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As you may have heard, if you listened or read the 2023/24 Manitoba Budget, Community Living Disability Services received the largest increase to its budget since the inception in the 1960's. The budget outlines more than $81 million to the service providers of Community Living disABILITY Services and Children's disABILITY Services to raise the average funded wage rate to $19 per hour. This represents a 19% increase to the overall budget.

This announcement is a culmination of years of consistent and persistent advocacy by many advocacy groups, organizations and individuals.Be proud that your intentional and determined advocacy is beginning to pay off. 

There are lots of details to be addressed, timelines, what exactly the funding will look like and the process for this change to be implemented. Even with the details needing clarification so we can fully understand this announcement, this is unequivocally an exceptional and positive day that will result in significant improvements for Manitobans with intellectual disabilities and their families.

From the Budget Speech:

"We have heard from Abilities Manitoba and other organizations that these historically low wages hurt the quality of care for people with intellectual disabilities. We are taking action with $81 million to establish an average funded wage of $19 per hour for all disability service workers funded by our government. We have heard the sector loud and clear. Madam Speaker, we are investing over $640 million in the disability services this year. We are providing help for more Manitobans with disabilities that ever before."

 

From the Budget Papers:

This investment represents a 19% increase from the previous year and is the largest single investment in Community Living disABILITY Services since the program’s inception and includes:

• $79.7-million earmarked for increasing the funded wage rate from $15.11 per hour to $19 per hour for frontline residential, respite and day service workers providing Community Living disABILITY Services;

• $2-million earmarked for increasing the funded wage to $19 per hour for front-line workers providing Children’s disABILITY Services; and

• $21.4-million to expand the capacity of the Community Living disABILITY Services program to support new entrants."

 

You can view the full budget here

 

Thank you for your tireless efforts to raise awareness and impact change.

Today is a day to celebrate!

 

- Margo Powell and The Abilities Manitoba Team