For Immediate Release
May 1, 2006

No Meeting – No help for Smiths Falls

Minister ignores Sterling ’s calls to meet with families of RRC residents and produce plan to help Smiths Falls deal with the closure

Queen’s Park, Toronto – Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling is disappointed that new Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur would not commit to meet with the Rideau Regional Centre Association despite her plan to visit the facility in Smiths Falls this Friday, May 5, 2006.  The Association, which represents the families of residents, wrote to the Minister asking for a meeting two weeks ago and Mr. Sterling used today’s Question Period to follow up on the request.   

Mr. Sterling then asked the Minister when she would live up to her predecessor’s promise to work with other Ministries to help communities deal with the job losses that will result when the three Regional Centres including RRC are closed in 2009.  The Minister, who was appointed to this portfolio on April 5 of this year, instead of addressing the issue raised, recited the government line that the Regional Centre closures were initiated many years ago. 

“RRC employees 840 people,” said Mr. Sterling.  “For a town of 9,000 that is already recovering from the layoffs of 100 people by two local industries, this closure will be devastating.  This government promised to help Smiths Falls deal with the closure but so far no help has been forthcoming.”

“The government has yet to demonstrate to the families of the residents that it has a competent plan for the future of the severely disabled adults still housed in these facilities,” said Mr. Sterling.  “Nor has this government produced a plan to help the communities.  In this case like in so many others, the McGuinty government has no plan.  Unfortunately the victims of their lack of planning are not only the vulnerable residents of Rideau Regional Centre, but also the community of Smiths Falls .”

RRC houses approximately 400 severely developmentally disabled adults, many of whom have lived there for forty years or more.  Former Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello announced on September 9, 2004 that this facility and two others would close permanently in 2009.  Despite heart-wrenching letters and petitions from family members of the residents and questions from Mr. Sterling and other opposition members, the McGuinty government refuses to reconsider this decision.

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For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900