| MPP
Arnott demands funding increase for KidsAbility
Waterloo-Wellington
MPP Ted Arnott spoke out in the Ontario Legislature
on May 11th, 2004 about how KidsAbility (formerly known
as the Rotary Children’s Centre) needs additional government
funding to serve the needs of disabled children. KidsAbility
is a children’s treatment centre with locations in Waterloo,
Fergus, Guelph and Cambridge. Children’s treatment centres
across the province are facing similar funding challenges.
Mr
Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): Today I'm following
up on the recent comments of the member for Kitchener-Waterloo
in support of the KidsAbility Centre for Child Development.
Earlier this year I met with staff from KidsAbility,
and today I raise their concerns as Conservative advocate
for children and youth services.
During
the election, the Liberals sold themselves as the compassionate
choice. They cared more, they claimed. In the hundreds
of promises they made, they committed to doing a better
job of managing provincial finances, setting priorities
and allocating resources to funding partners who provide
important services. But unless the government acts soon,
underfunding of KidsAbility will be living proof that
the Liberals are failing to meet the higher standard
of compassion they claimed they would establish.
The
House has already been informed that funding for KidsAbility
doubled under the Conservative government. However,
unless the funding crisis that KidsAbility is facing
is addressed by the government, the number of children
on the waiting list who need treatment could increase
to 1,335 children, according to a recent report in the
K-W Record.
If
the government is callous and ignores the legitimate
funding needs of KidsAbility and treatment centres like
it across the province, then children with cerebral
palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome
and communication disorders will pay the price.
This
should be unacceptable to all in this House. These kids
truly can't wait. If the coming budget doesn't address
their needs, the government will demonstrate not a compassionate
heart, but a heart as cold as ice.
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