News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government is increasing its investment in senior care and other social programs for persons with disabilities, committing $1.16 billion in 2016-17, up $50.7 million from the previous fiscal year.

Social Development Minister Cathy Rogers made the announcement today as she tabled the department’s budget estimates for the next fiscal year.

“This budget is a reflection of our government’s commitment to enhance services available to seniors, children, families and people with disabilities,” said Rogers.

The newly-created Council on Aging will begin its work to develop, in collaboration with the government and its community partners, an aging strategy that is based on the provincial government’s vision for excellence on aging.

“The members of the council represent a range of perspectives, and they are committed to the kind of innovative thinking and change that our approach to aging and long-term care system need,” said Rogers. “New Brunswick is facing challenges with its increasingly aged population and the new aging strategy has the potential to position the province as a leader in care for the aged.”

The work of the council and the aging strategy will also build on the success of the initiatives already started in senior care.

The department will invest an additional $5.5 million for the provincewide expansion of the rapid rehabilitation and reablement initiative.

This program helps seniors leave the hospital sooner than otherwise, or avoid hospitalization altogether, by offering intensive rehabilitation and reablement services in the community or at home.

The department will invest an additional $1 million in the provincewide expansion of the Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS) and related initiatives aimed at strengthening person-centred care.

The department will invest $10 million to increase the per diems to special care homes and memory care homes, the hourly rate paid to family support agencies and the grants to Adult Developmental Activities, Programs and Training (ADAPT) agencies.

These increases will allow for a $1 per hour wage raise for these workers. The increase will come into effect on April 1.

“We respect the hard work, dedication and commitment of human services sector workers in caring for the province’s most vulnerable,” Rogers said. “I am pleased we will be providing these workers with an increase in their wages.”

The department will invest $56,000 to develop a tax credit of up to $10,000 for eligible adoption expenses.

“Our government believes in families,” Rogers said. “We want our province to be the best place in which to raise a family. I am pleased we are moving forward with our commitment to help more New Brunswickers become parents by offering assistance to offset the costs of adoption expenses.”

As part of the provincial government’s commitment to ensure the positive growth and development of at-risk children and youth, the department has allotted $328,000 to expand the Integrated Service Delivery framework to three regions.

On April 1, the department will create 30 new portable rent subsidies for people with disabilities. These monthly subsidies will help people with disabilities obtain affordable, adequate and suitable rental accommodations of their choice.

Portable rent supplements are assigned to a person rather than to a landlord. The program’s main objective is to provide eligible individuals the freedom to choose housing that meets their specific needs.

The department will work closely with all eight regions to determine the provincial distribution of these subsidies. Allocations will be based on a case-by-case basis and need.

“I am proud that the Department of Social Development’s budget includes important investments that will enable it to move forward in its mission to be a client-focused organization that helps the most vulnerable in our society,” Rogers said.