Funding for disability groups left in limbo
Non-profits fear speaking out about budget delays caused by provincial ‘streamlining’
Scores of Ontario non-profit organizations that depend on provincial funding to provide services to people with disabilities are stuck awaiting annual budget allocations due to changes by Premier Doug Ford’s government, the Star has learned.
“(We have) never experienced anything like this before,” said one frustrated official at an agency, who, like others interviewed, spoke on condition of anonymity because they rely upon money from Queen’s Park to keep afloat.
Another insider who also works with developmentally disabled people said there is “a big culture of fear” about speaking out over the budget crunch.
“Agencies won’t come forward since they are funded by (the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services) and can’t risk it,” the second source said.
“(There’s) mass paralysis and fear and no one can get any information as to why this is happening and when it will end and (everyone) is afraid of losing what they have,” the worker said.
“People want this to get out but they are not allowed to speak to the media and are afraid.”
The office of Children, Community and Social Services Minister Todd Smith conceded there are snags preventing the funding allocation amounts from being shared with recipients.
“As you know, the past year has been marked by many changes — this has delayed this process, which we understand is challenging for our partners doing important work,” said Smith’s press secretary, Christine Wood.
“Although the majority of our partners have experienced delays regarding 2019-20 allocations, all recipients can expect to receive information about their allocations by the end of summer,” she said.
Wood emphasized that the government is still distributing money to the agencies affected by the “streamlining.”
“The ministry will be communicating with agencies about programs and funding in the coming weeks,” she said, adding the province hopes “to achieve greater efficiency and improve supports for people in need.”
“There are 360 transfer payment agencies who receive funding from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services that support people assessed and matched to services through Developmental Services Ontario,” Wood noted.
Still, the uncertainty continues to swirl for agencies over this year’s allotments from the ministry’s $16.7-billion annual budget.
Another provider of services to people with disabilities lamented the excuses emanating from Queen’s Park.
“This is their cover-your-ass message, telling the wimps at the agencies that the budgets are coming and they should stop whining to the likes of you that they can’t help you because they have no money,” said the third source.
“It is meant to shut them up, not solve a problem.”
A parent whose child requires services from an agency that works with the disabled said it was especially galling, given the Ford government’s bungling of the autism file earlier this year.
“It’s adding insult to injury. It’s punitive and incompetent — who gets away with stuff like that in the real world? Can you imagine trying that in (the Ministry of ) Health?” the angry parent said, noting the provincial budget was tabled in April so such delays are difficult to understand.
“We are two weeks from the Labour Day weekend.”
This latest revelation about problems in social services comes after the Progressive Conservative government has gone back to the drawing board on autism program funding after outrage from parents and children following a botched February revamp.
Smith, who was moved into the role in Ford’s June 20 cabinet shuffle in place of Lisa MacLeod, has won praise from some families in the autism community for ensuring that funding levels will remain at historically high levels.