18
communities join provincial day of action against children’s
cuts
OCT 28,
2009:—In
2001, Gordon Campbell promised to stand up for BC’s vulnerable children as a
priority. Months later, he ordered 23% cuts to children’s programs. In 2005, the
Premier outlined five Great Goals – #3 was to “build the best system
of support in Canada” for children with special needs and those at
risk.
But Mr. Campbell
has again forgotten his promise to create a legacy of strong, safe and
well-supported children. So on Wednesday, Oct. 28, we’ve invited
British Columbians to help us remind Premier Campbell of his promise to BC’s
vulnerable children. So far, 18 BC communities have joined the Provincial Day of
Action coordinated by MOMs, a
volunteer support network for families of people with special needs.
While BC enjoyed
record budget surpluses, waitlists for critical services that support vulnerable
children in and out of school grew longer. Now the Premier is cutting millions
from core programs, including autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD),
mental health, infant development, supported child development and Aboriginal
programs. Specialized staff are being lost, with one program given just a month
to wrap up. Front-line children’s agencies were forced to cut $3.6
million more. A further $32 million is being cut from essential Ministry roles
for monitoring,
oversight and support to assure children’s welfare and safety. And yet another
Ministry re-structuring will further strain the capacity to support vulnerable
children.
There was no risk assessment or advance public discussion of these
cuts. Apart from a token increase for one small sub-group (700 children with
autism under age 6), savings will not reduce waitlists or improve access for the
vast majority – i.e. for tens of thousands of children with special needs who
are still waiting.
Provincial organizations for people with disabilities, children with
special needs and families have protested the cuts. Professionals represented by
the Health Sciences Association of BC strongly denounced funding cuts and the
loss of autism programs. Desperate parents have pleaded to save these programs,
noting the huge strides their children have made and the strong evidence base
for efficacy and long-term savings.
“The Infant Development Program is what saved me,” says Cyndi Gerlach,
the mom coordinating a North Vancouver action on Oct. 28. “I want other parents
to benefit just as I did.”
Premier Campbell’s cuts to children’s programs are just a matter of
priorities. His revised budget commits $14 billion to capital projects. Alberta
spends twice as much on autism despite fewer children and is not cutting
programs despite a deficit twice as large as BC’s.
“Our children can’t speak out or fight back against these cuts,” says
Cher Sherwood, the mom who helped organize several groups in Greater Victoria.
“It is our job as parents and citizens to speak up for them.”
And it is Premier Campbell’s job to honour his promises to BC’s kids by
protected and rebuilding vitally important supports and
services.
“We know that British Columbians don’t want to see BC’s budget balanced
on the back of our most vulnerable children,” says Vancouver mom Dawn Steele,
who will be leading another group on the Burrard Bridge. “We’re urging him to
join us by standing up and doing what he knows is the right thing to do.”
Details
of local actions, local contacts, background info & updates:
MOMs: http://MomsNetwork.ca
MOMs
media contact: Dawn
Steele: 604 874-1416 h. /778 235-4998 c. or dawns@telus.net
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