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News
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More office reorganization at HRLE coming Opposition wants reversal of policy direction October 4, 2005
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Roland Butler, Opposition Human Resources, Labour and Employment Critic and
MHA for the District of Port de Grave, is calling on Minister Joan Burke to
cancel further service cuts planned for offices in rural locations around
the province. "Despite reassurances from the Minister earlier this year that further service cuts would not occur, it has been brought to my attention that there will be another round of service cuts which will impact on people with income support problems who utilize the office in Carbonear and other offices on the Avalon peninsula," said Butler. "While these offices may remain open in some form, they will not provide the same level of service now being offered to clients." Butler says the Minister has not been able to supply any real evidence that the office closures have saved money. "During the budget estimate meetings, we asked questions about savings realized from these drastic cuts to services and the Minister was not able to prove that any money had been saved. She was also unable to provide any information regarding how the overall operation of the department had been impacted by the office closures. For example, she was unable to indicate if travel claims had increased." Butler says he is also concerned that the services available to people on income support is suffering. "I challenge the Minister to bring forward any evidence she has to show that changes she has made are having a positive impact. For example, are more people taking training and then moving permanently off income support? When the original cuts were made and offices closed, the Minister claimed the changes were an improvement and I think she should now provide the evidence to support that assertion. It is now obvious to me that these cuts were made without taking into account how they would impact social assistance clients." On May 11, 2004 government issued a news release confirming they would close offices in: Bay Roberts, Conception Bay South, Ferryland, St. Mary’s, Whitbourne, Bay L’Argent, Botwood, Gambo, Grand Bank, Harbour Breton, Fogo, Wesleyville, Bonne Bay, Burgeo, Englee, Deer Lake, Piccadilly, Stephenville Crossing, Cartwright and Forteau. In the House of Assembly at that time the Minister justified the cuts government made by saying technology and transportation networks having improved and such offices were no longer necessary. The Minister and her support staff denied that there would be further cuts to service. |
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