ORILLIA – Garfield Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, hailed the decision by the Ontario Superior Court that the Province of Ontario and Ministry of Community and Social Services do not have the legal authority to move residents from the Huronia Regional Centre, the Rideau Regional Centre, and the Southwestern Regional Centre. The court has ruled that:

(a) No incapable resident of the Rideau Regional Centre or the Huronia Regional Centre shall be transferred to any other residence without the consent of a substitute decision maker on behalf of that resident, who shall be a family member or in the absence of a family member, the Public Guardian and Trustee.

(b) Decisions to give or refuse consent to the transfer of an incapable resident from Rideau Regional Centre or Huronia Regional Centre shall be made in the incapable person’s best interests.

(c) Any disagreement between the substitute decision maker and the Ministry of Community and Social Services may be resolved by application to the Superior Court of Justice.

The centres, located in Orillia, Smith Falls and Chatham, are home to 1000 of the most severely mentally and physically challenged citizens of our province and employ approximately 2400 people.

Minister Pupatello, surprisingly announced on September 9, 2004 that the centres would all close by 2009. The families of residents of the centres were shocked to learn that there was no plan put in place to assure that the residents would be moved to locations with the same level of healthcare and services. There had been absolutely no family consultation on her announcement.

“Minister Pupatello made a very ill-informed decision on September 9, 2004 and has put the family members, the residents, and staff of the regional centre through some very stressful and difficult times,” said Dunlop. “Her poor decision has cost the taxpayers of Ontario millions of wasted dollars and she should do what is honourable and resign as Minister.”

“Sandra Pupatello has tried to evict the most vulnerable people in our society from their homes. Clearly she had no idea what her responsibilities were as Minister and she had no idea that she is responsible to the families of the residents.” added Dunlop.

Contact:

Garfield Dunlop
(416) 325-3855