EDMONTON – Alberta government workers have called on Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, to act now to fix the crisis plaguing disabled Albertans.
“The problems are huge, but the solutions are simple,” says Sandra Azocar, vice-president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), which represents workers in the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) programs.
“Restore the front-line caseworker jobs that have been cut, stop any future job cuts, and fill the vacancies,” says Azocar.
AUPE members have written an official letter to Minister Nixon, which includes a clear plan to tackle the crisis in care.
In the letter, AUPE members say that Albertans are growing increasingly concerned about the neglect of families in need. About 12,000 families are waiting for their applications to be assessed, some have been waiting for two years because the government has halted all new intakes.
“Families need us right away, but we need more staff who can help them,” says Azocar.
The missing workers are only one part of what seems to be a widespread attack on the disabled community and their families. The government has unilaterally cancelled contracts for at least four disabled advocacy groups, cutting approximately $1 million in funding.
“Albertans don’t want this. People are speaking out, and Minister Nixon needs to listen to them,” says Azocar.
AUPE members have also launched a letter campaign asking Albertans to contact the minister and their MLAs with calls to “Act NOW to help Alberta’s most vulnerable families.”
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AUPE Vice-President Sandra Azocar is available for comment.
To schedule an interview, please contact Terry Inigo-Jones, AUPE communications officer, at t.inigo-jones@aupe.org or 780-863-7850.