The Progressive Conservative Party has pledged to establish an advocacy office for persons with disabilities, a commitment left unfulfilled by previous Liberal governments. PC Leader Tony Wakeham announced the plan to appoint an independent disability advocate following the unanimous passage of a private member’s resolution in May, which was never implemented.
In a statement at the Geraldine Rubia Centre in St. John’s, Wakeham criticized the Liberals for their failure to act on the initiative, emphasizing the importance of supporting individuals with disabilities. Meanwhile, Liberal Leader John Hogan expressed his party’s commitment to the idea, noting that determining the office’s mandate would require further consideration.
Wakeham outlined plans to swiftly appoint a disability advocate with an initial budget of $400,000, aiming to address the current lack of adequate support for individuals with disabilities. Gary Furlong, president of the Geraldine Rubia Centre, voiced his full support for the initiative, highlighting the need for improved assistance and government engagement for individuals with disabilities.
The proposal resonates with individuals like Petra Sunner, whose son benefits from programs at the Geraldine Rubia Centre. Sunner hopes that the appointment of a disability advocate will facilitate finding suitable living arrangements for her son, emphasizing the importance of consistent and trustworthy care.
In a separate development, NDP Leader Jim Dinn unveiled his party’s platform for seniors, presenting calculators as a symbolic gift to Wakeham and Hogan to aid them in calculating the costs of their campaign promises. Dinn criticized the delays in releasing fully costed platforms by the Liberals and PCs, contrasting it with the NDP’s timely unveiling of their comprehensive financial plan.
Dinn’s platform includes a 25% increase in seniors’ benefits tied to inflation, higher wages for home support workers, and support for Canada’s federal pharmacare program. He urged swift action on pharmacare, citing its economic impact on seniors. The NDP aims to alleviate financial burdens on seniors by ensuring affordable living conditions through their fully costed policies.
The NDP’s focus on seniors stems from their commitment to enhancing the quality of life for those on fixed incomes, particularly addressing the dilemma of choosing between essential needs. Dinn challenged his counterparts to release detailed platforms and costing, symbolically delivering calculators to their headquarters as a reminder of the importance of transparency in campaign promises.
