NONPOLITICAL STATEMENT

Coalition for Children Living in the Community

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): May I have leave, Madam Speaker, to make a nonpolitical announcement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Osborne have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Ms. McGifford: Madam Speaker, on February 25, the member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale) and I attended the second annual public meeting of Coalition for Children Living in the Community. The coalition is comprised of 15 representatives of community organizations which provide services and supports for the disabled and individuals with special needs. About 75 people attended the meeting, most of whom were parents of very special children.

The meeting included about 10 testimonials from parents in which they outlined which programs were working and which were not working for their children. The overriding theme, not surprising considering the coalition's title, was the determination to keep children at home and in the community and the struggle this determination often means. Parents talked about respite services and the accompanying difficulty of untrained workers. Parents worried about a possible return to segregation in schools, about overtaxed teachers and about the particular difficulties of care and support in summer. One parent eloquently and touchingly spoke about the labels parents are often forced to use to access monies for their children. She described these labels as disgusting to children and painfully humiliating to parents.

The coalition understood that their issues require public policy responses in partnerships with community, family and government, and we owe them no less. Surely all members of the House will join me in recognizing the courage, insight and knowledge that this coalition brings to our community in acknowledging the very special compassionate commitment these parents have made to their very special children. Thank you.