DISCUSSION:

The Planning Department generally supports the four recommendations that
contained within the report. We do however have the following comments:

We support the recommendation that the Province should undertake to
complete an inventory of licenced and unlicensed facilities. In doing so,
the Province should work towards coordination between the various
ministries that establish group homes and ensure some form of
communication with municipalities to increase awareness of the different
operators and agencies that may be trying to establish a group home in the
community.

We support the creation of a Community Education Program provided that it
is financed and operated by senior levels of government with support and
participation by local governments. Any such program should be kept
simple for ease of administration.

Emphasis should also be placed on ensuring that municipalities have a fair
share of group home facilities. The inventory contained in the report
shows that some municipalities have a lcver percentage of Licensed
facilities, relative to its population proportion in the region.
Unlicensed facilities should also be included in the table in order to
present a more accurate impressicn of the regional share of all types of
group home facilities.

With the continued trend towards de-institutionalization, the Province
should ensure that there are adequate support structures in place locally
within communities prior to the release of patients from institutions.
Yhe increase of persons with special needs in the community places
additional responsibilities on municipalities to provide appropriate
social, recreational, and medical facilities and work opportunities. The
Province should assist municipalities with the integration of special
needs persons by funding work training programs and increase funding for
social and recreational programs for persons with special needs.

/,

Carlos Felipy-™ Arch., M.C.1.P.

{ ee) r, Director of Planning

é

JL/gg

ID664/2-4