In BC, Suffer the Children
Premier Campbell's forgotten promise to BC's youngsters with special needs.
Cuts will hurt kids with Down Syndrome.
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Autistic kids need services, not bricks: parents
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Broken Promises Pile Up
Add kids with autism to folks double-crossed by Campbell government.
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The Silence on Sex Candidate
Mary Polak effectively stymied sex ed in Surrey schools. Now she has Liberal ambitions.
In his government's 2006-2009 Strategic Plan, Premier Gordon Campbell outlined five great goals for his Golden Decade. Goal #3 was to "Build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and seniors."
Three years later, Campbell and his children's minister, Mary Polak, seem to have entirely forgotten that promise. They've failed to improve supports for children with special needs. Existing systems are being cut, with no effort to resolve chronic service gaps.
Chopping away
Intensive intervention programs for autism have been axed, despite overwhelming need and hard evidence that these programs work well. The ministry's own experts advise that the alternative system of uniform subsidies is not an effective model for many children. It also creates two-tiered access, since only very wealthy families can afford to top up subsidies to get required therapies.
Provincial staff who provide direct services, including oversight, coordination, training and standards for community Infant Development Programs and Aboriginal IDPs are being axed. So is the provincial Supported Child Care office, which was recently created to resolve problems due to a lack of oversight, coordination and consistency in local programs. Staff were given a month's notice, which won't permit the transfer of roles, protocols and resources.
Polak has also cut budgets for child protection and childcare. Even the Special Olympics and a program that sought to reduce the number of children born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder were cut.
There's more. Polak has ordered $32 million in cuts to ministry staff who manage and deliver critical child and family programs, with no risk assessment or public discussion about expected impacts. Front-line agencies that deliver children's programs were ordered to cut a further $3.6 million.
Savings from these cuts are not going to expand services to children currently waitlisted or denied urgently-needed therapies (e.g. children with Down Syndrome). Young adults are still denied supports on the basis of IQ, contrary to policy changes promised a year ago. Thousands of children will continue to be denied urgently needed services or waitlisted. The ministry has failed to document the extent of child and youth waitlists and service gaps or to demonstrate any progress in resolving these.
Polak's ministry has now spent over a year restructuring services for children with special needs -- again! -- with no effort to consult families, who are the primary partners in delivering most children's supports.
We can afford to do better
Premier Campbell has committed $14 billion to new capital spending in his 2010 budget at the same time that Minister Polak is claiming there is no choice but to cut vital children's programs.
And Premier Campbell failed to strengthen supports for children with special needs as promised, despite record budget surpluses in recent years. The children's ministry continues to waste millions in scarce tax dollars on endless restructuring. And Campbell still plans to spend $20 million on bricks and mortar to help construct a new autism building in Vancouver, after B.C. families overwhelmingly stressed in a survey last year that maintaining and enhancing services was by far the top priority.
As parents, we think most British Columbians would agree that British Columbia -- the best place on earth -- does not need to balance its budget on the backs of vulnerable children. These foolish cuts will destroy lives and cost us far more than they save in the long run.
Signed:
Dawn Steele, Vancouver
Cyndi Gerlach, North Vancouver
Catherine Clark-Turnquist, Victoria
Chris McIntosh, Victoria
Samantha Warden, Kamloops
Betty-Ann Garreck, Kamloops
Lisa Watson, Kelowna
Karen Davis, Fraser Valley Autism Society
Gerald Dewan, Burnaby
Carol Stinson, Burnaby
Pam Collins, Richmond
Si Stainton, Delta
Michelle O'Neill, Victoria
Cher Sherwood, Victoria
Militant Moms on the Move ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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G West
2 years ago
What would Mary Polak's mentor have to say about this?
This is what Ms Polak said in the legislature a few weeks ago in defence of Campbell's budget...
Sometimes Ms Polak, WHO you are doesn't count for more than chicken feed - 'what' you are and what you believe in and what duty you have to others (not just your 'friends' and supporters is actually a lot more important than 'WHO' you are; no matter what your mentor Heather Stilwell has to say about it. In fact, you don't bring much to the job at all now, do you?
circle A
2 years ago
You go girls!
of all the initiatives yet,an arroused and commited angry group of moms ought to scare the twisted soul sucking liar campbell more than anyone or anything.
Gary
2 years ago
Have a look at every promise Campbell made
If you look at what he said he was going to do in his promises you will see that he has done the exact opposite. He's a liar. When he opens his mouth to say something count on this. He will do the exact opposite.
Jeffrey J.
2 years ago
What 'circle A' said.
What 'circle A' said!!
onthebay
2 years ago
two old stories
We have contributed to, and continue to contribute to, our own lack of power to affect change with this government. There are two old stories we need to start paying attention to:
There’s the old story about the frog that eventually gets burned when the water it is in increases in temperature so slowly the frog doesn’t realize it is in trouble until it is too late.
There’s also the old story about not being able to find support when you need it because there is no one left to support you because you didn’t support others when they needed it.
When this government came to power it immediately started to label various public advocates and public dissenters negatively as “special interest groups” that it could ignore, and the general public let this slip by thinking it only effects those “out there groups.” At the same time the government ripped up legitimate contracts and the general public let this slip by thinking “it’s about time those unions were taken down a notch, or it’s for the good of the budget, or it’s terrible but what can we do, or whatever.” The results of both the government’s actions and the general public’s lack of reaction or lack of effective reaction have been much deeper and more devastating than many realize: it negatively marginalized public concern/input and it strengthened the government’s ability to “ignore.”
Meanwhile, the government has taken advantage of the fact that we do little when politicians say one thing and do another. It has been able to push forward with its agenda regardless of public opinion for a while now, and has gotten quite used to being able to do it, perhaps with a slightly thicker skin when there has been more heated public reaction such as the opposition to the HST. The lack of respect for and the marginalizing of both public and political opposition opinion are obvious and may result in long term consequences we cannot fathom.
That more people are realizing what the government is doing has an immediate effect on them means little to the government since it has learned that it can ignore our and the opposition’s reaction. We have taught this government well.
I have great concern about how hot the water we are sitting in is already. Meanwhile, I wish the militant moms good luck. Maybe their fight will be the wake up call so many need.
Kam Lee
2 years ago
Kids in distress
It seems to me that Polack and gordo are both liers. He can't stop lying, and she is getting better at it. It's time for this government to do as they promised. Ooops, I forgot they have no soul. I have seen first hand, children ignored and mis-treated by the system. When you call the teacher, admin, or school board member on it, they cry foul! They take it as apersonal attack on them! It is easier to deflect a set of parents at a time. Slows then down. Look at the big picture ms P and gordo, do your job. Don't rule, help. It is time for all the lieberals to go! Give us back our province! [UNVERIFIABLE ACCUSATION REMOVED. -MODERATOR.]
kootenay
2 years ago
Thank You Militant Moms
Onthebay hits the nail on the head. The reason this government is so good at lying and never fulfulling their promises is because citizens don't take direct action.
Sure we all bitch and complain around the water cooler, but that changes nothing. Organized groups like Militant Moms are the ones who force change, but only if we get off our asses and support them.
Dan the socialist
2 years ago
This is no surprise. The
This is no surprise.
The worse part is people would probably vote Campbell in again, especially if the NDP do not have a leadership change..
Name
2 years ago
Support MOMS rallies
Parents are organizing rallies this Sunday (Oct 18) in Kamloops and Kelowna - please join them if you live in the area and pass the word along - these are small grassroots groups who need public support to be heard.
More details at: http://momsnetwork.ca/
FacebookChris
2 years ago
People will not vote Campbell (or Mary Polak?) in again
Hi, Dan,
It is entirely possible (?) that people may (?) vote the Liberals in again. But, no, I do not think that people will vote Campbell in ever again.
His lack of vision is appalling. His total inability to follow through on any of his "grand visions" is unbelievable. His only answer to every problem, especially every social problem, is (a) "cut" (b) incur greater costs due to lack of investment now, (c) when these greater costs appear on your doorstep, then cry "we can't afford anything" and go back to (a) all over again, to repeat this ever vicious (in more ways than one) cycle.
pxatkins
2 years ago
partisan politics
It's not about BC Liberals vs NDP. Vote how you will but please stay focussed on the issue of autism funding. Family, children ... especially children in need ... is the choice you need to have Polak make publically.
FacebookChris
2 years ago
Thank you for the reminder, PXAtkins
You are right, pxatkins. This is not about partisan politics, and thanks for this reminder.
But, it is not just about autism funding either. All services to children have been cut, including funding to programs for Fetal Alcohol Syndrom (FAS) children, EIBI for children with autism, the Infant Development Program, and many, many other services to children. Children in our province need each and every one of these services.
It is not about money. It is about priorities. Children need to become a priority for our leaders. Right now, they are not.
But, priorities are set by the people in power - not necessarily the parties, but the individuals - and I don't think that can be forgotten either.
Leaving political parties entirely out of it, as far as I can see, the two people most directly responsible for all program cuts to all children are Gordon Campbell, for being unwilling to live with an increased deficit, and Mary Polak for cutting many programs to children in this province.
Forget about parties and party politics. Vote how you please. But also, please remember the individuals making these decisions. And remember all the other individuals in our legislator allowing these decisions to stand.
Just my opinion.
MGS
2 years ago
Re- Campbell Winning Again.
I'm sure you would agree that the NDP aren't the only party that could use a leadership change. What we as the people of BC need is a government change before BC as we know it is completely destroyed!!!
Frank
2 years ago
Leadership change
The people of BC had the chance to make a leadership change, James instead of Campbell. They decided they preferred Campbell in spite of his policies being a known quantity. James received only 23% of the vote, "don't give a rat's ass about anyone or anything" received around 70% of the vote.
I wonder how many parents of kids needing help didn't vote for James?
bobhe
2 years ago
You get the government you deserve
It amazes me how many people voted for this government. I supposed it could be possible that all of those people don't have children. Why do people put up with snakes like this? I am frankly amazed non of these parents don't just loose it on Polak. I mean there is not many things worse than messing with innocent children.
I wonder if Campbell and Polak can sleep at night. I support they must be getting some healthy perks from big business and Olympic advertisers etc so perhaps sacrificing childrens lives are not such a concern to them now.
If there is a hell I have to think their is a seat reserved for them there. In a way I hope I join them so I can give them both a kick in the ass.
Van Isle
2 years ago
I just wonder when a few
I just wonder when a few 'Liberals with a conscience' (is that an oxymoron?) start quitting, get kicked out of caucus, or sitting as an independent. Remember when the Socreds under 'The Zalm' started to fall apart? After the Olympics maybe?