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BC NDP Government Minister Mitzi Dean is feeling the
heat from Opposition Members and families of children with
autism as the government introduces a new approach towards
funding for autism programs in the province |
Confusion and concern over a new model for Autism Funding in the province is providing for a growing momentum of challenge to the British Columbia government; that as the plan to shift from direct funding, to something called 'hub funding' moves forward in the BC Legislature.
The shift in approach by the BC Government was announced last week by Minister of Children and Family Development Mitzi Dean.
“The existing patchwork of programs has left too many children and youth with support needs behind That’s why we’re putting children and youth at the centre of our new system and making it easier for families to get the high-quality services they need, regardless of where they live in the province.”
As the program is explained by the government:
Under the new approach, children, youth and their families will be able to quickly access information, expert intervention and therapies at new one-stop family connections hubs.
These supports and services will be available from birth to age 19 and will be based on a child's or youth’s individual needs, regardless of whether they have a referral or diagnosis. As a first step, hubs will open in two areas – the Northwest and Central Okanagan – starting in 2023 before being launched provincewide in 2024.
The new policy announcement was one which caught unaware the organizations across the province that assist families on Austism initiatives who have noted that they had not been consulted.
The Autism Support Network Society (ASN) has heard many concerns from its community members about the lack of transparency, information, and consultation regarding the new policy and funding changes that will impact the autism community and the broader disability community.
NOTE: NOT ONE autism organization was involved in the designing of the new funding structure. This includes Autism BC, the BC Association of Behaviour Analysts and the Autism Support Network Society.
Yesterday, the bill was part of the Legislature business day and Interim Opposition Leader Shirley Bond raised a range of concerns that her party has heard when it comes to the growing anxiety for families wondering what may be ahead.
Ms. Bond took up the topic as part of the Wednesday Question Period, describing the government moves as a clawback
The minister may have convinced herself that this is not a clawback, but let's look at what is happening here. Parents — thousands of them across British Columbia — receive support.
They get to decide how best to support their families and their children. This minister has decided that that is going to change. That, to the minister's answer, is defined as a clawback.
The Interim Opposition leader also relayed a number of letters that her office has received from parents who are going to be impacted by the Government's plans.
The members can heckle across the aisle. These are the words of thousands of families across British Columbia who woke up one morning to a surprise announcement from this minister that turned their lives upside down.
Here's what Meagan had to say:
"The choice that you have made to target the province's most vulnerable children also extends to the thousands of female service providers who run their own businesses. The blatant lack of community consultation and critical thought that went into this decision would be laughable if it wasn't so utterly devastating. Going after disabled kids, mothers and female business owners is appalling."
The members opposite can groan all they want. Those are Meagan's words and the words of thousands of British Columbians. They may want to dismiss them, but members of the opposition will not do that.
Minister Dean, who is steering the changes through the Legislature, offered up a differing view of how the program has been introduced and what the government is hoping to achieve with the revision.
We will create a system that is a safety net for families so that they will be supported in creating and co-designing those services for their children. On a day-to-day basis, I know that families have scrambled to put together those services, so we will continue to support those families as we implement the new service framework.
We're putting children and youth at the centre. We make different choices. We're investing in children and youth. And I will inform all members of this House: please inform everybody in your communities that we are opening up consultations in November and December, and we invite everybody to join us. And more, we will be continuing discussions, and I invite everybody to join in.
Also among those to take up the cause of parents and caregivers pushing back towards the government plans is Skeena MLA Ellis Ross, who has spoken out on the topic through his Social media feed and by way of a letter posted to it.
In his correspondence, this one as an element of his campaign for the BC Liberal leadership, the Skeena MLA notes the '
BC NDP does not have a mandate from British Columbians to reduce Autism funding to parents ... gutting parents of special needs children by removing the key supports they rely on.'
"British Columbians are paying the price for an activist government which has concealed its true intentions. These cuts are are totally unnecessary, and we know they will devastate families and communities in British Columbia ... This is neither a compassionate government, nor a responsible one"
The
Skeena MLA's post to his Facebook page has also provided from some feedback from residents of the region who have relayed their frustrations with the current situation in the region, as well as towards the uncertainty they are facing from the moves planned for the future.
Despite the plan to introduce the new changes to the Northwest first in 2023, the topic has not to date, been one taken up in the Legislature, or through the Social media forums of the two regional NDP members of the government side of the house.
With MLA's
Jennifer Rice and
Nathan Cullen yet to speak to the topic to shape, or explain the government's plans; or to address the concerns of families in the Northwest towards the unknowns of the new policies that will be introduced.
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