Third Party Wants More, Offers No Solutions

The Provincial Government continues to stress the value and commitment it places on the provision of home support services in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, made these remarks in response to erroneous comments made by the Third Party in the House of Assembly today.

“The NDP are once again trying to create fear and panic among our most vulnerable populations for their own pure political gain, which is irresponsible and reprehensible” said Minister Sullivan. “Our government provides approximately $160 million annually for home support. Last year we provided services to approximately 8,200 home support clients and we will continue to support individuals with home support needs. However, now the Third Party, through its absent fiscal strategy, wants us to pay for wage increases negotiated between private home care businesses and their employees as well as universal home care. I assume they would cover this proposal through their tax and spend initiatives.”

The Provincial Government is not the employer of agency home support workers. These agencies are privately-operated businesses, which are responsible for setting wages for their employees. As part of collective bargaining between a company and its employees, some agencies have negotiated higher rates of hourly pay. The Provincial Government is not a party to these agreements and cannot be responsible for the negotiated terms.

“Home care agencies have indicated that they will continue to honour commitments to clients who already receive home support,” said Minister Sullivan. “For any new clients coming into the system, individuals can avail of services through the self-managed care option or through agencies that are still accepting new clients in receipt of a subsidy. Approximately 50 per cent of our active home support clients use self-managed care which means they hire their own home support worker. My department, through the regional health authorities, will continue to work with clients to match them with home care agencies still taking subsidized clients and support clients’ efforts to recruit their own workers.”

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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca

2013 05 13                                     4:55 p.m.