Rent reduced for Riders, early budget items approved by Regina Council
7h ago
Council retroactively slashed $1.33 million in rent owed by the Roughriders.
About 150 people rallied at Saskatoon city hall Friday in protest of cuts to a provincial program that provides money for disabled people.
Roberta Fehr was among the people who came to the rally, despite the gloomy weather. She said she relies on the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program for just over $700 a month.
She said she’s been told her funding will be cut by about $150, but there’s still no firm date for when she’ll start seeing the money come off her cheques.
“They said they’ve put it on hold. But I know they’ve decided still to continue to go through with it. So we’re in limbo and that’s another stress that’s on our body and in our lives that we don’t need,” she said.
Fehr said she suffers from several long-term conditions including leukemia, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. She said her health has made it impossible to find work over the last several years. With no income, she said she’ll have a hard time making up the shortfall once the cuts take effect.
“That money comes out of my food budget. That’s the only place it can come (from). Which means my diabetes suffers,” she said.
Fehr said the cuts she’s facing leave her feeling lied to by a government which bills SAID as a program that “…offers individuals the dignity of greater choice of services and participation in their community” on its website.
“I have no dignity. I have no respect. This was promised to me by the government and now they’ve taken (it) away and told me that I don’t matter,” she said.
Fehr said Friday’s rally was meant to encourage people to keep contacting their MLA’s to oppose the cuts.