For
Immediate Release
December 15, 2005
Sterling demands McGuinty Government respect the wishes of Rideau Regional Residents and their families
Queen’s Park, Toronto - Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling yesterday told members of the Legislative Assembly that the McGuinty government must stop fighting the families of residents of Rideau Regional Centre, Huronia Regional Centre and Southwest Regional Centre and respect their wishes that their loved ones be allowed to continue to live in those facilities.
“The provincial government does not know what is best for these individuals,” said Mr. Sterling. “Their families are the best people to make these decisions and the government should allow them to do that.”
Mr. Sterling’s statement in the Legislature yesterday followed Tuesday’s court proceedings in Ottawa resulting from a class action law suit brought against the province by the families of the residents of R.R.C. and the other facilities. The court extended the injunction preventing the Ministry of Community and Social Services from moving residents from the facilities without the consent of the resident or their family until 30 days after the case is decided.
Today Mr. Sterling reinforced his and others opposition to the closures by introducing another petition calling on the government to keep the Rideau Regional Centre open. Over the past year Mr. Sterling has introduced petitions containing more than 12,000 signatures.
“I have received, and I know both the Premier and the Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello have received, innumerable letters from elderly parents of these residents describing their fear about what will happen to their children,” said Mr. Sterling. “These parents are not able to care for their children, many who have lived in R.R.C. all of their adult lives and who know no other home. I am disappointed that despite the efforts of supporters of R.R.C. and the two other facilities, this government did not make any indication that it would review its decision during this session of the Legislature.”
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For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900