From today's Times Colonist editorial on the announcement of additional money for CLBC:
"The government's grudging commitment of extra money for services for mentally handicapped adults falls far short of what's needed and shows inept handling of an important responsibility.
The government provided an extra $8.9 million for Community Living B.C. Wednesday in response to a public outcry over sharp cuts to services for some of the most vulnerable people in our province.
Obviously, any increase is welcome. But the increase is barely one per cent of the Crown corporation's budget, and far short of the $85 million needed to restore perclient funding to the level in 2005, when CLBC was created. Even with the increase, the province's contribution this year will increase 1.8 per cent, despite a 5.1 per cent increase in the number of people with developmental disabilities who require services.
CLBC executives said the money is needed to cover "urgent health and safety needs" of the Crown corporation's clients.
That is an admission of failure. It is not difficult to forecast the need for services. The government knows how many young people with developmental disabilities, currently supported by the children's ministry, will turn 19 and rely on CLBC. It can predict current clients' needs.
Yet barely five months into the fiscal year, the agency does not have enough money to cover urgent health and safety needs...."
You can read the rest here.
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5 comments:
I wish Harry Bloy would grant Rick Mowles his wish and fire him. It's common knowledge within the hallways of CLBC that Mowles wants out, more so now that his ideology has provoked a fire storm of push back from families.
Though funding is certainly a huge problem, until services for developmentally disabled people return to the responsibility of MCFD they will continue to suffer under the unethical governance of CLBC.
"It's common knowledge within the hallways of CLBC that Mowles wants out..."
That doesn't make sense: Mowles can walk any time he wants.
Maybe he doesn't want to make that walk without a nice compensation package. Unless he has proof to backup his allegations that Ridge Meadows Recycling have violated labour law he and Doug Willard may be making that walk together.
@8:42 PM Anonymous
Do you mean Doug Woollard, vice-president with Community Living BC, not Doug Willard?
All others: Please read this article for context.
Maple Ridge disabled program in doubt
Phil Melnychuk, Maple Ridge News
CLBC pays Ridge Meadows Recycling $270,000 per year. There are 29 developmentally disabled workers, along with three support workers.
Woollard said, following a review in the 1990s, most sheltered work programs were cancelled, mainly because of non-compliance with the Employment Standards Act, in which people were working for less than minimum wage. “The program in Maple Ridge is one of the few operating under that model,” Woollard said.
That’s not true, counters Kim Day, executive-director with the recycling society. All workers are paid minimum wage from the time their shift starts – but many arrive early or have to wait for the Handi-Dart bus after their shift ends, in which case they’re not paid for that waiting time, Day explained.
“You’re paid for working, when you’re working. “We definitely support them while they’re on site, but not in a work setting. “That’s part of what it means to be in a supported work environment.”
It should also be noted that the geniuses at CLBC shot their remaining bits of credibilty out the window with this bit: "Community Living’s cut of $61,000 in funding for the support coordinator position at Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services.
The supported volunteer program allows 28 developmentally disabled volunteers to help out with groups such as the Salvation Army or SPCA.
Without the support coordinator to provide day-to-day help for the disabled, most will lose their volunteer positions."
Yes, Doug Woollard, not Willard. His comments however, are an indication of how defensive CLBC is feeling. The problem is that for the past 3 years CLBC has been operating within a bubble of their own making. Stupidly making a move to put 29 workers out of work the week before Christie Clark unveils her 'Job Plan' for BC reflects the quality of thinking of the executive of CLBC.
I'm sure Woollard will still qualify for his performance bonus this year though.
http://communitylivingbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009-10ExecutiveCompensationReporting-CLBC.pdf
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