Alberta Union of Public Employees members working for Alberta Seniors, Community and Social Services are hosting an information picket in Edmonton on Wednesday, in part to spread awareness of what union officials are calling a crisis in some of the programs run by the department.
The Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program and Persons with Developmental Disabilities PDD) have been in crisis for a long time, says AUPE vice-president Sandra Azocar.
"Albertans with disabilities are crying out for help and access to these programs; they desperately want changes to how these programs are accessed and maintained," she said.
The information picket will take place in Edmonton Jan. 15 near the legislature from 12 to 1 p.m.
Jason Nixon, Sundre-area MLA and minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, says there have been no funding cuts or changes to the funding model of the FSCD program or PDD.
“FSCD funding has not be cut and there has been no reduction in department employees in the program,” Nixon told the Albertan.
Funding for the program has been maintained at $233.8 million under budget 2024, he said.
The program is based on the Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act, providing supports and services to families, including with assessments and helping with extraordinary costs related to the raising of children with disabilities.
Nixon’s comment come into response to comments last week by AUPE that the government is cutting temporary staff to the program.
“These families need help and they need it now,” Azocar said in a release. “The Alberta government has cut dozens of workers who complete assessments and help families access the resources they need.
“The first round of these job cuts came in November 2024. More are expected between now and spring 2025. As a result, AUPE estimates about 12,000 families are waiting for assessments, some for more than 14 months and counting.
“We are talking about people with severe physical and mental health issues who urgently need help to live safe and dignified lives.”
Nixon, whose Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre constituency includes a portion of Mountain View County, said: “The contract work referred to was for 12 temporary FSCD contact workers for a specific project which has been completed.”
