The Alberta Association for Community Living (AACL) finds it unconscionable that at the height of Alberta’s unprecedented financial success this government cannot find it in its heart or its vast riches to ensure Albertans with developmental disabilities and their families have the supports they require to live decent, safe and ordinary lives in community.  The announced budget increase for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) is resulting in immediate and extensive cuts to many of Alberta’s most vulnerable citizens. 

Many individuals with developmental disabilities cannot speak for themselves and cannot defend themselves against a callous government that places them in harm’s way.  The reduced supports and services necessitated by this budget threaten the very well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities and directly increases their risk of abuse and neglect.

Instead of “Strengthening Today, Securing Tomorrow” as the government claims, this budget, and this government, will be remembered by individuals with developmental disabilities and their families for Creating Insecurity Today, Destroying Tomorrow.  The government knows full well, and contrary to any Orwellian claims there are no “planned cuts”, that the announced 13 million dollar increase is approximately 20 million dollars less than PDD requires to simply maintain existing supports and services. 

Wendy McDonald, AACL President and the parent of a young child with developmental disabilities, asked, “ How do I explain to my son that he can get $400 from the government as a gift while they rob him of a future, and us as a family, of hope?  How can we be so wealthy as a province and so cruel at the same time.”

Lloyd Thornhill, a member of AACL and a person with developmental disabilities, asked, “Why are adults with developmental disabilities being punished by Premier Klein?”

These are questions every Albertan should be asking.  The government’s neglect and abandonment of people with developmental disabilities must be answered with a continuous call for common decency befitting any civilized and caring society.  This government’s uncaring actions should shame every Albertan.

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