Evidence of meeting #35 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was employment.
VATTA Committee Member, Canadian Down Syndrome Society
Yes, I would, actually.
I am glad you brought this up. I know firsthand how to live like a Down syndrome person because I am a Down syndrome person.
We have orchestrated a support group in Kelowna, B.C., the Angels Community Support Network. If you are interested, we can hook you up in that department also. Just talk to me and we'll hook you up.
Thank you.
President and Chair, Alberta Division, Canadian Mental Health Association
I'd like to make a comment about the disability act in relation to people with mental illness. There are challenges in terms of mental illness being an episodic issue. People may have periods of health and then periods of illness. It's not a permanent, ongoing disability, and I think one of the challenges is trying to address that and make provisions for the periods of being disabled.
So the fact that it isn't necessarily a permanent disability is one of the challenges.
Conservative
Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK
It's taking shape, but it's going to take some time. Certainly right now we are working on it and meeting with groups.
Mental health has particularly interested me in terms of how we're going to handle that. It's not just the challenge that it's episodic, as you say, but also that there are those who don't really describe themselves as being mentally ill. We have the issue of autism. Is that a disability or is it a health issue? When it comes to employability and making an act where we are going to try to enforce employers to employ disabled people, where will the mental health segment fit in?
At any rate, thank you. We will be talking to you again. We've already had some time together.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thank you, Ms. Yelich. That's all the time you have.
We're going to move now to our second round.
Mr. Regan, five minutes, please.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Thank you.
On the issue of housing, let me ask you further about the strategic communities partnerships initiative. The minister was before the committee last week, and I asked her if it would be continuing past March 31, 2007. She would not commit to that. I think it's under review or is being examined.
I guess I'd like to know what's been good about it and what's been bad about it. Should it be scrapped and started over? What's your view on it?
Director, Vibrant Communities Calgary
I don't work directly on the issue of housing, and I don't know that anyone else on this panel does, which is unfortunate. However, I certainly hear from our colleagues who are involved in the work we do that they are very concerned about the possible sunsetting of the SCPI funds. They are very worried about how programs will continue in the absence of those funds come April 1.
I think it's very frustrating for people not to have clear answers at this point. We're doing our best to communicate with the federal government and are getting different answers--or no answers, really, at this point--about what is happening with SCPI funds, but the timeline is looming.
So as to how the communities and how these initiatives will pick up the slack, or how other funders will step in if the SCPI funds are withdrawn at the end of March.... The deadlines are getting pretty tight.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Does someone else have a view on this or have some knowledge in this area?
Director, Community Development, Disability Action Hall
Like Ramona, I'm not an expert on housing. I'm also not an expert on jurisdiction; I know that government people are expert on that.
That said, however it is figured out, we need more affordable low-income housing. We need whatever programs need to be in place to be able to get that. We are really struggling as a community with affordable low-income housing.
Member, Disability Action Hall
There's one person I know who owns her own home and can't afford to get a furnace. She qualifies through the RRAP program. It's amazing when you think about it, that a furnace could set someone back and put them in poverty, with the risk of homelessness. But she didn't have the money to pay for it. Does she freeze in her house?
So I think the RRAP program needs more funding. You can only apply once every two years if you have something wrong with your house. But utilities go up in price, and you can't afford to pay the bills. There are some preventative things we can do to assist people in their housing. With Calgary housing especially, I think we need more support to make those places energy efficient.
I don't think it's acceptable for a person to sit in their house in the dark because they're afraid to turn on a light bulb.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Just to be clear, are you saying that in her case the problem is the increase in the utility bill, or are you saying that it's both that she has to pay part of the cost of the furnace as well as an increase in her utility bill?
Member, Disability Action Hall
It's the cost of using utilities and the price of keeping up a house. It's very difficult for people on a fixed income.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
My impression is that RRAP would not cover the full cost of the furnace. Do you know if this is true?
Manager, Advocacy Leadership, Canadian Down Syndrome Society
I have a brief comment.
We have to have a little greater vision. I don't know a lot about these programs, but these temporary ones are temporary fixes that last twelve or eighteen months and can do a real disservice to people on a limited income.
They get to where they are comfortable, and they have a good quality of life. Then eighteen months later the program is over and they're kind of back where they started.
There is certainly some frustration that we don't have this vision, that we're not continuing to support people, and the rules and regulations change after twelve or eighteen months.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Mr. Froese, you talked about the idea of getting employers to visit workplaces. I know that lots of employers are very busy. I think it's a good idea. What should the Government of Canada do to try to make that happen?
VATTA Committee Member, Canadian Down Syndrome Society
To be perfectly honest, I think we should get together, sit down, and collaborate. We should join to help and support each other through this.
Thank you.
President and Chair, Alberta Division, Canadian Mental Health Association
I want to follow up on a comment that Kirk made, and it relates to the whole issue of the sustainability of funding—whatever the specific program is.
I am familiar with our Routes to Work program that CMHA is involved with. But nowadays, we have a lot of non-profit organizations providing human services in many areas, and sustainable funding is a critical issue that cuts across the whole spectrum.
I realize the federal government doesn't always have a role in this. But you're putting a lot of energy and resources into applying for funds to continue programs every year, because they're funded on an annual basis. If there was more sustainable funding with a long-term commitment, there would be a lot of efficiencies in terms of the kinds of services being provided, particularly in the non-profit world.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Regan.
I'm going to add one question, since we're on this topic.
One of the things we've heard, as we've been across the country—in the east and the west—is that the Opportunities Fund, which keeps rising up as one that makes a big difference, has been underfunded over the years. Not much has changed in terms of the dollar amount. Would you make a couple of recommendations to us? I'm assuming the Opportunity Fund is one of those funds that we need to go back and really make sure is doing what it should, that it's helping people out. I've heard this.
Is there any other particular program that you would like to recommend to our committee to go back and recommend to the government?
President and Chair, Alberta Division, Canadian Mental Health Association
Certainly the Opportunities Fund is the program that funds our program, which I'm familiar with. The Routes to Work program has been running since 2000. It operates in seven communities and helps hundreds of people get into the workforce and stay there.
But a lot of energy is spent going through the annual applications process.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
So once again there's the sustainable funding part versus programs that expire, and we have to start over again.
President and Chair, Alberta Division, Canadian Mental Health Association
Yes, and certainly increase funding. If there was a Routes to Work program in every municipality, we would have a lot more people with mental illness more gainfully employed. Certainly there is always the issue of funding.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Sure.
Does anyone want to comment on any programs that are particularly...? That's it, just the Opportunities Fund. Okay. That's a recommendation. No, just kidding.