Camrose Association
for Community Living

Burgess Building
4604 - 57th Street

Camrose, Alberta
T4V 2E7

Phone: (780) 672-0257
Fax: (780) 672-7484

Fund Development

How does the new Provincial Budget affect CAFCL? 

Many of our partners, supporters, staff and friends  have been asking us how the new provincial budget impacts the work we do here at CAFCL.  The budget announcement was a good news—bad news kind of thing. It depends on how you look at it and how you spin the numbers. 

Service providers across the province  have been working together to advocate  to ensure our programs and services continue for the individuals we serve. As a result of our united advocacy PDD's budget for the forthcoming year is much better than expected.

However, the budget is still less than needed and PDD will have to reduce spending over the next year.  Many budget statements are very misleading to the general public, so we wanted to take the opportunity to clarify how the numbers will affect CAFCL.

The majority of PDD’s (Person's with Developmental Disabilities) program funding comes from the Alberta Government ministry of Seniors and Community Supports. Within that ministry there is a department called PDD. This is where CAFCL receives the majority of our funding to operate our programs and services for the individuals we serve.

Ted Morton (Minister of Finance) announced the Persons With Developmental Disabilities budget would stay the same for the next fiscal year (April 1, 2010 – March 31, 2011) at $597 million. Well that is kind of true— the 2009-2010 budget was originally $604 million but then they changed it to $597 million part way through the year when they changed the pay increases to a one time retention bonus and gave back part of the $604 m pot to the government. Of that $597 m, CAFCL receives about $3m.

The general public hears that the budget stays the same, but in reality it doesn’t. That same money has to pay for more things like:

  • New clients coming into the system (throughout the province this is estimated at 50-100 new people)
  • Annualization of people who came into the system part way through the year last year. E.g. If you moved to Alberta in October - your services would have only been for 5 months of year. If those services cost $1000 per month, they will cost the system $12,000 next year not $5000 like the year before.
  • Provincial government pension plan contribution – in central region it is over $900,000 this year
  • Increases to government worker wages / AUPE settlements

The reality is that in order for PDD to balance their budget that “stays the same”, it will mean that cuts need to be made somewhere. We have been asked by PDD to look at where we could come up with efficiencies that have minimal impact to the individuals we serve. The Alberta Association For Community Living calculates that the $597 million will work out to a cut of about 5% to service providers such as ourselves. 

 These numbers will not change the compassion and professionalism in how our organization will move forward in the work we do. We will continue to work diligently towards ensuring the individuals we serve  receive the support, programming  and services they require and deserve.

What can you do?  Contact your MLA and the Premier. Advocate....make some noise, write letters, join various action groups such as Public Interest Alberta.  Public pressure kept the cuts to our budgets to a minimum so it does work. 

Thank you all for your continued support.


CAFCL is continuing to serach for new and innovative ways to access funding that will allow us to continue the programming and services for our clients.  A new *third party* fundraising program is currently being developed so individuals/organizations from the community be engaged in making a difference in the lives of our clients through their own fundraising project/events! More information will be made available Spring 2010!

If you would like to make a donation to the CAFCL, please drop off or mail to:

Camrose Association For Community Living
Burgess Building
4604 - 57 Street
Camrose, AB  t4V 2E7
 
A charitable receipt will be provided to all of our valued donor's for your contribution.
 
Thank you for your support!