Province closing centre for developmentally disabled

The provincial government says it is closing down a Red Deerinstitution for people with developmental disabilities and plans to transfer patients into community homes.

The closure of the Michener Centre will affect about 125 patients, according to Frank Oberle, Albertas Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities.

"The changes that we announced at the Michener Centre, we acknowledge are really gut wrenching for the families and loved ones of people there," saidOberle.

Oberle said the province decided to close the facility, which opened in 1923, after consulting with experts. He said workerswill helppatients and their families to ease the transition to community homes.

However, opposition parties and the union representing the centres workers decried the closure.

"Our bigger concern is we have 50 disabled seniors that they are going to be leaving, and they say they are going toput them in seniors care beds," said Kerry Towle, Wildrose MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.

She worried that some of the patients may end up on a waiting list for long-term care.

"This premier promised not to cut on the backs of Albertans and the backs of the front-line support staff, which is exaclty what she's doing."

Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, said the closure will affect 400 workers at the centre.

"The professional services vulnerable Albertans have received at the site for decades by caring and dedicated staff have now been ripped away in a cruel and merciless way," he wrote in a release.

The Michener Centre is set to close in April 2014.