LETTER TO CONSERVATIVES

Letter to Candidates for Leader, Provincial Conservative Party

The following is a letter sent to candidates for the leadership of the Provincial Conservative Party, on behalf of OASIS, by (then) President Sue Dolan.

January 16, 2002

The Honourable Chris Stockwell
Minister of Labour
555 Burnhamthorpe Rd., Suite 306
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9C 2Y3

Mr. Ernie Eves
1 Queen St. E., Suite 1800
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 2W5

The Honourable Jim Flaherty
Deputy Premier & Minister of Finance
1 Adelaide St. E., Box 192, Suite 800
Toronto, ON
M5C 2V9
The Honourable Elizabeth Witmer
Minister of Environment
444 Adelaide St. W., 3rd Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 1S7

The Honourable Tony Clement
18 King St. E., 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 1C4

Dear ________:

Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs (OASIS) is a provincial organization with eighty plus member agencies from across Ontario. We were very pleased with the May 9th Budget Speech that announced increased funding for the developmental services sector. The portion of the budget concerning our member agencies reads as follows:

That is why I am announcing that we will invest $67 million over five years to construct new facilities for adults with developmental disabilities. In addition, we will provide $55 million this year, growing to nearly $200 million by 2006-07 to enhance services for people with developmental disabilities and attract more quality caregivers.

Budget highlights: http:www.gov.on.ca/fin/bud01e/bud-highlights-help.htm.

OASIS is asking for a commitment on your part, should you become the elected leader of the provincial Conservative Party, to at a minimum, maintain the delivery of the promised service dollars to this sector.

As a sector, we have been working diligently to deliver quality service to community members with developmental disabilities. At the same time, we have been fighting inflation and increased statutory costs while balancing the ever increasing demands for our services. The additional funds announced in last May’s budget and the recognition of the financial needs of Developmental Services Agencies are considered vital to all OASIS members and the people we deliver services to.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding your personal commitment to the continued flow of the monies designated to the developmental services sector on May 9, 2001.

Sincerely,

ONTARIO AGENCIES SUPPORTING
INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Sue Dolan
President OASIS