Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor. Photo by Manfred Joehnck.
The provincial government has announced a major review of how it delivers its social assistance programs, and at the same time, has backed off on plans that would have seen a reduction in funding for nearly 3,000 people receiving disability benefits.
The rollbacks were scheduled to go into effect sometime this fall, but there was a lot of pushback and several protests. Social services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor says the government was listening and has scrapped the plans.
“I actually think it is demonstrative of the fact that we are listening to the disability community and we are listening very carefully,” she said. “I think the disability community would be very happy to hear that we are being responsive to some of the concerns they have raised with us.”
However, while existing clients will not see their funding changed, new applicants will be subject to the new rules. Also, if a current client has a change in their individual circumstance, coverage might be reviewed. Opposition Critic Nicole Rancourt has some concerns about that.
“So, that’s concerning because we know most people in the course of their lifetime, they make some changes,” she said. “So, they shouldn’t have to be worried that their benefits are going to decrease if they have to make some changes.”
Beaudry-Mellor also announced a major redesign of the income assistance programs aimed at making it more client friendly, simpler, transparent and sustainable.
There is no timeline for the social assistance review, but nothing will happen until the next fiscal year at the earliest.
Beaudry-Mellor says the review is designed to make the system better, not necessarily to save money.