While I welcomed Joan Burke’s pre-budget announcement of $6.5 million to support some people with disabilities, I have to say the provincial government needs to follow other provincial jurisdictions and have an assistive devices program set up whereby people can have acess to affordable medical supplies, like ostomy supplies, hearing aids, mobility aids, wheelchairs, visual aids, respiratory supplies and so on. Not everybody is eligible for the Special Needs Program. The government talks about reducing poverty — they should give all people who require assistive devices a hand up, especially those of us who do not qualify for Special Needs nor social assistance. As I used to tell the provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy officials, anyone receiving Canada Pension Plan disability pension, regardless of income, should be allowed full coverage of their drug costs and home care and be provided with affordable, accessible housing and so on from our provincial government.
Edward Sawdon
St. John’s
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