Released on March 28, 1996
Social Services Minister Lorne Calvert today announced the provincialgovernment has targeted its resources to programs and services which
support the vulnerable.
The federal government has withdrawn $114 million from its funding to
the province for health care, post-secondary education and social
programs in 1996-97, but the province has not passed that reduction on
to these essential services.
In fact this year, the department of Social Service's budget for
programs and services remains the same as last year.
"Through the New Century consultation process, people told us not to
pass these cuts to the province's social programs. They asked us to
find other ways to deal with the reduction. It hasn't been easy, but
we've done just that," Calvert said.
In 1995-96 the department's Budget was $524.314 million; in addition
the department had the Legal Aid Commission's budget of $8.675 million,
for a total of $532.989. In 1996-97, the Legal Aid Commission and its
budget will move to the Department of Justice. The Department of
Social Service's budget will again be $524.314 million.
Calvert said he is pleased to be able to say that the government has
continued its policy of spreading efficiency measures fairly and
equitably across all sectors.
"Again this year, we've targeted our scarce resources to protect
vulnerable children and families, and we've worked to ensure that all
sectors shoulder the federal off-load,' Calvert said.
The Minister said the government's commitment to providing support and
protection to the vulnerable will be highlighted as the department of
Social Services begins refining its proposals to redesign the social
assistance plan.
Over the next year the department will use public input on the
proposals to develop a redesigned system which better addresses the
needs of vulnerable children and families.
To date consultations have been held with more than 250 organizations
across the province and close to 14,000 discussion papers have been
distributed.
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For further information contact:
Virginia Wilkinson
Social Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-0916