Dear Editor:
RE: Day program closures, Nov. 16.
I would like to further comment on Linda Devries’ letter, along with the many other community members who have written to share their concerns about the closure of Community Living Guelph Wellington’s (CLGW) day programs.
We, at Compass Community Services, are already seeing the effects of the announced closures and have little to offer families due to lack of programming and services in our area. This closure is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to developmental services challenges in this province – there is a very long priority list.
I cannot speak for CLGW, however as executive director of Compass, the 36-year-young agency serving our incredible adults and children/youth with intellectual (dis)abilities, I can speak to the lack of funding from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS).
Compass is accountable for offering provincially funded programs and services with MCCSS, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Attorney General. Up to the end of our last fiscal year, April 2023, Compass received a total of a 6% increase in base funding over the past decade from all three ministries combined. This averages out to a 0.6% increase per year. There is no fat to lose, no bone left to cut and most agencies in the province are in the same position. There is nothing left to but to terminate programs and services; and, increase wait times.
We continue to advocate, as our clients and families do, with both MPPs Ted Arnott and Mike Schreiner who are in our communities’ corner. We have met with Minster Parsa’s senior staff and documented the challenges but to no avail.
Agencies across this province continue to advocate but to no avail. It’s no longer raining cats and dogs, it’s raining elephants.
Joanne Young Evans,
Executive director,
Compass Community Services