Taking it to the streets

Local community support workers walked around the block Thursday to pressure the province into putting more money into developmental services.

Members of Ontario Public Sector Employees Union Local 738 and 740, developmental service workers at Avenue II Community Program Services and Community Living Thunder Bay, took part in one of a dozen Block Walks.

The events, which took place across the province, were staged in an effort to reduce waitlists – currently at 12,000 people in Ontario – for residential, community and employment services.

OPSEU Local 738 president Silvana Cacciatore said funding has remained the same while agencies are expected to continue delivering the same level of service.

"We’ve lost a lot of programs, especially day programs, and the agencies themselves haven’t seen increases in a long time. They’re expected to increase clients by two per cent with the same budget," she said.

Community Living Thunder Bay alone has more than 175 people on a waitlist for services, which include helping developmentally disabled people in their homes, jobs and recreational activities.

"If you’re on a waiting list, your chances are very slim of getting off that waiting list right now," Cacciatore added.

Talks between unions and the Ministry of Community and Social Services over funding issues broke down in March. Cacciatore said agencies were told that because of a funding freeze across the province, no new money would be given.

"They’re saying that there is no more money to be put into any agencies at this time," Cacciatore said.

Around 600 employees of CAW and OPSEU work for development agencies in Thunder Bay.