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Long after Deaths, Why Children's Ministry Never Got Fixed
Kids at risk as infighting stalls 62 action items almost three years old.
Deputy Minister Lesley du Toit, Minister Tom Christensen, Premier Gordon Campbell.
*Story corrected Jan. 14, 2009.
In April 2006, an independent review judged the Campbell administration of having mismanaged the Ministry of Children and Family Development -- which some said contributed to the deaths of two toddlers.
"I don't think there's any doubt" government cutbacks "took the knife too far," concluded former Justice Ted Hughes, the man appointed by Campbell to make sure such a scandal didn't happen again.
But 33 months later, the status of the 62 recommendations included in Hughes' independent review of British Columbia's child protection system is in the doubt.
And Premier Gordon Campbell is again to blame.
Campbell needed to create a clear process and chain of command to right this badly-listing ministry.
Instead, the two powerful child protection officials put in place by his government -- Lesley du Toit, the deputy minister of Children and Family Development, and Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the province's children and youth representative -- have become, in effect, rivals.
This is the back story on the frustrating stand-off between them and their competing visions for the ministry.
South African import
Following the last election, the Campbell administration faced accusations from the media and the opposition that its policies had put vulnerable children at risk -- contributing to the deaths of toddlers Sherry Charlie and Savannah Hall.
In response, the government appointed Hughes in November 2005 to "examine oversight, public reporting and advocacy" within the child protection system.
The problem is the premier didn't stop there.
The Hughes Review, which his government had expected would be "accomplished in the space of a few weeks," took four and a half months.
In the meantime, the premier's office -- anxious to act -- retained then South African child care agency executive director Lesley du Toit to "assist government in developing a response" to that review's yet-to-be-written recommendations.
But du Toit, who would later be named the deputy minister of Children and Family Development, seems to have come to that job with her own vision for the future of the ministry.
Just three months prior to her hiring, she had been in Victoria delivering a presentation to senior bureaucrats and community members entitled "Transforming the Child Welfare System."
Principle or policies?
Du Toit's transformative vision -- which, according to her, was "strongly influenced" by the Hughes Review -- appears at odds with the report's recommendations.
Hughes wanted to repair the ministry, stressing a need for "equilibrium and stability."
By comparison, du Toit's plan is less certain, consisting primarily of principles rather than policies.
But what we do know is that she appears to want to remake rather than just repair the ministry -- changing its culture and structure.
Which could be why du Toit has stated the Hughes Review won't be "used as a blueprint for transformation" -- despite that being Hughes explicit intention.
As a result, implementing his recommendations seems to have become, at best, a secondary consideration for du Toit.
In fact, the new deputy minister's first message to ministry staff included no reference to that review.
Instead, du Toit wrote she had been appointed to "facilitate and accelerate the transformation of the system for children, youth and families in B.C. with which this ministry began some years back."
Stalling the Hughes Fix
A chronology of promises, confusion and little action.
November 2005 The government appoints Ted Hughes to conduct an independent review of B.C.'s child protection system.
February 9, 2006 The premier's office retains Lesley du Toit to "assist government in developing a response" to the Hughes Review recommendations.
April 7, 2006 Hughes releases 62 recommendations to improve the "safety and well-being of B.C.'s children, youth and families."
April 18, 2006 The government appoints du Toit deputy minister of Children and Family Development.
May 11, 2006 Du Toit's first message to ministry staff includes no reference to the Hughes Review.
December 1, 2006 Du Toit's first transformation update includes no reference to the Hughes Review.
April 1, 2007 Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond assumes full responsibility as the province's children and youth representative, overseeing the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
July 19, 2007 Following a meeting with du Toit, Turpel-Lafond concludes the ministry intends to leave behind the Hughes Review recommendations "in light of transformation."
November 26, 2007 Turpel-Lafond's first progress report finds "too little evidence within MCFD of a coordinated effort to implement numerous Hughes recommendations where its leadership has been required." In response, du Toit tells the Times Colonist the ministry will complete about 90 per cent of the Hughes recommendations within a year.
November 28, 2007 Christensen tells the legislature, "We are moving forward with each and every one of Mr. Hughes's recommendations."
April 25, 2008 The ministry releases it's Strong, Safe and Supported plan.
December 11, 2008 Turpel-Lafond releases her second progress report, telling reporters "there is still no coordinated effort" within the ministry to implement the Hughes Review recommendations.
-- Sean Holman
And that appointment meant the government -- which had also commissioned the Hughes Review -- had created, by accident rather than design, two competing futures for the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Here comes the judge
But that might not have become apparent if government hadn't followed Hughes' first and foremost recommendation, appointing a children and youth representative to oversee that ministry.
Saskatchewan provincial court judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond assumed that responsibility on April 1, 2006.
And within three months, she was privately expressing concern about the future of the Hughes Review recommendations.
After all, the deputy minister, according to Turpel-Lafond, told her during a meeting that "many of the recommendations were not possible to achieve" because the review was "informed by ideas which are entrenched in an old system."
"I take from this that the Hughes Review recommendations are something that should be left behind in light of transformation," continued the representative, in a letter addressed to du Toit.
In November 2007,* Turpel-Lafond went public with her concerns, stating there is "too little evidence within MCFD of a coordinated effort to implement numerous Hughes recommendations where its leadership is required."
And, last month, she made a similar statement following the release of her second Hughes Review progress report.
Dismissing the Hughes approach?
In the past, the government has attempted to defuse those concerns, with Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen assuring the legislature he would be "moving forward with each and every one of Mr. Hughes's recommendations."
In fact, the ministry's Strong, Safe and Supported action plan -- which was released this past April -- included the ministry's own assessment of its progress in responding to the Hughes Review.
But, recently, the government has become dismissive of Turpel-Lafond's criticisms and even, arguably, the review itself.
In response to the representative's latest progress report, Christensen told reporters the government isn't taking an approach "where -- to the letter of each recommendation -- we must be able to satisfy it completely."
Instead, "what we've said is we want to address those recommendations in the context in which they were offered and within our own Strong, Safe and Supported plan."
So, 33 months following the release of the Hughes Review, the government has become entrenched and so has the representative.
Two's a crowd
The representative, who is now seen by government as a critic rather than a watchdog, is convinced "there is still no coordinated effort" within the ministry to implement the review.
Meanwhile, the government seems just as convinced du Toit's vision will meet the overall objective of that review -- improving the "safety and well-being of B.C.'s children, youth and families" -- even if it doesn't specifically respond to all the Hughes Review recommendations.
An impasse of the premier's own creation has been reached.
The Campbell administration was wrong to have appointed both Hughes and du Toit to do what became the same task -- envisioning a future for the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
But the consequences of that decision are more than bureaucratic.
Du Toit's poorly articulated vision may indeed improve the province's child protection system.
But to date, there's little evidence that's the case.
Nor has the representative found any -- perhaps because there is none, perhaps because of her own belief in the Hughes Review.
Meanwhile, many of the review's recommendations have gone unfulfilled -- perhaps because they are unnecessary, perhaps because of the deputy minister's equally strong belief in her own vision.
And, in the end, it is the children who will suffer as a result of this in-fighting.
Related Tyee stories:
- Sherry Charlie reforms dropped: BC youth watchdog
- Gov't Kept Kids in Unsafe Homes Says Watchdog
Children left to live with known abusers; probe planned. - Cody's Death: How Deep an Investigation?
The Fontaine toddler died in a troubled home after social worker cutbacks. But the Liberals killed the Children's Commission -- and its power to investigate government fault. A Tyee special report.
![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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G West
3 years ago
Yeh Sean
And you should hear what the workers on the ground have to say about du Toit...then again, I'm sure you have.
Gary
3 years ago
Campbell.....
would have you believe that he is the best person to manage our economy. Yet he can't even manage his own ministries.
This whole thing smacks of a huge spin. And that spin is to have this government implement its' own system again. What is it with this guy? He uses our tax dollars to commission a report on a very grave problem in the province then wastes 33 months to tell us that he won't be using that report. Some economic management that is.
And this isn't the only fiasco he has created. I submit he gets elected on grand promises and then doesn't know how to implement them so they sit on the back burner until the next election
Grumpy
3 years ago
Sad, sad, sad...............
........according to the Campbell/Liberal gospel, the poor deserve to be poor and poor children deserve to die. A very simple philosophy, for very simple people.
Van Isle
3 years ago
The Campbell brothers have
The Campbell brothers have some very simple philosophies, some of which are; 'the market place will fix it' or 'free interprise can do a better job', which this article plays right into it. The same type of thinking plays right into our medical mess too, so don't think that Campbell is going really want to fix anything. He wants government services to fail and that gives him the excuse to privatize it.
Chris H
3 years ago
Consequences
The consequences of the broad cuts to MCF are very apparent. How can you expect to provide the same services with drastically less resources? Social workers no longer had the time to deal with reports in the same comprehensive manner that they had in the past. Of course, a great deal of vulnerable children are going to suffer as a result. By giving those that didn't need it a huge tax cut, and slashing services to children, the BC Liberals made a fundamental choice on what they valued most.
come again
3 years ago
Du Toit has the power
The article, though it doesn't implicitly say it, is that the problem lies in Du Toit's inability to effectively articulate a vision, and that in the face of that Turpel-Lafond is frustrating efforts at change.
But the premise is wrong. The Auditor General does not prevent the Finance ministry from acting. The minister has the power. The representative ensures it's effectively used.
The ability to articulate a vision is important. The ability to implement it is critically important.
Ultimately, it appears little has been done. The plan is incredibly long in coming, and the representative has not been satisfied it will work.
I don't see the power struggle. It's simpler than that. Du Toit has had every ability to prove her plan. I see an unconvinced watchdog who's seen little action.
sunshine coast girl
3 years ago
The whole thing is disgusting
and the Liberals deserve to be defeated in May for this, if for nothing else.
Sean Holman
3 years ago
Actually...
I wouldn't say - nor would I even suggest - that the "problem lies in Du Toit's inability to effectively articulate a vision, and that in the face of that Turpel-Lafond is frustrating efforts at change."
The problem, as stated in my analysis, is that Premier Gordon Campbell didn't create a clear process and chain of command for righting the ministry of children and family development.
Instead, he created two process - one based on specific policies, the other mostly limited to general principals - that are in conflict with one another.
zalm
3 years ago
Exactly, Sean
I've seen this a couple of times in hospitals - a scathing report is written, recommendations are formed, but before they can be implemented, the "new CEO" (usually imported from out of province to fix the mess) brings his own ideas along with him and starts to implement them in a totally different culture than the one he or she came from. Without waiting to see if they fit, the process proceeds counter to recommendations, creating new problems that subsume the old, and the waste gets perpetuated.
This happens in corporations too. Only, its effects are not nearly so critical as when it happens in ministries of the government that have the responsibility for caring for people.
That's why Campbell, the impatient string-puller, is unfit to lead. The difference between him and Harcourt, the master consultative politician, could never be more striking.
That's why Harcourt got 'consultated' right out of his own government. There's always some power-hungry git who thinks he knows beter than everybody else.
come again
3 years ago
Sean...
There are not two processes with the same end goal. One is action. One is oversight.
To quote you:
"The Campbell administration was wrong to have appointed both Hughes and du Toit to do what became the same task -- envisioning a future for the Ministry of Children and Family Development."
It's not Turpel-Lafond's job to envision the future, nor has she.
The representative oversees. The deputy minister acts. The deputy minister is hired by the government to enact its vision. You are right in as much as the minister was still talking about the Hughes report after Du Toit abandoned it. But again, the minister hired, and directs Du Toit.
There does seem to be a breakdown between what the government initially expected to do (implement Hughes) and what the person they chose to hire has done (ignore it), but that has nothing to do with oversight.
In your response to me you state that that one process is based on “specific policies” and the other “mostly limited to general principles”. On one hand the ministry must go beyond general principles. It’s very existence is to implement concrete policy; it fails by definition if it does not. On the other hand, I believe the oversight role is being viewed to narrowly.
We must remember the oversight agency does not do policy, and the Hughes report (which included policy directives) must remain the standard while there remains no other policy to compare it to.
The reality here is simple government failure, held to account with the the excellent tools the Hughes Report has provided the oversight agency.
Jeffrey J.
3 years ago
Pathetic and Sad
How pathetic is this government? (A rhetorical question only). These guys were arrogant and smug when the financial bubble was continuously rising. Now that its bursting, they will be seen as who they really are. A bunch of salespeople, hucksters and angry people. Who better to typify this then Campbell himself.
To see their bullying treatment of children, the most vulnerable of society, tells the whole story.
The sooner BC gets rid of this bunch, the better.
Always a pleasure to read Sean Holman on the Tyee. Great work. These are the voices and stories that can change a society.
Grumpy
3 years ago
Process is the key..........
.........because you can hire cronies; you can employ friends. Process gives jobs, jobs that will make people like you.
Solving the problem means no jobs for political friends.
Sean Holman
3 years ago
Just a clarification come
Just a clarification come again...you state, "It's not Turpel-Lafond's job to envision the future, nor has she."
I entirely agree. As stated in my analysis, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond's vision for the ministry is the one created by Hughes - and justifiably so. After all, her office is a creature of the Hughes Review process.
And it is that process which is in competition with the one that was born when the premier's office first retained Lesley du Toit.
quarry bay
3 years ago
Confusing the issue
That is the Campbell play book, if you can`t dazzle them with brillance baffle them with bullshit!
Every ministry,every department Campbell has screwed with operations and money and made matters worse.
Gordon(lonely boy)Campbell likes to break all his toys,then Gordon gets a new toy,he shows it to his freinds before he promptly breaks it and discards into the corner.
Gordon(lonely boy) Campbell chooses a new deputy minister,a new czar to pretend to make new reccomendations,this pattern is a way of deflecting blame,by listening to their new guru is a way of minimizing the findings or suggestions from hughes or lafond.
All of you point grey residents should be ashamed of yourselves for voting for (lonely boy)
come again
3 years ago
last comment
Feel free to respond. I'll sign off here.
I guess I don't see there having to be a competition between Turpel-Lanford and du Toit. Or any proof there is one.
If du Toit had policy that addressed the Hughes Report, though through different mechanisms than he suggested, you could accuse Turpel-Lafond of being a creature of her office.
Her role was created due to a report commissioned due to a tragedy. She is beholden to the Province's children and youth, not the report itself.
You say "there's little evidence" du Toit's vision will "improve the province's child protection system."
I don't think you can accuse Turpel-Lafond of being a rival to, or in competition with du Toit, as you do, until du Toit presents policy that shows Turpel-Lafond to be dogmatic.
You ask the question yourself: "Nor has the representative found any [improvement] -- perhaps because there is none, perhaps because of her own belief in the Hughes Review."
I simply think there needs to be a clearer sign that they are in opposition over anything material before you call it a competition.
Sean Holman
3 years ago
Final clarification
I refer to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond's office as being a creature of the Hughes Review because it is. It has been both empowered and born from that process. It's not meant as an accusation. It's simply a statement of fact concerning how the office of the representative was created. And there's no question that Turpel-Lafond is, in effect, championing the Hughes Review recommendations through her progress reports. Du Toit appears to have vision different than the one presented by Hughes. And, as a result, a rivalry of sorts has developed. This piece isn't meant to judge the efficacy of the Hughes process versus the du Toit process - but rather explain the current state of the ministry.
G West
3 years ago
Once again
As I wrote above, ask the workers on the ground in the ministry if Du Toit and the Cabinet have provided them with:
a) the tools to do their job professionally and well, and;
b) there has been a real effort to comply with the terms of the Hughes Report.
The reason Turpel-Lafond's reports read the way they do is evident.
Pretending there is any confusion about where the responsibility lies is pointless.
The ministry and the cabinet are responsible.
Suggesting this is nothing more than an academic argument or a bureaucratic turf war ignores the 'clients'.
Why nibble around the corners?
Period.
G West
3 years ago
erratum
First para should read:
...ask the workers on the ground in the ministry if Du Toit and the Cabinet have provided them with:
a) the tools to do their job professionally and well, and;
b) whether or not there has been a real effort to comply with the terms of the Hughes Report.
realisticman
3 years ago
Perhaps we should wait and see
Both protagonists appear worthy. I know it's super trendy to slag Campbell but for the sake of the children perhaps the expert with that specific experience should be given a chance.
"Ted Hughes has served as a judge, deputy attorney general, commissioner of Conflict of Interest and chief federal treaty negotiator. Admired for being fair-minded and decisive, he has been invited to serve on numerous commissions of inquiry. Most recently, he authored the highly publicized report concerning the APEC conference in Vancouver . His community service includes his work as president of the Canadian Hospital Association and the Saskatchewan Health Care Association as well as his current role as a director of the British Columbia Press Council."
"Ms du Toit is an expert in the field of child and youth care, particularly in the transformation of government operations to involve indigenous and non-indigenous communities in direct responsibility for service delivery, including capacity building and accountability. She has most recently held the position of executive director, Child and Youth Care Agency for Development, in Pretoria, South Africa, and has extensive experience dealing with children and youth at risk. In 1995, President Nelson Mandela asked her to lead a team of officials to create a new, integrated and effective child and youth care system for South Africa. She and her team, reporting to an interministerial committee, were able to achieve a remarkable transformation in four years."
G West
3 years ago
how long?
While Ms Du Toit is redecorating the ministry's offices the plight of children, in and out of care, is not improving.
I take it you're aware of the fact that the percentage of children in poverty in this province is NOT improving.
Today we hear from the Fraser Institute that an increase in the minimum wage would harm the economy.
I think it's time someone, and I would have hoped it might be someone like Sean Holman with some BC Liberal cred., started to call a spade a spade relative to this abhorent mess.
As far as I'm concerned Campbell's buoyant 'economy' hasn't benefitted the people who needed help anyway.
Maybe it's time for a little more truth-telling and a little less smiley faced nonsense about the 'best place on earth'.
And I'm not making any excuses for Hughes either, he should have gone a logt further in his report.
G West
3 years ago
As for Ms Du Toit
Perhaps you'd care to do a little more research into the actual state of child and youth care and services in South Africa.
I think you'll find Ms Du Toit is a great advocate for her 'profession'...but not a great achiever in terms of the 'clients' of that profession.
Like most of what the Campbell government has done since 2001, reforms and improvements in this area will not stand scrutiny. Then again, why do I bother – you’d prefer to just wait.
quarry bay
3 years ago
Rman
Are you for real "its super trendy to slag Campbell"
Point grey Gordon has had a free ride for 8 years,finally the media,the watchdogs are holding lonely boy responsible.
Campbell should be dragged through the city square and be pelted with tomatoes and other produce.
Rman,your hero Campbell doesn`t listen to anyone except the corporation.
I am glad you have admitted Rman that you are now hearing on a daily basis,complaints about Campbell,complaints about all ministies,get used to it Rman,that is why the BC Liberals are 10 points down in the polls and falling.
Canwest can`t save Campbell this time, [OFFENSIVE COMMENT DIRECTED AT OTHER COMMENTERS REMOVED HERE...]
Du toit.....It isn`t about duelling banjoes,Campbell is playing wag the dog,Hughes said this,Lafond says that,well our expert Du toit says something in between.
Do you not understand the reason for this,in Campbell`s mind,by following Du toit`s recommendation Campbell has the best of both world`s(so lonely boy thinks)
Campbell can say that we didn`t heed la fond`s words, we listened to our expert Du toit, somehow Campbell believes this deflection is not admitting ANY BLAME but at the same time making improvements,not LA fond`s improvements,Du toit`s improvement.
This is a pattern from Campbell the liar!
Remember this from Campbell "I won`t sell BC Rail"
So what did Campbell do,he leased BC Rail for 999 years!
[...AND OFFENSIVE COMMENT REMOVED HERE. -MODERATOR.]
realisticman
3 years ago
GWest
[OFFENSIVE COMMENT DIRECTED AT ANOTHER COMMENTER REMOVED. -MODERATOR.]
realisticman
3 years ago
quarry bay
Take it easy old chap. There are serious problems in some communities that need to be radically addressed, when it comes to young children. Bringing in someone that was lauded by Nelson Mandela could be just what we need in BC and Gordon Campbell deserves credit for engaging someone to tackle this difficult file. Give her a chance.
G West
3 years ago
Realisticman
[OFFENSIVE COMMENT DIRECTED AT ANOTHER COMMENTER REMOVED. -MODERATOR.]
wstander
3 years ago
Another slogan
Instead, "what we've said is we want to address those recommendations in the context in which they were offered and within our own Strong, Safe and Supported plan."
This is typical- branding and marketing are the drivers- not serious action.
Develop an alliterative slogan and go and market it matter that nobody know what "it" is.
Frank
3 years ago
Campbell
Too bad the idea of helping kids instead of making their lives worse didn't occur to Campbell about 8 years ago.
But then not much did.
Jane Doe
3 years ago
Wait and see
Ultimately Campbell and his appointed staff are now responsible for the continued poor performance of this ministry.
This issue is not new, though always tragic no matter which party is in Victoria. Government has always struggled with the child caretaker role as this excerpt from 1999 shows:
"...There's yet another devastating indictment today of B.C.'s child welfare system. This time it's from the province's child, youth and family advocate, Joyce Preston.
In her annual report, Preston says services to children remain inadequate and they have not improved since the ministry of children and families was created two-and-a-half years ago. "
This was during the NDP watch.
I have seen this operation from the inside, both Victoria policy makers and field staff as far back as the late '80's.
There are major systemic problems with this government function going way back, and its separation from the welfare side doesn't seem to have helped.
This is an extremely difficult area that does not have a simple solution, will not be rectified in a short time frame and needs a domain expert with a track record.
Overlay on top the complexities of devolving responsibility for First Nations child care back to First Nations and you have a major challenge for current and future governments.
The simple answer of throw out the guy at the top is just well, .... simple minded.
quarry bay
3 years ago
Jane Doe
Throw the top guy out?
[OFFENSIVE COMMENT DIRECTED AT ANOTHER COMMENTER REMOVED. -MODERATOR.] Campbell has been reprimanded from every watchdog group for 8 years,Campbell`s entire cabinet is under investigation,ex cabinet ministers are still under investigation.
Campbell has been sued and lost in the Canada supreme court,there are a dozen cases going right now against Campbell!
To name a few, Class action suit over power lines in Delta, Cambie merchants class action suit,John Les land development [COMMENT REMOVED HERE FOR POTENTIAL LEGAL REASONS. -MODERATOR.]!Injured workers class action suit against WCB,Campbell gutted the WCB in 2002,BC rail,there are many more law suits and embarrassed Cabinet members.
[OFFENSIVE COMMENT DIRECTED AT ANOTHER COMMENTER REMOVED. PLEASE FOCUS ON THE ARGUMENTS AND LEAVE THE DENIGRATING PERSONAL COMMENTS OUT. -MODERATOR.]
G West
3 years ago
Throw the top guy out and the sooner the better
Not to mention Quarry Bay, the very pertinent fact that deputies and ADMs are all appointed by the Premier and 'run' through his office - ministers and to an even greater extent the whole caucus of this government are little more than pusillanimous troglodytes as far as Campbell is concerned.
He RUNS the show.
Lesley Du Toit was hand-picked because the CEO thought it would give his efforts some credibility.
In government she is considered a bad joke - but a joke that keeps on giving because no one has the balls to tell the Premier that the 'appointed one' is a stunning failure.
Whatever credibility she had from her experiences in South Africa in the years around the end of apartheid and subsequently has proved utterly useless in the very different cultural and social context of British Columbia. Furthermore, for anyone who cares, the state of child and family service in DuToit’s native land ain’t much to brag about these days either. How many murders happen on the streets of Joberg every day? You might care to check that out.
Her concern for enhancing the status of the bureaucrats in her office is legendary - her understanding of the problems here in BC is profound.
The extent of her failure to address the issues delineated in the Hughes report is, in my view, almost criminal.
That the Premier can't recognize this is not surprising.
I've seen a new BC Liberal bumper sticker of late...."KEEP BC STRONG©" it says.
What an insult - almost as bad as that other slogan - "THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH©"
Chris H
3 years ago
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond has been a big disappointment in my eyses. She has been unable to put any pressure on the Campbell government to actually implement the most important parts of the Hughes Commission. She instead wastes her time, agreeing with the Fraser Institute, arguing that every grade 4 and 7 child needs to write the FSA so that she can use these children to get the data she thinks she needs. What a load of bull. So, my nine year-old will spend hours on a test that the teacher does not use to inform her instruction, or what my particular child needs to further her development, in order to give Turple-Lafond data she could get in another way.
She really needs to focus on what's important!
Jane Doe
3 years ago
Quarry and G-west
Hi guys, ..you know you folks will have to rely more on valid argument rather than throwing around offensive comments.
Q-bay the only thing left of your note after the scissors was a rant.
Yes I know you want the NDP in and it must be frustrating to have seen the voters vote in Gordon for another term but as I pointed out in my note - they didn't improve the child welfare system during their tenure.
And not wishing to go over dirty laundry (but you leave me choice) - remember the fast ferries, Bingogate, et al and yes apparently Glen was quite the autocrat.
The world is a lot more complex than you paint it
SharingIsGood
3 years ago
the buck stops...
at the premier's office.
I'm with G West on this one, "Why nibble around the corners?"
Campbell screwed up the Ministry when he first took office nigh on 8 years ago. He went about slashing funding to the Ministry for Children and Family Development as well as
mistreating its professional staff. Further, he did this to all the other ministries that were concerned with the welfare and needs of average families: Health, Education, Probation, Legal Aid, Victims Services, Ombudsman, etc. The compounding effect was to throw all of the ministries into a maelstrom of confusion. It produced an inability for them to deliver quality integrated services - never mind the oversight.
Thus, though they had not been perfect, the ministries that weren't broken got broken. A broken ministry means that their needs to be a study and a report. So time goes by to find a suitable person -preferably someone outside of the province because that will gum up the works more and reduce the need to do anything (as doing nothing to change a broken ministry costs nothing).
It should be noted at this point that BC had had a world renowned reputation for fulfilling the social contract for quite some time. As previously mentioned, the Harcourt government had done an excellent job of showing how to get input from all partner groups, how to develop cogent interdisciplinary plans for change, and, finally, how to implement those plans while supporting the existing system. Contingencies were put in place to help avoid having people, BC citizens, slip through society’s cracks. This was all accomplished while negotiating the rigours of an inherited Socred deficit and downturn in the economy.
Now we have had years of hand-wringing and finger-pointing between the government and its employees with still no change. What we get instead is a bloated over-paid provincial government that sits for seemingly fewer days each year while it provides fewer services to its citizens.
I fear that soon the Campbellites may accomplish their goal of breaking everything so they can claim they must privatize everything because the private sector does so much better. One need only to look to the stock market and American health care to see the insanity of their goal.
Stump
3 years ago
"And not wishing to go over
"And not wishing to go over dirty laundry (but you leave me choice) - remember the fast ferries, Bingogate, et al and yes apparently Glen was quite the autocrat."
Cost overruns, scandal, and a leader who rules by decree. Hmmm, yes, let's remember the NDP and stack up their mistakes and misdeeds with the Liberals by all means. Frankly, compared to the gov't in power, the NDP's errors looks more and more like small potatoes in a field chock-full of Liberal screw-ups the size of pumpkins.
SharingIsGood
3 years ago
errata
... A broken ministry means that "their" needs to be a study and a report.
A broken ministry means that [there] needs to be a study and a report.
Whoops
realisticman
3 years ago
In your anger
...you may be wishing to throw the babies out with the bathwater.
Give the woman a chance! She has a good track record, comes highly recommended (Mandela no less) and has only been on her job here for a couple of years.
http://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0500-kirkland.html
dorothy
3 years ago
bah humbug
"Bringing in someone that was lauded by Nelson Mandela could be just what we need in BC"
What we need in BC is to elicit capable, serious and worthy people out of our own midst to solve our problems. I am sure they are out there.
'Bringing in' somebody from the other side of the globe is a trite and petty power-thing to do, a classical divide-and-conquer strategy, which is only justifiable if everyone locally is completely inept. Fortunately, that is not the case here. Look again, those who hire and fire, there are excellent people right here in our own province, who will and do put heart and soul into seeing things get better for our kids. Use them, instead of making everything so pathetically political and self-serving.
quarry bay
3 years ago
Jane Doe
A few Campbell Liberal mis-deeds.
Chapter 1
Lied and tore up the HEU contract,And then Campbell got sued and lost in the Supreme court/ settlement 100 milion
Campbell lied and sold BC Rail,still in trial,cost 50 million plus for lawyers and still on going after 5 years.
Raised the BC sales tax to 7.5%,he loowered it back down several years later
Doubled MSP premiums
Lied to the Cambie street merchants about cut and cover, the class action lawsuit got started 2 weeks ago
Gave himself and his top civil servants 2 massive payraise in the last 2 years,his assistant Jessicca Mcdonald got a 104 thousand $ raise,bringing her total to 348.000.00 a year plus,expenses.
Cut off funding to the autistic if their IQ is over 70
Gutted WCB/with illegal laws, WCB is paying out 1/20th of 2002 totals
massive land giveaways to forest companies deemed illegal,province got censured
closed hospitals,seniors homes
sold 2000 rivers for 5000.00 each to IPPs,who even knew they were for sale?
Charged and plead guilty to driving while extremely intoxicated by alcohol
quarry bay
3 years ago
Chapter 2
Fired 9000 heu health workers,Campbell lied on his 2001 election campaign,average HEU wage at that time 18.00 per hour,some got hired back at 10.00 per hour.
Campbell created the 6.00 starter wage and hasn`t raised the minimum wage during his entire 8 years.
Campbell lied about gambling,his 2001 election promise was no expansion of gambling, gambling has doubled,
dobell convicted/plead guity to lobbying without registering,dobell worked for vancouver and the provice, 400.00 per hour from each!
Vancouver trade and convention center 500 million dollars over budget! Who was in charge of that project for the first 3 years Ken Dobell!
Jane Doe
3 years ago
humbug
Dorothy, ...perhaps you have some names of people in our mist that should be recruited. This is not seen as a plum portfolio. This ministry has been studied and studied and guess what - there isn't an easy answer.
There is a shortage of quality caregivers throughout the province and that problem gets even more acute when you try to service the First Nations population further north.
Over the years the ministry has vacillated on the very basic decision re: leave the child in the home vs. apprehend. And that is not criticism of one party or the other - that question is central. And often the both options may be less than ideal.
As I said previously this is hugely complex and requires the best experience money can buy.
I have no idea why bringing in expertise from outside the province could be seen as "....trite and petty power-thing to do, a classical divide-and-conquer strategy."
Who is being divided and conquered?
How does Campbell gain "power" from this.
You must know something about government bureaucracies that has gone over my head.
G West
3 years ago
Jane Doe
What are you talking about?
Please, point me to any offensive or inaccurate comment I've posted on this story.
I try to make my criticisms pointed and factual.
I've said nothing whatever 'personal' about you.
G West
3 years ago
Realisticman
I'm not angry - I think she has a good record at feathering her own nest and playing the international jet-setter - that's about all.
Furthermore, my observations about the state of affairs in her ministry are from people who work in the area.
Perhaps you're aware of a memo issued to ministry staff in December about the imposition of "fiscal restraint measures" in the coming weeks.
Fortunately for ms Du Tois, the renovations to her office digs have already been done.
quarry bay
3 years ago
Chapter 3
The Solicitor general for BC(John les) is still under investigation for land deals and is currently waiting on the sidelines.
Campbell on more than one occasion has failed to have legislative sessions.
Campbell has ignored study after study about farm fish lice destroying wild salmon,even a bi-partisan report by MLSa from both sides have said they need to be removed,Campbell refuses to listen,these fish farms are big time Liberal campaign doners.
Canada line skytrain in richmond is apparently 1 billion over budget and is not a P3
Evergreen line was promised to be built but Campbell forced 3 votes at translink and forced the board to approve the olympis line first,evergreen line might be started in 2011
Sea to sky highway 3.6 billion dollar upgrade to whistler 800 million for construction and 300.000.00 per day(or 100 million per year) for 25 years for maintenance, THAT IS CORRECT 300.000.00 per day,everyday for 25 years HMMMMMM
Campbell promised to dredge deer lake(still not fulfilled)
ICBC chop shop,Campbell gas tax
Campbell bought 3 defective ferries from Germany,ferry rate increase has decimated ferry travel!
Campbell put parking fees at all our provincial parks
Raw log exports have quadripled under Campbell and Coleman while we have lost 14000 forestry jobs in BC
Campbell closed 200 hundred schools,now tens of thousands of kids get bused out of their communities for schooling.
BC Hydro rates have more than doubled under Campbell,the money is now going to IPPs
Our BC debt since Campbell took over has gone up by billions of dollars,not one penny of debt has been paid! Not to mention tens and tens of billions in contractual debt has been added to BCs bill
Here is a link about BCs debt since Campbell`s reign
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=be4c05c2-444b-4624-afbb-fb98ac8b799e
Jane, I would sooner vote for a band of gypsies than Gordon Campbell
quarry bay
3 years ago
Campbell
Building boom,record high commodity prices = billions added to our BC debt
Homelessnesss has tripled under Campbell`s watch,BC leads the nation in Child poverty for 6 straight years,the national average 15 % BCs average 23% ---That is more than 1 in 5 BC children live in poverty.
Raid on the legislature!
Campbell lied about golden parachute pensions,goverment advertising
Private jet trip to Bejiing,a giant carbon footprint,6 years worth of driving a car for that one jet trip!
Now just what did Clark do? He had three fast ferries built in BC with BC labour.
An alledged patio deck
Oh by the way,Clark left two surplus budgets in a row and paid down debt.
When Campbell took over he had over 1 billion dollar surplus to work with!
realisticman
3 years ago
Aside from concerning ourselves with the children
...let's play this game:
"What we need in BC is to elicit capable, serious and worthy people out of our own midst to solve our problems."
"I think she has a good record at feathering her own nest and playing the international jet-setter "
"I would sooner vote for a band of gypsies than Gordon Campbell"
Say no more, brothers and sisters. I can dig where you're coming from. Some would call it Politically Incorrect, other might simply say blatant xenophobic racism.
There's clearly no point whatsoever in discussing childrens' well being with this crowd.
Hasta la vista muchachos y muchachas.
Frank
3 years ago
Say it ain't so
Sounds like the captain of the Washington Generals has thrown in the towel.
Jane Doe
3 years ago
Q-bay ...just to pick one
Q-bay ...just to pick one of your larger points :
"....Our BC debt since Campbell took over has gone up by billions of dollars,not one penny of debt has been paid! Not to mention tens and tens of billions in contractual debt has been added to BCs bill"
Here is an extract from the article you cited in your "chapter 3", Vanc. Sun
"...For at least the past two decades we have been focused on debt as a measure of the health of our public finances. The Public Accounts released last week show that the total provincial debt is now less than it has been since before the NDP took office in 2001.
But what benefit is there in reducing debt if we are simply replacing it with other financial obligations?"
This doesn't seem to square with the point you're trying to make
I don't care to check your other claims, way too time consuming, and hardly relevant to the topic being discussed.
Unfortunately most topics on this board end up down the same sinkhole of Harper/Campbell bashing. Societal problems do go beyond government you know.
G West
3 years ago
Frank
What was that figure for 'total' Provincial Debt... I keep forgetting to write it down...wasn't it projected at in the neighbourhood of $50 billion buckaroos?
The public accounts are not especially reliable indices of 'total provincial debt'.
It is too bad about those sinkholes - they tend to suck up anything good pretty quickly don't you think Jane.
G West
3 years ago
Oh Jane, in case you actually do care
We won't wait for Frank to answer my question, I found the required reference in my files it happens to be from the article you're quoting that was cited by Quarry Bay.
Unfortunately, you didn't read the whole piece apparently.
...in the past fiscal year alone the provincial government and its various affiliates added more than $27 billion in bills that will come due for taxpayers in coming years, bringing the total future obligation to more than $55 billion.
Surely that's a mistake, I thought. That is more than the entire provincial budget for a year. It's more than the total provincial debt has ever been.
Well, after conferring with provincial officials, I discovered there had been a mistake, not in this year's report but in the report last year.
The true figure for the previous year was $34 billion, so the increase was just over $21 billion, still an astonishing number.
This is only the second year the finance ministry has included contractual obligations in it annual assessment of the state of the province's finances.
What they show is the effect of the Liberal government's determination to turn to the private sector to provide services and facilities that in the past were provided by government.
They show that while using private sector capital to build hospitals, roads and electrical generating facilities means that government can reduce its debt, taxpayers still get stuck with the bill. It just gets put into another pocket.
I hope you won't be insulted by the fact I bolded a short phrase I thought you should note.
Luke Skywalker
3 years ago
G West and Frank...
Man, I'm gonna personally send in a couriered letter to Premier Carole James personally so that both you guys are nominated as dual deputy ministers of finance under the new NDP government. :)
As a matter of fact, one of ya guys should be shuffled over to be the new Auditor-General. Forget about AG John Doyle. He's usless.
I mean, come on, why would that dunce-cap sign off, yep with his own signature, on this complete idiocy:
http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/OCG/pa/07_08/PA_2008_ProvDebt.pdf
A debt reduction of ~$1 billion from the previous 4 years??? Nahhhh, couldn't be.
g west, you are a financial genious... as usual. ;)
G West
3 years ago
Well luke
Thanks for that. I'd be more impressed if your spelling were a little better.
Please though, if you don't agree with the figures, take it up with Craig McInnes.
Frank, of course, speaks for himself.
The article was published in the Sun:
Entitled: P3s just put the bill in another pocket
They're called contractual obligations, but they're still piling up debt for our children and grandchildren to pay
Craig McInnes
Vancouver Sun
Thursday, July 19, 2007
And, I don't think the auditor general's signature has anything to do with it. What's really going on is just typical Campbell smoke and mirrors - fools a lot of people but it has nothing to do with the public accounts - that's why the government set it up this way - to fool guys like you and gals like Jane.
Happy New Year.
By the way, my contacts in the finance ministry tell me they're rolling over every rock in sight looking for all that missing revenue that Colin Hansen needs to keep from losing 10% of his salary come April.
Frank
3 years ago
Luke
I'd love to be a minister but unfortunately you have to be under investigation by the police or its a no go apparently.
Is there anyone in the Campbell gov't that hasn't been under a cloud? We can start with our solicitor general and his penchant for land deals, our drunk driving premier and our ex-Finance Minister that was being watched by the RCMP.
Frank
3 years ago
Jane
Campbell and Harper are the greatest leaders since Julius Ceasar, we get it. We hear you.
One little question, when you think of them, are they glowing or do they resemble regular folk?
Frank
3 years ago
quarry bay
Nice list, one would call it a "Reign of Error" but unfortunately most of it was on purpose.
One thing is fun though, for the first time since BC's record deficit in his first year, Campbell is claiming the economy isn't his fault.
In the words of the immortal church lady, "How convenient".
Frank
3 years ago
GWest
The pile of cash we're on the hook for is even bigger than the pile of kids Campbell's policies have hurt.
Campbell's debt is now bigger than Harper's ego. Hard to believe but its a fact.
Luke Skywalker
3 years ago
g west and and Frank...
Dammit, I knew you two would eventually show up!!! :)
I also read in the Vancouver Sun that Carole James is inept. Makes sense doesn't it??? ;)
Now for the ~100th posting time.... Craig McInnis was reviewing Public Accounts and stumbled across "future contractual obligations" in their infancy.
Ya understand what that is? ;)
No other province bothers to provide "future contractual obligations" within their year-end financials.
Now, for this fiscal year let's look at "future financial obligations", shall we??? Alright.. Some simpleton examples...
1. Highway Maintanance... how long are those future contracts? 5 years perhaps. Under the new accounting procedures we have a future contractual obligation to pay the highway maintenance contractors;
2. Office Space... lordy, lordy, the provincial government leases lottsa office space... upto 25 year terms!!! And over that term, "future contractual obligations" include basic rent, operating expenses, and property taxes;
Just a couple of simpleton examples. For your benefit. ;) No other provincial jurisdiction in Canada reports those "future contractual obligations".
If I were you guys, I would raise hell with the opposition to bring your concerns to the general public.
Now.... why hasn't the NDP ever raised concerns in the legislature or elsewhere regarding same??? 'Cause it doesn't wash.
Is it any wonder that the BC populace views the current government, in terms of managing the provincial economy effectively, with these numbers:
Liberal: 41%
NDP: 18%
G West
3 years ago
For sure Frank
And, from reliable reports, they are sweating blood in the Finance Ministry. That little reduction in ministerial pay may well come back and bite the Executive Council...and there's nothing worse than making less this year than you did last to a Campbell.
http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/freeside/--%20B%20--/01_Balanced%20Budget%20and%20Ministerial%20Accountability%20Act%20%20SBC%202001%20%20c.%2028/00_01028_01.xml
G West
3 years ago
Not convincing Luke
Bills are bills - and we're gonna be paying, not only for Gordo's incompetence, but also for the fact he's sold the future of the province to his friends from away...and the bills all get paid by the taxpayers.
Worst government British Columbia has ever had - completely corrupt - top to bottom.
Carole James may not have Campbell's cred with Alcan and Teck Cominco - but she's an honest person. And she tells the truth.
Most British Columbians I know think that's pretty important in a Premier...
Frank
3 years ago
Luke
"I also read in the Vancouver Sun that Carole James is inept"
That's not hard to find, you can find that in any CanWest paper any day of the week.
But even if Campbell shot a guy they'd hush it up.
As for "future obligations, you conveniently forgot about P3's.
Those private firms don't want to be paid with Smarties, they want their decades' long revenue stream to be in the form of real cash.
Thus, we have "future obligations".
That's as simple as I can make it for you Luke.
Frank
3 years ago
Luke
"Liberal: 41%
NDP: 18%"
Apparently the NDP needs more Jane's. More people that will blindly follow their ideology through depressions, child deaths, corruption etc.
Can-West still a penny stock today Luke? Looks good on you guys.
G West
3 years ago
And
If some of the rumours I've heard about imminent staff cuts and buyouts are borne out, the taxpayers are going to be on the hook for a lot of contractural obligations in the form of rent for vacant premises...in buildings, ironically, that the government used to own.
Gordon is especially good at turning assets into liablities - especially when the liabilities are owed to his friends and neighbours and that long list of donors to the BC Liberal sludge fund.
You might want to look at the cost of the 'contractual obligations' that the David Hahn has just incurred for a long-term lease in a new builing under construction in Victoria by Jawl Brothers....
luke, you have NO idea how bad things 'really' are at the ministry of finance these days.
Luke Skywalker
3 years ago
Frank....
Dammit again... I forgot to bring up those dudes with their ~$500,000 mortages... And that's debt.
Ooooppps ... forgot about them there "future contractual obligations"... Another ~$500,000 in interest payments.
Hey, I kinda think I wanna toss my financial adviser. Interested in the position? :)
Frank
3 years ago
Luke
If you think a mortgage isn't debt you need two or three new financial advisers.
G West
3 years ago
Even Coleman's favourite
Even Coleman's favourite, Western Forest Products, is doing worse than badly these days - even after they were given a real estate gift from the minister....sad, really.
G West
3 years ago
Alcan's in trouble too
Everywhere you look the 'competence' of the Campbell fiscal plan is clearly evident - not just in the 23% of the province's children in who live in poverty either.
Luke Skywalker
3 years ago
Frank...
Ya didn't read my post!
BTW, good interactin' with ya again! :)
Frank
3 years ago
Luke
After two month's away, its fun to be back.
Frank
3 years ago
G
What's really scary is that Coleman's guy, Jordan Bateman, is I think now elected in Langley under a "family values" thingy.
God (even if a delusion) help us all.
Jane Doe
3 years ago
g-west and frank
It must be frustrating for you guys, that the voters keep letting you down, both provincially and federally.
Why don't people see that NDP is the right path, the only path.
However your insistence on dragging down every discussion topic to the same old thing is getting very tired and very boring.
Too child like in terms of a world view, tiresome labels like pee wee Rambo, fascist, neocon etc etc.
Anyway dream on guys, so long as you have each other you can maintain this fantasy world of conspiracy theories that you seem to live in.
The good news is that as your party isn't going to be in power anytime soon you can do what you do best - throw barbs, give silly names and pat each other on the back.
Realisticman had it right a few hours ago - time to check out for a while.
Dan the socialist
3 years ago
if the general public cared,
if the general public cared, Campbell would be booted in May. Obviously they do not care as he will no doubt be re elected again....
G West
3 years ago
Jane
So that's pretty much it eh?
When you can't defend the rascals you turn around, like realisticman, and attack.
You're the one "throw(ing) barbs, give(ing) silly names and pat(ing) each other on the back."
The people can't let the people down my friend, only the government can do that.
And so far you haven't provided a single solitary refutation of anything I've written here.
As to dragging down the discussion - please, what ARE you talking about?
I'm actually getting kind of tired of your 'personal' attacks.
dorothy
3 years ago
Reply to Jane Doe
“This is not seen as a plum portfolio.”
Hard to believe, if someone who is in Dr. Mandela’s good books would traverse the globe in order to fill it.
“..there isn't an easy answer.”
I do not believe that I claimed there was.
“There is a shortage of quality caregivers throughout the province and that problem gets even more acute when you try to service the First Nations population further north.”
But we weren’t talking about the people servicing anyone further north. We were discussing the decision-makers in Victoria, whose job it is to make the most of those scarce resources. That is precisely why we need people who know what counts.
“Over the years the ministry has vacillated..”
There you have it
“..this is hugely complex and requires the best experience money can buy.”
So, maybe we should make it a plum portfolio, if, as you say, it isn’t one
Now, eh?
‘I have no idea why bringing in expertise from outside the province could be seen as "....trite and petty power-thing to do, a classical divide-and-conquer strategy." ‘
Can’t help you there. Read books on this kind of thing. Here is a good one:
http://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197
“You must know something about government bureaucracies that has gone over my head.”
Perhaps. I have grappled with them in my role as a parent committee member, when my kids were in school. And I work within a pretty bureaucracy-laden public service, where of course I cannot tell you things in any detail, but certainly the corporate jungle has very little on the hallowed places of serving the fellow citizens.
I do not know if you had chances of similar insight, but it ‘went over your head’, as you said. According to my mother’s treasury of proverbs, you cannot prevent the birds from doing that, only from building nests in your hair.
Frank
3 years ago
Jane
Must be tough for you to go on websites and find that not everyone outside of your little circle sees Campbell as a messiah figure that has never done anything wrong.
Good-bye
quarry bay
3 years ago
Jane
In your world it is okay for a premier to break laws and lie to the public,over and over again.
Vaughn Palmer today on the cutting ledge (on CKNW) mentioned, besides contractual obligations the BC debt has risen by over 2 billion dollars.
So here we had a booming economy,record commodity prices and our BC debt has gone up, how do you explain that Jane?
You have no answeres do you?
Luke? Any answeres?
Luke you posted that BCers think Campbell would make a better manager,that is true but,the voters of Bc - by a margin of 9 points according to Angus reid, will be voting NDP against Liberals,according to the same polls 70% of all people polled believe Campbell is "not honest or trustworthy"
Luke,jane,Rman,put up links to prove your point.
Luke you wagered(and didn`t pay) that the BC Liberals were going to win both bi-elections,well the NDP rookies whacked Campbell`s dream team!
" If wishes were horses beggers could ride"
Jane,Angus Reid was exactly right on his poll numbers for the last federal election,perhaps you would like to glance at some true poll numbers,here is the link.
http://www.angus-reid.com/uppdf/2008.11.15_BCPolitics_1.pdf
Jane, Luke,Rman --I am not a NDPer--I will vote for anyone,anything to remove the proven lawbreaker and liar Campbell!
Jane,no matter who wins in may they are screwed,Campbell has so indebted our province,sold(gave away) money/revenue streams.
As for who is the best manager? Well with wall street banking,big industry,all the experts.all the economists,I will take an honest,caring for families manager named Carole James in a heartbeat over the "experts"
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Interesting
I am sure all will be well then the NDP gets their landslide in May.
It is a foregone conclusion, right?
Frank
3 years ago
WM
Strange, because all I hear is how its a foregone conclusion that the Libs will win in May.
You have heard of the Sun, the Province, CKNW etc right?
Frank
3 years ago
Remember when...
A certain commentor last year whose initials are "W.L." declared the carbon tax was great, clearly the output of a brilliant political mind and how it would destroy the NDP and hand Campbell the next election on a silver platter?
Or how Luke a day ago declared the NDP party of BC dead with just 18% support?
lynn
3 years ago
The Fixer
Quote:
"But what we do know is that she appears to want to remake rather than just repair the ministry -- changing its culture and structure."
Ah yes, all the good soldiers that are willing to carry out the "transformative" vision of Premier Campbell (and those he salutes and serves...and I don't mean the citizens of BC)in remaking and changing "the culture and structure" of this province.
It is the distressing history of the last eight years - relentless and callous privatization via "re-structuring" of health "authorities", ferry "authorities", senior care, education, human rights...including the equally devastating and disturbing changes to, and re-making of, CommunityLivingBC. And still on and on it goes....without let-up.
In all the discounted details of this ruthless "remaking" of BC, lives fall.
Ms. DuToit is merely the equivalent of the Ministry of Education infamous "round table"....a device used to distract and delay...and one ultimately for the Campbell regime to hide its true policies behind....while it attempts to distance itself from responsibility in their implementation....and the consequences thereof.
It's cowardly and devious behavior on the part of government.
And deeply tragic and deeply immoral when it comes to risking the lives of children.
If only somehow the cause of children at risk could be linked to the success of 2010....perhaps then The Gordon Campbell government would see the paramount need for real and meaningful action.
When it comes to finally addressing what defines "dire and paramount need for action " in this province that seems to be the main operating principle at work.
morechatter
3 years ago
Isn't that the Chinese Symbol for War
Two women under one roof? The energies must be terrible with these two women coming at it from opposite directions as its up your ying yang around there as many are over whelmed including the children and Ministry are left unbalanced. You know one thing for sure that Mr. Campbell sure knows how to make choas out of stuff and its hard to believe he does it with out really trying as I just not buying it from the man as he is just to much of a control freak.
morechatter
3 years ago
Extra Extra Read All About It?
Which by the way Luke there is not a great deal of media coverage on the NDP much less Carole James or other informative pieces such as the many problems in government and its out of control spending habits for such a controlled guy. But we know how that works as its the only province I know that has struggling Ministries doing Millions and Millions of dollars of Advertising which just doesn't add it. Carole James has lots to say but you rarely get to hear it as she has Visions for this Province and All its Children and their futures here in BC. And the economy is in trouble because of guys like Campbell and his Big Time Spending Habits and Struggling Health Services and the lot so I'm thinking Ditto on that. As its going to take spending to get things up to par only this time how about spend it on the people of BC and not the rich out of towners and a few select friends as we know how the story goes, notta for you. You know there is no place like home .
Luke Skywalker
3 years ago
Frank...
I trust that ya aren't tryin' to be disingenuous... ;) but that 18% figure was with respect to the public's perception of the NDP's economic management in the ARS poll. Nothin' to do with party preferences! I've posted that result on this site a few times. ;)
ME2
3 years ago
Luke S
Well Luke, that's the way I read the 18% too, but looking at your phrasing again, you are right.
So my take on it is tbat both of you game-players can stuff your G D polls where the sun don't shine.
HawkEyes
3 years ago
Good Exposé
Trust Campbell to charge BC citizens extra to ensure that our children remain damned.
sunshine coast girl
3 years ago
And the babies ....
will just keep on dying.
morechatter
3 years ago
please help me I'm just little kid
and they are tots to teens who are faced with life and death and violence to start of their days. And the response team still has still not gotten around to it and that is THREE YEARS and the children are still on HOLD. And Do Nothing from Africa well she is real good to her own as 10 year old children are forced to work 20 hours a day for $20 a month and then they are forced to turn over the money. I wonder if that was what appealed to Mr. Campbell when it comes to this Lady so to speak the $20 thing because thats what Mr.Campbell gives kids in crisis to eat for the month and that is the honest to God truth.
morechatter
3 years ago
More Sir Please?
And what happens in Vancouver when tot asks for more well they are then forced to wait in long line ups with dangerous offenders and ridiculed by ministry staff. This way Campbell's Ministries can hang on to the $20 as I think he has a fixation with this amount as it appears quite often as a benefit amount. Obviously the benefit is to Campbell's government because kids are dying unless thats why the Minister gets bonsus for reducing Ministry load.
morechatter
3 years ago
And Jane Doe
Although the NDP did little to improve the system they sure didn't go out to destroy it along with the children who lifes they are responsible for is more the truth. And whats happening to BC Kids well if they are not one of the many children enduring unbeleivable abuse and hardship then they are dead all thanks to the efforts of BC Government and its agenda to distroy government Ministries. And since this governments prime goal is to reduce Ministry load then its safe to say how they do it is of little importance as death and dispare result in payoffs to Ministry Staff and you even have double dipping as Joan Dandefer quits over allegations although swears only followed Ministry policy. And then we have the Hog and Campbell's used car saleman brother in law another Choas maker making off with the kids funds. The Hog resigned but got another job helping the poorest kids in town those on assistance or rather helping himself is more like it. Betcha!
morechatter
3 years ago
And Jane lets not forget
What's her name the former Minister who wanted to run for Mayor, you know the One where the controversy over the rail deal and Martin and her husband and her brother and even the Attorney General resulted in them resigning there posts in Government or so it seemed. The Children's Ministry was under controversy over child's death and she was the Minister at that time.
They both have been trying to get back into government since, one as Mayor but Sam got the seat and the other the former attorney general has his civil city thing another controversy.
morechatter
3 years ago
Correction
Thats rights they did not resign they declined to run at that time of the up coming BC Provincal election and It was Christie Clark I believe who was Minister of Families and Children. And Martin can't help but think he is some where in the back ground still trying to pull the strings. I'm positive its what turned him onto government in the first place controlling the public purse.
morechatter
3 years ago
And finally Jane the Simple Minded
Well Jane I'm not sure about your approach as certainly I respect your views and am open to them. And if you want others to hear what you have to say don't insult them it insults your intelligence.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/33352/title/Simpleminded_Voters
And Jane this province has had an major increase in children and deaths as teen sucide is way up there yet this province has stripped its funding putting it into general revenue or other ? places so whats with that as raises and bonuses are the things Liberals are made of. And when it comes to adoption God only knows what kinda countries or homes those poor kids are ending up as slave workers or something like that no doubt?
quarry bay
3 years ago
Gordon Campbell
This is Gordon Campbell
This Parody is what Campbell is all about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D59ZeMm2E00
morechatter
3 years ago
Changes for the better
I was pretty passionate of what I had to say its true but no offense for certain but when it comes to young children and their treatment what can't you say? I can only hope there is positive change in the future for these kids as certainly not enough has been said. And you know what kids on assistant do only get $20 a month for a food crisis for the month and if mom asks for more they are told they will be administered as they live 50% bellow the poverty level. And if Mom asks they are sent to St James in long line ups to curb their asking. These kids are the poorest in the land and something needed to be done yesterday and maybe now that the public has more awareness of the issues concerning these kids changes will be made for the better. Anyhow I'm setting up my own site to give my own perspective on whats going on in the world with the www.worldwidewitch but only I'm going to be smoking hot much like the website the smoking gun I hope. And my added value to the site well as long as my predication are right on I gotta say coming to my site lets you get the news of the day first. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity to express myself as I postive you have not heard the last of me.