A new program that supports people who give out-of-home care is too restrictive, says Green party leader Peter Bevan-Baker.
During Tuesday’s question period, Bevan-Baker said the program is so restrictive that about 75 per cent of grandparents who care for children aren’t eligible for assistance.
“Clearly getting something out the door was the priority here because it was not made clear whatsoever that there would be some very stringent eligibility requirements as to this program,” he said.
The P.E.I. government announced the program in November, and it is meant to help grandparents or other people who care for children who aren’t able to live in their homes for safety reasons.
It gives care providers $700 per month per child along with further funding for childcare and children’s dental and drug costs
Bevan-Baker asked Mundy how the government could design a program that intentionally excludes the majority of people who need assistance.
Family and Human Services Minister Tina Mundy said the government brought in the interim program because it wanted to get something in place immediately to help grandparents and caregivers.
“It is open right now and it is being acted upon for those family members or those grandparents or those caregivers that are caring for the children with open child protection cases…across Prince Edward Island,” she said.
Mundy said the program will expand in April and initially identified 54 caregivers involving open child protection cases.
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