N.S. given mixed review on overhaul of housing for people with disabilities
However, Michael Prince also notes in his second annual report that the government is "heading in the wrong direction" on other portions of its response to a legally binding human rights decision.
In his conclusion to the 55-page report, Prince wrote the province is "gaining traction," and moving toward meeting the program's 2028 deadlines on 24 of the 90 legally required steps, but added it is "not yet advancing consistently and comprehensively toward the outcomes."
The province's five-year plan — referred to by the Disability Rights Coalition and the province as "the remedy" — is the result of a 2021 Appeal Court decision that identified systemic discrimination against people with disabilities seeking housing and supports in the community.
A human rights board of inquiry subsequently provided the list of reforms required to address the province's shortcomings.
Prince, a professor of social policy at the University of Victoria, was appointed in 2023 to provide annual reports on the province's progress.
2028 goal
Under the provincial plan, 400 people are expected to be moved into new housing and care programs in the communities of their choice by 2028, when all of the institutions would be closed.
Last year, Prince's report found the province made only "slight progress" — defined as "minimal" and "marginal in result" — on almost half of the 90 legally required steps to improve housing and support of people with disabilities.
The latest report says the number of people living in institutions dropped by 189 — about three-quarters of the original plan's goal for this year.
In addition, the number of people on a waitlist to receive some form of service from the disability supports program has fallen by 293, exceeding the target for this year. In 2022, the list had about 1,800 people on it.
However, Prince also notes that in some areas the figures are going in the opposite direction.
One example is a program called "homeshare" — where community members share their home and provide support to individuals with disabilities who choose to live with them.
'A case of inaction'
The monitor called this "a case of inaction," in that none of the planned 240 homeshare places planned for by now are yet in place. Prince said in his report this poses a risk to the successful transition of about 400 residents in large facilities to community housing.
In addition, the number of people with disabilities who are under 65 still living in nursing homes rose, and there was a sharp increase in people placed in emergency, temporary housing arrangements.
"The increase amounted to 52 more young people admitted to long-term care facilities or 12 per cent growth. It is hard to square these results with the province's assessment of this requirement as complete. This appears to be unnecessary institutionalization, imposing disadvantages on the individuals concerned," wrote Prince.
Prince also noted that only about a third of new staff — 26 of the 65 expected by Year 2 — slated to provide "intensive" support to help people move were in place. In addition, only about half of the 50 staff slated to provide support in communities by Year 2 were in place.
However, the monitor saw improvements in this area from the last year, and noted that by the spring of 2026, the province anticipates a "targeted recruitment campaign" over this summer will yield results.
The province has pointed to labour shortages in the health-care sector as being among the key reasons for the delays in hiring.
Co-operation needed
The annual report emphasized the need for the province to heighten a focus on co-operation among various departments and programs to provide support for people moving from facilities into the community.
That co-operation will be crucial in setting up mental health support programs in the community, along with rapid response teams for issues that may arise for people who are living in new forms of housing, says the report.
Prince wrote that he believes the premier's office and key cabinet ministers should be more involved in ensuring that various, multidisciplinary support teams start being set up.
"Making the remedy a major policy priority requires sustained strategic involvement by key cabinet ministers and the premier's office," he wrote.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
21 minutes ago
- CBC
Manitoba Indigenous groups unite, ink infrastructure and development agreement
Social Sharing Two Indigenous groups in Manitoba have agreed to work together on major infrastructure and development projects. The agreement comes as the federal government looks to fast-track projects across the country. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations in the province, and the Manitoba Metis Federation have signed a five-year agreement. It outlines their shared commitment to ensure First Nations and Red River Metis voices are included in the approval of any project proposed by the Manitoba government and supported by federal legislation. A new federal law gives Ottawa sweeping powers to speed up permits for what it calls "nation-building projects." The Southern Chiefs' Organization and the Manitoba Metis Federation say they'll work together to pursue Indigenous-led developments in areas including forestry, harvesting and traditional economies. The Manitoba government is also exploring how it would create and operate a proposed Crown-Indigenous corporation. "This agreement sends a message to all governments, partners and industry that First Nations and the Red River Metis are working together to shape a future that is led by Indigenous nations," Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs' Organization said Wednesday. "We are forging a path towards economic independence and sustainability, ensuring the voices of First Nations and Red River Metis are integral to the design, approval and implementation of nation-building projects across this province." Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the legislation is needed to shore up Canada's economy during the trade war with the United States. Ottawa has also promised to build up northern infrastructure, in part, to meet a NATO military alliance spending target for critical infrastructure. It's unknown which projects could be fast-tracked, but the government has pointed to ports, railways and pipelines. Carney recently met with First Nations, Inuit and Metis groups to discuss how best to build projects in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. The Manitoba Metis Federation turned down Carney's invitation to discuss the legislation, after Ottawa invited another Metis group the federation claims has no reason to exist. Other Metis groups and First Nations say communities represented by the Metis Nation of Ontario have no claim to Metis heritage and that Ottawa and Ontario have no right to recognize them. Manitoba Metis Federation president David Chartrand said the legislation must move forward, as Canada deals with ongoing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. "There's not a doubt it must arrive, because the danger that Trump imposes on all of us is very scary ... this is an economic war, and people should not take it lightly," he said Wednesday.
CTV News
39 minutes ago
- CTV News
Ontario finance minister hopes $1B loan program provides ‘certainty' to industries hit by trade war
Ontario finance minister hopes $1B loan program provides 'certainty' to industries hit by trade war Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy speaks to CP24 about the $1B loan program as a response to U.S. tariffs.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Mexico says 26 capos extradited to U.S. were requested by Trump administration
Mexican Security and Citizen Protection Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch gives a news conference about Mexico having sent 29 Mexican drug cartel figures to the U.S., in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) MEXICO CITY — Mexico sent 26 alleged cartel figures to face justice in the United States because the Trump administration requested them and Mexico did not want them to continue running their illicit businesses from Mexican prisons, officials said Wednesday. The mass transfer was not, however, part of wider negotiations as Mexico seeks to avoid higher tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, they said. 'These transfers are not only a strategic measure to ensure public safety, but also reflect a firm determination to prevent these criminals from continuing to operate from within prisons and to break up their networks of influence,' Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said in a news conference on Wednesday. The 26 prisoners handed over to American authorities on Tuesday included figures aligned with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel among others. They were wanted by American authorities for their roles in drug trafficking and other crimes. It comes months after 29 other cartel leaders were sent to the U.S. in February. In the exchange, the U.S. Justice Department promised it would not seek the death penalty against any of the 55 people included in the two transfers, which experts say may help avoid any violent outburst by the cartels in response. Authorities said the operation involved nearly a thousand law enforcement officers, 90 vehicles and a dozen military aircraft. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said earlier Wednesday that the transfers were 'sovereign decisions,' but the move comes as the Mexican leader faces mounting pressure by the Trump administration to crack down on cartels and fentanyl production. García Harfuch also confirmed Wednesday that a U.S. government drone — non-military — was flying over central Mexico, but at the request of Mexican authorities as part of an ongoing investigation. So far, Sheinbaum has tried to show the Trump administration a greater willingness to pursue the cartels than her predecessor — a change that has been acknowledged by U.S. officials — and continued to slow migration to the U.S. border, in an effort to avoid the worst of Trump's tariff threats. Two weeks ago, the two leaders spoke and agreed to give their teams another 90 days to negotiate to avoid threatened 30 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico. 'Little by little, Mexico is following through with this demand by the Americans to deliver drug capos,' said Mexican security analyst David Saucedo. 'It's buying (the Mexican government) time.' Saucedo said the Mexican government has been able to avoid a burst of violence by cartels – a reaction often seen when capos are captured – in part, because Ovidio Guzmán, a son of infamous capo Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, showed it's possible to negotiate with U.S. prosecutors. Ovidio Guzmán pleaded guilty last month to drug trafficking and other charges and hopes for a lighter sentence in exchange for his co-operation. But Saucedo warned that if such mass prisoner transfers continue, the Latin American country is bound to see another outburst of violence in the future. Fabiola Sánchez And Megan Janetsky, The Associated Press
