EMOTIONAL APPEAL
Protesters condemn cuts to disability benefits
Drizzle from a cheerless grey sky fell on an emotional crowd of more than 100 people who gathered at Saskatoon’s city hall square to protest pending government changes to disability benefits.
Tears streamed down the faces of some; others shouted their disgust at the provincial government, while people who may be affected shared their testimonies.
“I’m not dead yet. I still have a lot to give back. Please allow me to do that,” said 52-year-old Roberta Fehr, who told reporters she struggles with a long list of ailments including diabetes, asthma, leukemia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
If the cutbacks proceed, $220 will need to come out of her food budget to cover her rent, she said.
“If you guys can give yourself increases and bail out big companies, why can’t you bail out me?” she asked of the provincial government, her voice wavering as she held back tears.
Charmaine Gallant, 40, said she suffers from bi-polar disorder and will lose $200 per month in benefits if the proposed cutbacks go through.
“People care about me very, very much, and they pray for me every day that I’m going to be succeeding and not on the street and homeless,” she said.
“The program was supposed to help us buy groceries, pay our bills, the extra money that we don’t have.”
She said she hopes and prays nobody will resort to drug abuse or become suicidal because of circumstances they might find themselves in if the changes proceed.
Then-Social Services minister Donna Harpauer announced a list of changes to Social Services benefits earlier this month. The changes were expected to reduce monthly payment amounts for about 2,700 people.
Less than a week later, Harpauer announced that the changes would not be put into effect as originally scheduled (split between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1), but will be slowed to allow affected clients time to discuss their cases with Social Services.
Following the recent cabinet shuffle, Premier Brad Wall told reporters he’d asked newly appointed Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor to take another look at the “streamlining ” of funding.
“I cannot speak to any specific directions or initiatives pertaining to such changes,” Beaudry-Mellor said in an email to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix on Thursday, indicating she needed time to make an informed decision and that the changes are currently “on pause.”
Putting the cutbacks on pause is not enough, Saskatchewan NDP Opposition Leader Trent Wotherspoon said.
“The people all across Saskatchewan without peace of mind, security and dignity, without knowing whether they’re going to be in their homes, deserve some assurances,” he said.
Wotherspoon said the NDP will use “every tool” at its disposal to rally Saskatchewan people and call for Premier Brad Wall to “get rid of his callous cuts.”
The program was supposed to help us buy groceries, pay our bills, the extra money that we don’t have.