November 25, 2011

PROVINCE ANNOUNCES HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT AGAINST MANITOBA DEVELOPMENTAL CENTRE SETTLED

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Planning for Future of Centre Underway: Mackintosh

The Province of Manitoba, Community Living Manitoba (CLM) and the Manitoba Office of the Public Trustee have agreed to a mediated settlement that resolves a human rights complaint involving the Manitoba Developmental Centre (MDC), Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
“We believe this agreement supports the right of residents at MDC to choose to live in the environment that best suits them, reaffirming some of the core goals of our services to adults with intellectual disabilities,” said Mackintosh.  “We look forward to working closely with CLM to explore the option of community living for those residents who are interested, while continuing to offer the best quality care to those residents who remain at MDC as it moves from a traditional institution setting to a new focus on outreach services and continued specialized residential services.”
     The province and the public trustee have always maintained the personal choice of the resident and/or their substitute decision-maker is paramount in considering any change to care or living arrangements, Mackintosh said, adding the government remains committed to ensuring the best possible residential settings for persons with intellectual disabilities including those at MDC.
Highlights of the settlement include:

• about 16 MDC residents who have indicated a wish to live in the community will be transitioned in each of the next three years;
• government and CLM will work together to ensure all MDC residents, their families and/or substitute decision-makers have information that enables them to make informed choices about opportunities to live in the community;
• the province will support the transition of any additional individuals who indicate a wish to move from MDC to the community in the future; and
• a committee will be set up to monitor progress on the terms of this settlement and will include representation from the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

In June of this year, the province announced an advisory committee would work on a new, long-term plan for MDC with a focus on determining how it can be redeveloped to provide specialized services including options for crisis stabilization, respite, day and residential supports, and community services and remain a vibrant employer in the Portage la Prairie area, Mackintosh said.  This would include the development of homes in the Portage la Prairie area so individuals could move out of the centre and choose to access MDC for professional services like day programming and recreation.
This committee is made up of many stakeholders such as the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, an MDC employee representative, the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie, the City of Portage la Prairie, Friends of MDC, a family member of an MDC resident, Community Living – Winnipeg, People First of Manitoba, New Directions, the Manitoba Office of the Public Trustee and Manitoba government representatives.  This committee will work collectively to provide recommendations for government’s consideration, said Mackintosh.
    Government will continue to invest in necessary health and safety upgrades to MDC but any new development at MDC will be focused on specialized residential care and community-based services, the minister said.

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