THE more one delves into the Feb. 19 budget delivered by the B.C. Liberals, the more questions it raises about a future under control of the party.
Thirteen months ago, Premier Christy Clark and Stephanie Cadieux, then minister of social development, announced a $40-million increase to Community Living B.C. Thats the organization responsible for delivering services to those with developmental disabilities once they turn 19 and move out of the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
The funding announcement came in the wake of negative press and two ministerial reviews of services available to families forced to care full time for adults with disabilities. Faith Bodnar, then executive director of CLBC, now Inclusion BC, expressed cautious optimism to the North Shore News. But Liz Barnett, director of the North Shore Disability Resource Centre, warned she was not entirely sure that change would occur.
Barnetts fears seem justified by budget documents that shows costs per client dropping over three years at a time when case loads are predicted to increase and yet offers no justification for the cost savings. Adults with fetal alcohol disorder and autism will receive less than half what they do today measured on a per-client basis.
Bodnar told media it seems contradictory that clients can receive the same care for less money.
Social Development Minister Moira Stilwell has since said that her ministry will respond with additional dollars as required.
It seems odd that a balanced budget would not include those dollars.
