The many people on the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program are just a portion of Saskatchewan’s most vulnerable who has been hurt by the Sask. Party’s cuts. The Sask. Party’s changes to the SAID program negatively affected hundreds, and left them to pay for the mismanagement of the Sask. Party.
“I have heard from so many throughout the province who are struggling to make ends meet, or had their medical needs worsen because of the cuts made by the Sask. Party,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “The Sask. Party needs to understand that these cuts are harmful to not only the people affected by them, but to the whole province as well.”
One of the several hundred SAID recipients affected by the Sask. Party’s changes to the diet benefit is Charmaine Hartt. She suffers from a spinal cord injury and fibromyalgia, and requires a special diet. The Sask. Party will only provide her $150 per month for her diet, but a letter from her dietician shows that it’s not nearly enough.
“I feel like I’ve had to jump through so many hoops to get to this point, and now to be told that I won’t get the funding I need for my special diet really hurts,” Hartt said. “I know I’m not the only one who hasn’t been able to get full access to my dietary needs because of funding cuts. I feel I need to speak up on behalf of all them because this isn’t right.”
“These Sask. Party cuts are forcing people to choose between paying their rent and paying for food,” Meili said. “When people with complex needs don’t get the proper access to the diets they need, their conditions only worsen and that puts more strain on the province. It’s important to have the proper funds in place to help these people because when people stay healthy, everyone in the province does better.”