October 8, 2009
MLA Rustad Calls on NDP to Quit Rural False Claims & Fear-Mongering

VICTORIA - Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad is not happy with the new low that the NDP have sunk to in exploiting northern and rural children and families.

In the Legislature on October 5, NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis declared the Infant Development Program was being cut and then stated that for rural families, "... there will be no place to go to try and get the kind of support system that families need."

This misinformation was reinforced by northern NDP MLA Gary Coons, who irresponsibly stated: “The loss of the infant development program will be even harder on first nations families and families living in the north."

Even when confronted with the facts, Coons continued fear-mongering by implying the provincial government is "reducing the level of help that special needs families from first nations families and from the north receive."

“The problem with Coons’s statements is that they are completely inaccurate,” says Rustad. “The facts are that there will be no loss of service. There will be no interruption of service for families receiving the infant development program or supported child development program. What bothers me most is that he is exploiting the fears of northern and rural families who depend on these services by telling them that a program is ending when nothing could be further from the truth.

“I have discussed this matter thoroughly with the Minister of Children and Family Development, and I want to make it perfectly clear to the NDP that it is unacceptable to deliberately mislead and exploit some of our most vulnerable families just to score some cheap political points based on false information.

"These reckless and irresponsible comments are untrue and have created a great deal of unnecessary anxiety for families that depend on this service," adds Rustad.

“As always, we are concentrating on direct service to children. The infant development program retains its full budget of $18 million. Furthermore, the supported child development program retains its budget of $57 million,” concludes Rustad.

In a fact-check with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the phasing out of two provincial advisors is the only change regarding these programs. These two positions do not deliver direct services to infants and children. The positions have served as an intermediary between the ministry and service providers, and have helped the ministry build a successful foundation for both the province's Infant Development and Supported Child Development programs.

The Infant Development Program serves children who are at risk for, or who already have, a developmental delay. To date, more than 65,000 infants and their families have participated in the program. Supported Child Development provides a range of consulting and support services to children, families and child care centres so that children with extra support needs can fully participate in child care settings. This program reaches about 9,000 children annually and serves children from birth to age 12, with services for youth 13-19 years available in some communities.

The decision to eliminate the advisor positions is part of government’s effort to reduce administrative costs and invest those dollars where they are needed most - in direct, front-line services for children and families.

Parents can learn more by calling toll-free 1-877-387-7027 from anywhere in the province.

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