Charlie Smith, Georgia Straight

…. A B.C. Liberal backbencher has called for a “top-to-bottom” examination of his government’s treatment of adults with developmental disabilities.

Former cabinet minister Randy Hawes (Abbotsford-Mission) said in the legislature that the government must also move immediately “to provide service for those needing it”.

“Madam Speaker, in the over 10 years that I’ve been in this Legislature, there’s no issue that’s caused me more loss of sleep or more concern for those most vulnerable people,” Hawes said, according to Hansard. “We need to act now.”…

According to Hawes, the man was told that “there is no availability of more service for him, so he’s facing the heartbreaking choice of giving up his son to care, which is going to cost more.”…

Hawes also told a tale about a single mom whose 19-year-old daughter needs 24-7 care. “The mother was told: ‘If you have to give up your job, I guess you have to go on welfare’,” he said. “That’s not right.”