We would like to share an important update with you from Inclusion BC regarding the current status of advocacy for the Bus Pass Program and PWD rates.

It is important for all of us to be current as to the status of what has become a province wide campaign that eclipsed most other stories about the 2016 BC Budget. In summary the timeline of actions and events are:

1. BC Budget – Inclusion BC released a statement February 17, 2016 on the BC Budget regarding changes to PWD Benefits.  The information in our Press Release was confirmed in Budget Lock-Up.  http://inclusionbc.org/disability-supports/whats-new/disability-benefit-rate-increase-equalizing-poverty-bc-s-most-vulnerab 

It is important to note that there was no prior consultation with any disability organization or stakeholders regarding these changes to PWD. It is also important to note that previous changes to PWD including the increase in the earnings exemption, Annualized Earnings exemption, streamlining the PWD application process and the increase in the asset limit were all worked on jointly with the disability community, including Inclusion BC.

2. Inclusion BC received a high number of calls and emails immediately following the Budget. At that time most were related to the Bus Pass Program as part of PWD benefits. Inclusion BC contacted a senior government official to confirm the status the Bus Pass Program. It was confirmed that the program was cancelled. Inclusion BC then issued a statement to this effect on February 18, 2016.
3. Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation connected with Inclusion BC after we released (2) stating that in fact the Bus Pass Program had not been cancelled. We pulled the announcement immediately. During these conversations Inclusion BC and MSDSI officials discussed at length the changes to the PWD program. Inclusion BC stands and continues to stand by our Press Release.
4. Inclusion BC received additional  information from MSDSI that clarified the changes to PWD. This clarification was consistent with Inclusion BC’s understanding of the changes. Our perspective on the changes is very different than that of MSDSI. Inclusion BC was also told that the changes to PWD announced in the BC Budget will remain as is.
5. Inclusion BC launched an on-line petition Raise the Rates, Leave the Bus Pass Alone February 18, 2016 calling for all people to receive the $77/month increase, in addition to continued funding for the annual Bus Pass and Special Transportation Subsidy and that PWD benefits be increased and indexed by October 1, 2016 to $1200/month. http://inclusionbc.org/disability-supports/whats-new/sign-petition-raise-rates-leave-our-bus-pass-aloneThis rate is consistent with the report Overdue which we delivered to MSDSI in 2012 http://www.inclusionbc.org/income-security/whats-new/overdue-case-increasing-persons-disabilities-benefit-bc
6. Inclusion BC member agencies supported and organized rallies, letter writing campaigns and attendance at the rallies.
7. The Family Support Institute played and continues to play a critical partnering role in getting the word out and ensuring that the petition and the issues are covered across the province. FSI’s networks have been central to the success of all the efforts to keep the issues in the forefront.
8. Inclusion BC has also collaborated with a number of community organizations and individuals.
9. Inclusion BC supported rallies regarding the petition as well as attending one at the Legislature in Victoria on March 2, 2016 where more than 300 people attended. On this day other rallies were held in New Westminster, the Northshore, Vancouver and Burnaby.
10. On March 9, 20126  I delivered the petition with 15,000 signatures to the Legislature. An Inclusion BC Board member concurrently delivered a copy to Minister Stilwell’s constituency office and a member representative delivered another copy to Premier Clarks constituency office in Kelowna. An invitation was sent to Minister Stilwell in advance to receive the petition but she was not available. I was able to deliver it to MLA Michelle Mungall, Opposition Critic for MSDSI. Michelle subsequently presented the petition in the Legislature the same day.
11. Since the Raise the Rates petition was launched, many people have also contacted their MLA’s and Minister Stilwell’s and Premier Clarks Offices and sent emails and letters in support of the petition. In the first week of the petition 200 people signed/hour.
12. I submitted an Op ED which was published by the Vancouver Sun March 22, 2016 http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Opinion+Pittance+paid+disabled/11800022/story.html
13. Media coverage has been province wide and substantial on all channels and all have been supportive of the terms of the petition. In addition there has been media coverage commenting on the media coverage of the issues.
14. Inclusion BC, the Disability Alliance BC, the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, Al Etmanski, Dr. Michael Prince and Richard Faucher were invited to a meeting with Minister Stilwell on March 22, 2016. At this meeting the Minister indicated a sincere and genuine desire to work together to sort through the issues. We all agreed that this was important and that working together would mean establishing clear timelines for progress and accountabilities. The Minister asked for time to consult with her colleagues. We all supported this and are now waiting to hear back. It was clearly stated that we needed to hear back as soon as possible. While we wait to hear from the Minister, Inclusion BC has not been active in advancing the petition or the issues

In summary, Inclusion BC has a responsibility to all those who signed and supported the petition and our partners to advance a long overdue and serious increase in the rates and a respectful PWD system in BC. We will not back away from the terms of the petition. We are also encouraged by our meeting with Minister Stilwell and look forward to hearing from her this week.

Faith Bodnar
Executive Director Inclusion BC
604-777-9100 ext. 516
inclusionBC.org

Autism Spectrum Disorders affect about one in every 110 children and their families in B.C.  Community events aimed at increasing public awareness and understanding of this complex neurological disorder will be held throughout the month.  Click here for more information.

America Wild – IMAX Review
Seen on March 6

This film was a MacGillivray Freeman film, narrated by Robert Redford.  The film showed audiences many of America’s historic and beautiful National Parks.  The film had strong values of encouraging people to explore and regain the idea that the national Parks aren’t owned by “anyone”, but “everyone”.

In February we launched some focus groups to come together to discuss rights and what they meant for each person.  We gained some valuable insight from meeting with individuals from many of our programs; Home Share, Individual Support Network, Futures Club, and Paskin House.   This poster is the result of those meetings. Next up: an app that will be available on your computer, tablet or phone.

We’d like to thank Sharon Sinclair for helping to facilitate the meetings, and all those who participated in the focus groups….we couldn’t have done it without your valuable input!

Low-Floor Buses Mobility Aid Orientation

If you would like to learn how to board the low-floor bus with your wheelchair, walker or scooter, we can help. We will set up an appointment with you, and bring a bus to the accessible bus stop nearest to your home so that you can practice.

Call BC Transit Safety and Training at 250-385-2551 to arrange a session.

Click here for more information.

March 2016 

Community Update
Updated Canada Pension Plan Disability Guide

Dear Community Partner,

We have completed a full update of our publication The Social Security Tribunal: A Self-Help Guide for Canada Pension Plan Disability Appeals. It is available on our website at http://tinyurl.com/jylnh4o.

If you would like us to mail you this publication, please call Val at 604-875-0188 or email her at [email protected]

Best regards,
Jane Dyson, Executive Director
Val Stapleton, Membership and Outreach Coordinator

CLBC is pleased to announce the following new on-line resources:

home sharing standards course – CLBC’s Standards for Home Sharing course (http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/Home-Sharing-Standards-Course) has been developed in partnership with Open School BC and provides an overview of the standards, principles, and promising practices associated with this residential option. The course contains information that is required for home sharing providers who contract directly with CLBC and is available for anyone who would like to complete the course. If you have questions about this course, please contact Reta Derouin ([email protected]).

resource guide for service providers – The Shared Living Resource Guide: A Toolkit of Ideas to Support Good Lives in Community (http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Shared-Living-Resource-Guide-A-Toolkit-of-Ideas-to-Support-Good-Lives-in-Community.pdf) is the result of a collaborative initiative between Community Living BC and the CEO Network of BC. The guide reflects 3 years of research, conversation, and collaboration between the many people involved with the delivery of shared living services within this province. The guide is an invaluable resource for agencies currently delivering shared living services and for those that are considering seeking to become qualified to deliver this service. For more information about this guide, please contact the CEO Network or Andrea Baker ([email protected]).

report on supported living roundtable – Exploring New Ways to Live in Community: a conversation about supported living for people with developmental disabilities in BC (http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Supported-Living-Dialogue-Report-FINAL-Oct-2015.pdf) offers thoughts about how supported living services are currently delivered and how this residential option could look in the future. The report summarizes the results of a survey and roundtable discussion that were initiated by a group of service providers and supported by Community Living BC in 2013. For more information about this report, please contact the CEO Network or Andrea Baker ([email protected]

The Safe Harbour Champions’ Award was created by AMSSA to acknowledge work being done by businesses, institutions, agencies, and municipalities to advance inclusion in workplaces and communities across B.C. and Canada.

Each year, the Champion’s Breakfast recognizes one organization for their outstanding diversity leadership from among the 1,000 participating Safe Harbour locations across B.C.

Please join representatives from business, not-for-profit and government as we congratulate this year’s champion for building welcoming and inclusive communities for all Canadians.

The 7th annual Safe Harbour Champion’s Breakfast is on March 10th, 2016, in Burnaby, B.C

We would like to recognize this year’s award nominees for their work to advance inclusion in the workplace and community:

• Kardel
• Back in Motion
• Victoria Police Department
• Collingwood Neighbourhood House
• Salmon Arm Savings & Credit Union
• South Okanagan Immigrant Community Services

You may have now heard that the BC government has announced the end of the annual bus pass program for those who collect the Persons with Disabilities benefit. 

Kardel encourages you to learn more about this impending change and the impact it will have on the lives of those with disabilities.  Below you will find more information. 

You may consider signing the petition that has been created by Inclusion BC to bring back the annual bus pass program and raise the rate of PWD. 

Here are the major points of the petition:

•             Bring back the $45 per year bus pass for people with disabilities.
•             Eliminate the new $52/month bus pass fee.
•             Let everyone receiving PWD benefits keep the $77/month increase.
•             Raise the PWD benefit rate to $1200 per month by October 1, 2016 to reflect the cost of living.

You can read the full petition by clicking  HERE. 

Victoria City Council is seeking volunteers to help make City infrastructure and facilities more accessible for everyone. Candidates should have “lived experience” with accessibility challenges and have a willingness to work collaboratively and offer ideas to remove barriers for persons with disabilities, and develop improved policies for future facilities and amenities in Victoria.

Application deadline is Friday, February 12. Interested candidates should submit an application to [email protected].

Each position is volunteer, ending November 2018.

Click here for details