Recognizing Happy, Healthy Heads

I made the following statement today in the House of Assembly:

I stand today to congratulate the students and staff at St. Andrew’s Elementary School and, in particular, Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Susan Jackman, on their successful efforts to access funding for their "Happy, Healthy Heads" project.

Last July, Mrs. Jackman applied to the Awesome St. John's Foundation for funding to purchase 100 helmets for students at St. Andrew’s Elementary, a centre city school in St. John's North.

The trustees of Awesome St. John’s, who fund initiatives through their own donations, awarded a $1,000 grand prize to Mrs. Jackman's proposal at a public event at the Rocket Bakery in August.

Canadian Tire's Jumpstart program gave significant support to the project as well by donating an additional 255 helmets as well as an assortment of knee pads, elbow pads, t-shirts, and sports bags.

In the end, this excellent school-based initiative provided each St. Andrew’s student with a helmet and other safety equipment.

Because of the generous support from the project sponsors, Mrs. Jackman and her students had enough helmets left over to donate some to another school in the neighborhood.

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Mrs. Susan Jackman and St. Andrew’s Elementary on their awesome community initiative.

Motion calling for a Comprehensive Province-Wide Strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorder

I gave notice of the following motion in the House of Assembly today: 

WHEREAS autism spectrum disorder has been estimated to occur in as many as one in eighty-eight children; and

WHEREAS individualized and intensive early interventions are important for improving outcomes for children with autism; and

WHEREAS long wait lists are forcing many parents to wait up to two years before their children receive needed paediatric assessments and diagnostic services; and

WHEREAS a co-ordinated, multi-agency approach among key government departments and agencies is needed to ensure that individuals with autism spectrum disorder are provided with services that will promote independent living; and

WHEREAS a comprehensive province-wide strategy for autism spectrum disorder will decrease the lifetime costs of treating and providing services for persons with autism;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly urges the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to, in consultation with parents, advocates, educators, health care providers, and experts in the autism community, develop and implement a comprehensive Province-wide strategy for autism spectrum disorder.

Recognizing Al Dunphy, an extraordinary volunteer

I made the following statement today in the House of Assembly:

I stand in the House today to recognize a resident of St. John’s North whose spirit of volunteerism truly surpasses the ordinary.

Mr. Al Dunphy has lived in the Rabbittown neighborhood for over 40 years, and has been actively involved with the Rabbittown Community Centre for the past decade.

Al helps out where and whenever he can by lending an eager hand.  When he isn’t participating in the Rabbittown Community Centre’s programs, Al regularly finds opportunities to assist with them. He frequently pitches in by helping with the preparation, set-up, and take-down of the Community Centre’s special events.

Dale Kirby, MHA with Al Dunphy

The staff at the Rabbittown Community Centre tell me that Al is a tremendous support to them. And, they are looking forward to his continued service to the Rabbittown community for many years to come.

This past year Al Dunphy received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Rabbittown Community Centre. This was in recognition of his on-going contributions to the Rabbittown community and the important work of the Community Centre itself.

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Mr. Dunphy on being recognized for his exemplary volunteer work.

MHA raises questions about status of funding for persons with disabilities

For Immediate Release

November 20, 2013

MHA raises questions about status of funding for persons with disabilities

St. John’s—St. John’s North MHA Dale Kirby is questioning the status of funding for persons with disabilities from the Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPD). Under the federal-provincial LMAPD, people with disabilities are entitled to apply for financial assistance in order to cover the costs of completing their first post-secondary education program.

 “For several months now, I have been hearing that applications for funding have been delayed and that the entire LMAPD program is under review,” said Kirby. “I have written to the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills in an effort to get a clear answer about the status of this program, once and for all.”

Kirby has asked the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills whether or not any of the LMAPD program applicants who submitted applications in 2012 have had their funding for post-secondary studies approved for 2013. 

 “There is some indication that very few, if any, of the applicants from last year were able to start their programs this year with support from the LMAPD,” says Kirby. “If the LMAPD program is no longer functioning as it was intended, the minister has a responsibility to make his intentions clear. On the surface, it seems that persons with disabilities who are applying to this program are being given false hope.”

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For more information, please contact:

Dale Kirby, MHA

dalekirby@gov.nl.ca

Tel: 709-729-6921

Time to Act on School Busing Report

Time for Government to Act on School Busing Changes

For Immediate Release

November 15, 2013

 Time for Government to Act on School Busing Changes 

St. John’s— Earlier this year, the consulting firm Deloitte was commissioned by Department of Education to conduct a review of the school transportation system in Newfoundland and Labrador. St. John’s North MHA Dale Kirby says action on that review is long overdue. 

“Government spent $75,000 of taxpayers' hard-earned dollars on a school busing report that says what we already knew – that busing policies need to change,” says Kirby. “Let’s make safety our priority and get these changes in place before the winter sets in.”

Current government regulations deny busing services to students who live closer than 1.6 km to school. Since the House of Assembly reopened, Kirby has been presenting petitions on behalf of parents who are concerned that children living within 1.6 kilometres of school face dangers in walking to school, such as congested streets and busy intersections, especially during winter weather conditions.

 “The $75,000 Deloitte report pointed out that only 10 per cent of those surveyed for the school busing review agree that the current 1.6 km policy is reasonable for students and families,” says Kirby. “Rather than waiting for next year or the one after to make needed changes, the Minister should act on the busing report before students return to school in January after the Christmas break.”

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For more information, please contact:

Dale Kirby, MHA

dalekirby@gov.nl.ca

Tel: 709-729-6921

Honouring Silver Cross representative Natasha Lucas & the Lucas Family

Today I made the following statement in the House of Assembly:

I stand in the House today to honour Silver Cross representative Natasha Lucas, her son Matthew, and daughter Mackenzie, who yesterday laid a wreath of remembrance at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in St. John's.

Their husband and father Sgt. Donald Lucas was one of six Canadian soldiers who were tragically killed after a roadside bomb exploded near them in Afghanistan on April 8, 2007.

This tragic incident also claimed the life of another Newfoundlander and Labradorian --  Pte. Kevin Kennedy of St. Lawrence.

Sgt. Lucas, whose parents Ella and Fred reside in the district of St. John’s North, started his military career with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment before transferring to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick.

He has been described by his fellow soldiers as a charismatic leader who often spoke of his love for his wife and children.

Silver Cross representatives symbolize those left behind by the casualties of war. I ask all members to join me in honouring Silver Cross representative Natasha Lucas and the Lucas family.

 Let us dedicate our work here to all those who gave so much.

Questions on waitlists for pediatric diagnoses & occupational therapy

I have placed questions on the House of Assembly Order Paper asking government about waitlists for pediatric diagnoses and occupational therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder or other neuro-developmental disorders. These questions are as follows:

1. To ask the Honourable the Minister of Health and Community Services to lay on the Table of the House the following information:

(a) the number of children on the waiting list for a pediatric diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or other neuro-developmental disorders;

(b) the number of pediatric diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder or other neuro-developmental disorders performed since October 11, 2011 in Newfoundland and Labrador;

(c) the number of patients who have been sent outside the province for a pediatric diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or other neuro-developmental disorders since October 11, 2011, along with any associated cost to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador;

(d) the number of pediatricians working for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador who are qualified to provide assessment, diagnostic, and supportive services related to

autism spectrum disorder and other neuro-developmental disorders; and

(e) the number of vacancies that currently exist in the area of developmental pediatrics in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2. To ask the Honourable the Minister of Health and Community Services to lay on the Table of the House the number of children with autism spectrum disorder or other neuro-developmental disorders who are on the waiting list for occupational therapy.

Comprehensive Strategy on Autism Spectrum Disorder Needed Now

Lest we forget

Beaumont-Hamel, France -- July 2008

Childcare initiative provides practical vision for helping children succeed: MHA

For Immediate Release

November 8, 2013

Childcare initiative provides practical vision for helping children succeed: MHA

St. John’s—St. John’s North MHA Dale Kirby is commending the Jimmy Pratt Foundation and its partners on the release of a discussion paper this week entitled The Early Years Last a Lifetime. The Foundation and its partners also organized a workshop on childcare this week in St. John’s along with a guest lecture at Memorial University of Newfoundland delivered by former New Brunswick Lieutenant-Governor Margaret Norrie McCain. 

“I would like to congratulate the Jimmy Pratt Foundation and its partners on continuing to take a leadership role on early learning and childcare, and bringing this important discussion to the fore,” says Kirby. “The government of Newfoundland and Labrador should seriously consider their proposals and use them to make strategic investments in early learning and care”.

The discussion paper released this week suggests that early learning and childcare programs ought to be overseen by a single government department -- rather than two separate departments, as is currently the case. The authors also endorse the implementation of full-day kindergarten for 5-year-olds and bringing government's child care plan into effect by 2016 instead of the current target year of 2022.

“One way for our province to capitalize on our current prosperity and ensure the success of future generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians is to look to the evidence-based solutions highlighted by the Jimmy Pratt Foundation and its partners this week,” said Kirby. “There is ample evidence to show that the rate of return on early learning and care for our children is far higher than most investments we would otherwise make.”

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For more information, please contact:

Dale Kirby, MHA

dalekirby@gov.nl.ca

Tel: 709-729-6921

Kirby calls on government to extend autism therapy

For Immediate Release

November 4, 2013

Kirby calls on government to extend autism therapy

St. John’s—In response to concerns consistently expressed by parents and the autism advocacy community, St. John’s North MHA Dale Kirby is calling on the provincial government to extend eligibility for the Intensive Applied Behavioural Analysis Program beyond Grade 3.

The Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) home therapy program is an intensive home-based early intervention program provided to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This behavioural and skill teaching intervention program assists children with autism in meeting targeted developmental goals and is currently provided up to entry into Grade 4.

“Parents of children with autism tell me that they would like to see ABA therapy provided beyond Grade 3. There is a lot of research evidence to suggest that children with autism would benefit greatly from such an extension,” says Kirby.

Kirby is urging the provincial government to consult with parents, advocates, educators, health care providers, and experts in the autism community in the lead up to the 2014 provincial budget to hear their concerns about the Intensive Applied Behavioural Analysis Program.

“The provincial government should take the time to listen to parents’ concerns about the ABA program and find a way to incorporate these concerns into its pre-budget planning process,” says Kirby. “The fact is many parents simply cannot afford to pay the cost of ABA therapy themselves. They are counting on government to hear their concerns and act on them”.

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For more information, please contact:

Dale Kirby, MHA

dalekirby@gov.nl.ca

Tel: 709-729-6921