Sarnia

No New Admissions At Wawanosh

Wawanosh Enterprises in Sarnia will be affected by proposed changes in provincial policy for sheltered workshops.

Community and Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek, says the province is moving to stop new admissions to the workshops where those with intellectual challenges work for what she says are "pennies" an hour.

Community Living Sarnia-Lambton Executive Director John Hagen says they have 76 participants at Wawanosh who earn between 50 and 60 cents an hour. They're involved in paper shredding, sorting, packaging and bulk mailer assembly, among other tasks.

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Wawanosh will continue operations but Hagen says it remains to be seen as to when attrition numbers will result in the end of the sheltered workshop program.

He says many of their participants are not competitively employable and the workshop offers them day support, social opportunities and work training.

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