GOVERNMENT WORKING TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SASKATCHEWAN CITIZENS

Government Invests in Needs of Most Vulnerable Residents

The Government of Saskatchewan is delivering on a commitment in the Plan for Growth to invest in a higher quality of life for all Saskatchewan citizens.  That includes significant investments in the 2013-14 Budget in programs and services for some of the most vulnerable residents of Saskatchewan.

“It’s wonderful to see our provincial economy and our population growing,” Social Services Minister June Draude said.  “But growth for the sake of growth isn’t enough.  We need to make sure all Saskatchewan residents are able to share in the benefits of that growth.  Our government is doing that by increasing supports for seniors, persons with disabilities, families fleeing domestic violence and those with low incomes.”

The Ministry of Social Services budget includes the following funding increases:

• An increase of $17.4 million for agencies that provide critical services to vulnerable adults and children.  This includes $15.6 million to follow through on the commitment made in December 2012, regarding support for the recruitment and retention of front-line employees.  The 2013-14 ministry budget also includes $685,000 for those CBO workers who did not see a funding increase on February 1, as well as a further $1.1 million in funding for other increases to these agencies; 
• $3.3 million to increase level of care rates for residents of Approved Private Service Homes;
• A $3.2 million increase for the Seniors Income Plan, including a $10/month increase to the benefit effective July 2013, plus a benefit increase of a maximum of $25/month for clients living in special care homes.  The Seniors Income Plan benefit is now $250 a month up $160 or 178 per cent since 2008 after being frozen at just $90 for 16 years;
• A $3.8 million increase for the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement to keep pace with increases in the rental market; and
• An additional $383,000 for the Personal Care Home Benefit to increase the monthly income threshold from $1,800 to $1,875.

The budget also contains further enhancements to the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program.  In June 2012, government implemented the first installment of a four-year commitment to increase benefits under the SAID program by $100 per month for people in residential care and by $350 and $400 per month for single individuals and couples respectively who live in independent arrangements.  In June 2013, the second of these planned increases will occur.

“We want to make Saskatchewan the best place in Canada to live for people with disabilities, and the investments we are making will help us make this vision a reality,” Draude said.  “That is why we have committed to working with the disability community to develop a comprehensive disability strategy that will guide our work in the years to come.”

Investments in supports for vulnerable residents are not restricted to the Ministry of Social Services.  For example, the Ministry of Justice will invest $375,000 in a new transition house in Melfort and support the expansion of existing transition houses in Regina and Prince Albert that assist women and their children to escape situations of domestic violence.

The Ministry of Government Relations’ Transit Assistance for People with Disabilities program budget of $3.5 million provides an increase of $0.3 million that will accelerate the renewal of the paratransit fleet and allow for the expansion to additional eligible municipalities.

“With this budget, we are meeting the objectives of our government’s Plan for Growth by ensuring all Saskatchewan people – including our most vulnerable citizens - benefit from our strong and growing economy,” Draude said.

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For more information, contact:

Trish Alcorn
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0916
Email: trish.alcorn@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-1479