Released on March 29, 2001
The government will deliver on its promise to provide more funding forcommunity-based organizations (CBOs) when the provincial budget is unveiled
tomorrow.
Social Services Minister Harry Van Mulligen today announced CBOs in the
Health, Social Services and Justice sectors will receive just over $6
million in this year's budget.
CBOs provide services like child care, crisis intervention, counselling and
treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, mental health services, group
homes for youth in care, women's shelters, family support and services to
people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
"In keeping with the promise the premier and I made some weeks ago, we are
committed to working with the CBO and child care sectors to develop a long-
term strategy to address salary, training and operating cost issues," Van
Mulligen said. "We recognize this funding increase, while significant, is
not the ultimate solution."
The increase is equivalent to an average six per cent salary increase.
Actual increases will vary depending on assessed need. Compensation issues
vary among different organizations and that flexibility is needed to
implement the increases.
Including this year's increase, the government has invested an additional
$19 million to improve salaries in CBOs and child care centres since 1996.
A breakdown of the funding is as follows:
$5.2 million will be shared by Social Services CBOs and child care
centres;
$700,000 will be shared by Health CBOs; and
$140,000 will be shared by Justice CBOs.
"Healthy individuals, families and communities is a key goal of our
government," Van Mulligen said. "We recognize the importance of the CBO
sector in ensuring vulnerable families and children have the supports
required to assist them in achieving their potential."
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Social Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-8689