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Laurie in Question Period

Funding for Human Services Agencies

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Agencies like the Terra centre for pregnant and parenting teens in my constituency have been trying to get the government to understand the consequences of systemic low funding to the human services sector. These organizations are contracted for the essential services the government is mandated to provide. My questions are to the minister of children’s services. Given that the $11 million funding injected this year had a real effect of less than $1,000 per Terra staff member per year, what specific plans does the government or the minister have to deal with the 30 to 40 per cent differential in salary for Terra and all the other organizations in that sector?

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an excellent question. I was pleased to see that you had introduced members from Terra here in the House today because they offer an excellent service. I know the Children and Youth Services minister has spoken to this issue before and how she has addressed the gap in wages for employees. I will take that question under advisement for the minister, and we will be getting back to you, hon. member.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you. To the same minister: with a 30 per cent worker loss in the human services sector and considerable energy being redirected from programming to recruit and train new workers, what are the strategies or plans that the minister or the government has to implement to alleviate this situation?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated, I will take that question under advisement for the minister, and she will address that for you, hon. member. As you’ve indicated, it’s operational funding, but it is also going to a good cause in what will be beneficial to the workers overall. We will be responding soon.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you. To the same minister. Let me give a very real situation to put this in context. How does the minister plan to mitigate the situation of Terra, for whom the Bon Ton Bakery raised $50,000 to pay for a second child care space? A wonderful space. A lot of hard work went into that, and Terra cannot afford to pay someone to open that new space. They are recruiting, but they cannot find the people to open the space. So the space is not open. What exactly is the government going to do to alleviate this situation and other ones like it?

Mrs. Fritz: Mr. Speaker, I can hear the frustration with this occurring, especially when a good organization has raised funding to assist with the child care spaces. I know that the members who are actually right here and listening know that the Minister of Children and Youth Services will look into this situation, will do that very quickly, and will get back to you, hon. member.