FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 24, 2005
OPSEU applauds plans for Oaklands Regional Centre
TORONTO-Today’s announcement about the transformation of Oaklands Regional Centre is a good first step for people with developmental disabilities, Ontario Public Services Employees Union president Leah Casselman says.
“The changes can be good ones, provided the Minister takes advantage of the highly skilled staff at Oaklands, and backs them up with the additional funding needed,” Casselman said.
Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello announced today that Oaklands Regional Centre will remain open.
“I’m relieved,” said OPSEU Local 249 president Sue Walker, a vocational support worker at Oaklands. “It’s been hard on staff to deal with an uncertain future. Now we can move forward and focus on caring for our clients. I just hope the Minister follows the Coroner’s recommendations and provides the necessary funding.”
Plans for Oaklands echo much of the recommendations in OPSEU’s Centres of Excellence report submitted to the Minister back in March.
“The Ministry is on the right track, but Oaklands is only one part of what is needed to serve the entire province,” said Casselman. “The Minister needs to provide additional resources to community agencies, and to reconsider plans to close the three provincially run Regional Centres. The centres should undergo the same
transformation so that people with serious developmental disabilities can access the specialized services they need outside the GTA.”
The Centres of Excellence report was written in consultation with developmental service workers in both the community and the Regional Centres. A full version of the report is available at <www.opseu.org>.
OPSEU represents more than 8,000 workers who care for people with developmental disabilities in 65 community agencies and three provincially-run facilities.
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For more information, please contact:
Sarah Jordison, OPSEU Communications: 416-453-8049
Sue Walker, President, OPSEU Local 249, Oaklands Regional Centre: 289-260-5915
