Saskatoon’s Civic Square was packed Friday with protesters calling on the province’s social services ministry to stop plans to cut disability funding.

Recipients of the social assistance payments were notified earlier this month of planned cuts to the program, and while the province has since announced the cuts will be put on hold as cases are reviewed individually, many rallying outside City Hall still urged the government to eliminate the plan all together.

“Don’t count me out,” said protester Roberta Fehr. “Just because I have all these disabilities doesn’t mean that I’m so damaged that I can’t be part of society.”

The Saskatchewan government originally planned to implement the cuts Oct. 1, but in a statement Friday officials said any proposed changes have been put on pause to allow new Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor to review the plans.

“The government has invested well over $3.4 billion to support those with disabilities in Saskatchewan, and they remain a priority,” the statement read.

More than 2,700 people will be affected if the plan moves forward.

Saskatchewan NDP interim leader Trent Wotherspoon, who was on hand at Civic Square, said this week’s cabinet shuffle was a missed opportunity for the provincial government to take back the proposed cuts.

“For the government to slow-walk this process of cutting these supports and punting people out of their homes, taking away their piece of mind, is wrong,” he said. “They deserve, from their premier here today, a full reversal of these cuts.”

One protester, Charmaine Gallant, said the extra support from the social assistance program helps her during the holidays.

“It will change the fact that I won’t have Christmas money, or cards, or extra little things for my mom and dad at Thanksgiving or Christmas,” Gallant said.

Some said they’re worried they won’t be able to pay rent with the cuts. Others said they’d likely turn to services like the food bank or Friendship Inn.

“I was taught to leave that for people who really need it,” said Fehr. “I didn’t think — I didn’t want to think — that I needed it. Now I may be forced to go use that service.”

The NDP said the cuts would likely cost more in the long run. More people may end up on the street or in health-care facilities if the assistance money is reduced, the party said.

--- based on a report by CTV Saskatoon's Julie Clark