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COMMUNITY: More than $252 million for social programs in Budget 2008
        (AlbertaIndex, May 2, Friday) --- The Alberta government has allocated more than S$252 million in Budget 2008 to improve care services for families, provide for more seniors and families with affordable and safe places to live, and help improve Albertans’ quality of life.
        An investment of $76 million will support the creation of 14,000 new child care spaces by 2011 and provide low and middle-income Albertans with a subsidy for out-of-school care programs.  The funding boost brings the total allotted to supporting quality, affordable child care to almost $197 million in 2008-09.

To help them remain competitive in a tight labour market, $41 million more is being provided to support contracted agencies ($11 million for agencies serving children and families, and $30 million for persons with developmental disabilities) so they can recruit and retain staff and continue to care for people.

Another $1.7 million will be allotted for increasing the number of beds available in women’s emergency shelters across the province to help ensure Albertans affected by family violence get the critical support they need.

“Solutions are in communities.  We work with community partners to build strong children, youth and families,” said Janis Tarchuk, Minister of Children and Youth Services.

For seniors and persons with disabilities who are no longer able to live in their own homes, supportive living facilities provide a home-like setting with a range of housekeeping, meal, and personal services. Funding for affordable supportive living will be $80 million in 2008-09, which will enable the construction of 800 affordable supportive living units.

An additional $16 million will support seniors lodge modernization and improvements.  The Seniors Lodge Assistance program will total $32 million in 2008-09 to help lodge operators support lower-income seniors.

Newcomers will receive $15.3 million for language and skills training and settlement services to enable them to work and live in Alberta.  New initiatives will market the province as a destination of choice for workers and help increase the number of workers under the Provincial Nominee Program to 3,000 by 2009.

“Attracting people from beyond our borders is an important part of our plan to deal with labour force pressures,” said Employment and Immigration Minister Hector Goudreau. “We want the right services to be in place to help people adapt to life in a new community.”  

An additional $13 million investment will support a 10-year plan to reduce the number of babies born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and help those affected to enjoy productive lives.

Funding will increase by $3.5 million to a total of $75 million for the Family and Community Support Services program, a cost-sharing partnership with municipalities and Métis settlements to support preventive social programs that meet local needs, such as keeping seniors active and healthy, helping families deal with conflict, and keeping people connected to their communities.

Funding for Alberta’s seniors assistance programs will total more than $406 million in 2008-09, an increase of 12.3 per cent including Alberta Seniors Benefits monthly supplements, and assistance with dental and optical care and home repairs for more lower-income seniors.

Benefits under the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program increased January 1, 2008 to $1,088 per month. This fiscal year, $666 million is budgeted for the program, an increase of $64 million or 10.7 per cent over last year, which will also help accommodate additional client caseloads.

“Our government is committed to protecting Albertans who are most in need.  My ministry continues to offer some of the best seniors and persons with disabilities programs in Canada,” said Mary Anne Jablonski, Minister of Seniors and Community Supports.


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