PDD Funding, continued (February 24)
Ms Pastoor: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Madam Minister. I think we understand the difference between what they do, the care that they deliver, but I think the question was: what is the discrepancy between being able to run boards with volunteers and actually having to pay $915,000 for board governance?
My next question would be: with the estimates and target budget of 2010-11 and 2011-12 being the same as the 2009-10 forecast of $597 million . . .
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I would like to say is that because this program is so important to this government, we want to make sure that the program is very consistent throughout the province. We want to make sure that there’s clarity in the program.
We want to make sure that there’s efficiency and effectiveness, especially effectiveness, to the services that we provide. The most important things besides all of those is that this program is sustainable now and into the future. So we have a plan in place. It’s our six-priority action plan, which we have travelled across the province and talked to people about to make this an even better program.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the budget debate the minister of seniors stated that they were projecting PDD clients to increase from 50 to 100 people in the coming year. How does the minister expect to deal with the AUPE increases, annualized cost for individuals who have come into the service and that the budget is still being held at the ’09-10 rate?
Mrs. Jablonski: Mr. Speaker, the member across is absolutely correct when she says that our budget remains level. I think that’s a wonderful accomplishment considering what’s happening in these times. We are always looking for efficiencies in our program so that we can support our people with developmental disabilities, so we will be looking for those efficiencies, and any savings that we find within my ministry will go directly to the front line for people with disabilities.
Alberta Hansard, February 24, 2010