(Queen’s Park) – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop introduced a bill in the Ontario legislature today that would prevent the McGuinty Liberals from closing the three remaining government-operated facilities in Ontario for people with a developmental disability.

If passed, the Developmental Services Amendment Act, 2005 (Bill 205) would require Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello to operate and maintain the present facilities for people with a developmental disability under the following names: Huronia Regional Centre of Excellence at Orillia, Rideau Regional Centre of Excellence at Smiths Falls, and Southwestern Regional Centre of Excellence at Cedar Springs.

“This is an important bill which I hope many MPPs can step up to the plate to support, regardless of their party affiliations,” said Lyz Sayer, Ph.D., C.Psych, and President, Huronia Helpers. “It would bring Ontario up to date with new trends across Canada, and worldwide, that have come to recognize that the special needs of the extremely developmentally disabled are best met within a large and well-resourced residential structure.”

The bill would also prevent the Minister from establishing any additional facilities, as the three current facilities would serve as Centres of Excellence for those individuals with a developmental disability who have extremely complex needs that cannot be met in a regular group home setting.

“I’m introducing this bill because it’s clear to me that the Minister will not change her mind about closing these centres unless forced by legislation,” said Dunlop. “Minister Pupatello’s May 18th announcement doesn’t even come close to meeting the needs of the 1,000 residents who will be displaced because of her mean-spirited and ill-advised decision.”

On September 9th, 2004, Minister Pupatello announced without a specific plan that her government will close the three centres by March 31st, 2009. The closures will lower the quality of life for the facilities’ residents and cause economic hardship for surrounding communities.

Contacts:
Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)

Dr. Lyz Sayer
(416) 483-7435