Wall Announces Steps to Protect Vulnerable Children, Women and Seniors
Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall has announced the steps a Saskatchewan Party government would take to protect and improve the lives of women and children at risk of sexual assault and abuse, seniors, and at-risk children.
Some of the highlights announced include:
• A 25% increase in funding to transition houses and sexual assault centres;
• A Special Committee to discuss further action to prevent the abuse and exploitation of children through the sex trade;
• $2 million to support for school lunch and anti-hunger programs;
• Legislation that will protect seniors and other individuals in long-term care; and,
• Further authority given to the Children’s Advocate.
“Saskatchewan has the highest rate of sexual assaults per capita in the country as well as among the highest rates of spousal homicide in Canada,” Wall said. “Under the Calvert NDP food bank usage in Saskatchewan has increased by 95% and nearly half of those using food banks are children.”
“The Saskatchewan Party has also been pushing for tougher measures to protect the abuse and exploitation of children through the sex trade since 2002. Five years later, children at-risk are still not receiving the level of protection they need. It’s time for some concrete, realistic steps to be taken.”
To protect seniors, a Saskatchewan Party government will introduce legislation that requires protective services professionals such as doctors, nurses and social workers to report suspected cases of physical and psychological abuse of seniors to the police. The ‘Act to Protect Persons in Care’ will assist in the protection of all individuals in long-term care facilities, requiring suspected cases of abuse to be reported to the Minister, the police, or a proper authority.
Wall announced in August that a Saskatchewan Party government would provide an additional $20 million long-term, stable funding for Community Based Organizations (CBOs), while increasing the level of accountability to the public. Also announced at the time was a summit of CBOs within the first six months of office to assist in developing the province’s social policy direction.
“A Saskatchewan Party government is committed to assisting those in our society that need help the most,” Wall said.
Background Information
Click here for complete background information on the Saskatchewan Party's plan to protect seniors, women and children; as well as to provide reliable, long-term funding for Community Based Organizations.
Response from the Saskatchewan Association of Sexual Assault Services
Click here for a news release issued by SASS in response to this announcement.
For more information, Saskatchewan Party, Regina, 359-1638 or 1-800-966-9611.