01 March 2011
End Time Limits on Temporary Care Assistance
Miller demands McGuinty Liberals listen to tribunal, end penalties on grandparents

QUEEN'S PARK—This morning in Question Period, NDP MPP Paul Miller demanded that the McGuinty Liberals finally fix the definition of the word “Temporary” in the Temporary Care Assistance programme, which provides funds for grandparents raising their grandchildren.

“The original intent of the program was that there be no time limits set on the availability of Temporary Care Assistance. The term ‘Temporary’ is being used by the government to cut off funding,” said Miller.

“For the past three years I have been raising this unconscionable situation and the cruel results of this government’s misinterpretation of the term 'Temporary.' Grandparents and the grandchildren they are raising, have sat in the Legislature to show this government the real people who are suffering,” fumed Miller.

“Now that the government’s own appointed appeal body, the Social Benefits Tribunal has ruled in favour of the grandparents in two cases, the government must listen and finally fix this egregious situation,” stormed Miller.

Rather than respond to Miller’s questions, the Minister played the blame game by saying that Miller wants grandparents’ receiving Temporary Care Assistance to be means-tested. “The only MPP using that terminology, or even thinking that, is this Minister, which makes me concerned about what she and her Liberal colleagues really have in store for these unsung heroes, these grandparents who step-up-to-the-plate, who set their retirement aside to care for their grandchildren,” said a saddened Miller.

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Media Contact: Paul Miller (416) 325-0707

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