 6:18 PM.