Panel pushes to boost funding for disabled
Times Colonist (Victoria)
November 16, 2006
By: Jeff Rud

EXCERPT

The provincial government should consider boosting the budget of cash-strapped Community Living B.C., a key legislative committee recommended yesterday.

That was one of 36 wide-ranging suggestions by the select standing committee on finance and government services whose report provides a roadmap for Finance Minister Carole Taylor toward the February 2007 budget.

After hearing more than 8,300 submissions during a two-month period, the committee recommended a variety of spending, from strengthening the economy and putting more money in B.C. pockets to taking better care of the most needy British Columbians. (Full report at http://www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations)

But the 94-page report wasn't endorsed by NDP members on the committee, who said it didn't accurately reflect submissions heard in 15 cities, by mail and on the Internet.

Community Living B.C....is expected to be as much as $44 million short of funds necessary to serve its client base this year. Further shortfalls are expected over the next three years as demand increases.

Critics have accused government of offloading this responsibility onto the new Crown corporation and then under-funding it. Several submissions called for an increase to the corporation's $550-million annual budget.

"We heard it quite regularly,'' said committee chairman Blair Lekstrom. "People came out and said the services they deliver are important. Now they want to make sure they have the resources to deliver those to give the quality that people expect.''

Among the finance committee's other recommendations for social-program spending are:

- Fund a comprehensive mental health and addictions plan for B.C.

- Eliminate the waitlist in B.C. schools for assessing children and youth with special needs.

- Consider increasing funding to the B.C. Ambulance Service, especially in the Interior and northern B.C.

- Create a provincewide strategy for "affordable, accessible and quality'' child care, with perhaps more funding....

NDP members were also unhappy with recommendations regarding funding for women's services and child care, which they said didn't reflect submissions.

Lekstrom said he was surprised the NDP did not endorse the report. "This isn't a B.C. Liberal report or a B.C. New Democrat report,'' he said. "This is a very centred and balanced report that I think reflects what we heard across B.C.''...

"We will not be able to do everything that everyone in the province has come forward with and identified,'' she said, "but we will do our best to consider these recommendations.''