2010/08/26

Coalition Meets with Ministers - Dalhousie August 23, 2010 - "Let's Put Vision in Seniors' Needs"

A sod-turning ceremony was held for the construction of a new nursing home in Dalhousie. 
The $31.5-million nursing home will have 105 beds. From left : Minister of State for Seniors Cheryl Lavoie; Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault; resident Mary Campbell; advisor Alden Appleby; Chris Kingston, board chair; Marcelle Fafard-Godbout, president, New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes; Dalhousie Mayor Clem Tremblay; Diane Légere, nursing home administrator; and Jacques Boucher, architect.
Seating from left Cecile Cassista, executive director  and Aurele Ferlatte, Past President  met with Minister Don Arsenault and Minister Cheryl Lavoie following the sod turning ceremony to discuss the importance of the Coalition seniors ten point vision.

Minister Arsenault  said that all points were important  however went on to say that it was important to grow the economy. Coalition members raised the concern  that by cutting taxes would  impact on  the reduction of social programs. In order to have good social programs we cannot continue to cut taxes says Aurele Ferlatte.

Cecile Cassista  says that while the liberal government has made significant  improvements for seniors since taking office in 2006, they also have short changed seniors by not addressing the hours of care in  nursing  homes to 3.5 as promised during the election campaign.

The have  introduced a number of user fees that affect seniors directly  including the fee on ambulances. They failed to address the heating program, established  independent Ombudsman office for complaint and investigation and placed restriction on the Veterans Disability pension to be deemed income when it was not service related, this was not a progressive move on their part says Cassista
______________________