Nov 22, 2004

Minutes

1. Introductions: Introductions were made around the room

2. Update on Potluck Dinner: November 4th - Lois Hollstedt and Phil Goodman from Interim Authority attended.  Dinner and desserts were enjoyed and then speakers talked about the progress to date, the involvement of community in the planning to date, and our hopes for the future - more information sharing, more community involvement in planning.  As well, our vision includes independent planning and individualized funding as an option, and that community governance isn't worth much without substantial change to the system - new options for families.  Lois Hollstedt and Phil Goodman gave short presentations on the work ahead.  The acknowledged the lack of information - sharing over the past six months and promised much improvement within the next two weeks.

Additional meetings with Phil: Phil & Lois called a meeting with 50 service providers from across the Province on November 8th in Abbotsford.  A similar message was given at this meeting.

November 4th - Afternoon - Phil met with BCACL Executive Directors for two hours.

3. CLBC Meetings: The Board Meeting Minutes for August and September were recently posted on the Interim Authority website.

4. Report on the Budget Consultation Process 2005 - There were many references in the report to addressing the concerns of families and individuals with disabilities and their families and there were presentations to the committee around the province from Community Living organizations and families. "We were struck by the broad consensus across the community that there needs to be more support to community living services" the concerning tagline being "as financial resources permit"...

5. Other Updates:

MCFD is conducting a cross-country survey of provincial community living services to see how BC services compare with other provinces.  Their initial results show that BC spends more on community living services and serves less people with that money, than other provinces do.  Of course most other provinces have large institutions that provide a lower level of service to a large group of  people.  BCACL has told government to be aware that they are comparing apples to oranges.

6. Initial Strategy on Community Living Budget process:

Treasury Board members need to receive letters from families and individuals that community living services are desperately needed to keep families whole and individuals safe in the community.  If each Treasury Board member received 40 emails in the next two weeks while the they are creating the framework for next year's budget, that will reinforce the feedback of the Budget Consultation Process.

Treasury Board members are:

Chair: Gary Collins, Minister of Finance - email: gary.collins.mla@leg.bc.ca

Vice Chair: Rick Thorpe, Minister of Provincial Revenue - email: rick.thorpe.mla@leg.bc.ca

Bill Barisoff, Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection - email: bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca

Pat Bell, Minister of State for Mining - email: pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca

Graham Bruce, Minister of Skills Development & Labour - email: graham.bruce.mla@leg.bc.ca

Ida Chong, Minister of State for Women's & Seniors' Services - email: ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca

Tom Christensen, Minister of Education - email: tom.christensen.mla@leg.bc.ca

Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation - email: kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca

Stan Hagen, Minister of Children and Family Development, email: stan.hagen.mla@leg.bc.ca

Bill Belsey, MLA - email: bill.belsey.mla@leg.bc.ca

Sheila Orr, MLA - email: sheila.orr.mla@leg.bc.ca

Rod Visser, MLA - email: rod.visser.mla@leg.bc.ca

7. Coalition attendance at Interim Authority Board meetings: Sue Salter gave a report on her planning for Coalition attendance at meetings. Tomorrow, a family member, self advocate and service provider are lined up.  The next meeting on December 7th has a self-advocate and service provider lined up - Sue is still looking for a family member.  Ron Whittaker volunteered to be a backup. 

8. Auton case before Supreme Court: Ruling delivered on Friday, Nov 19th.  The court ruled that government decides what programs get funded.  The government did not discriminate against individuals based on their disability because it must make these decisions on treatments for many different people and many different options for treatments.  Charter (Section 15) does say that disability requires accommodation, but doesn't insist that all treatments must be funded.  Lovaas therapy, (Applied Behavioral Analysis - ABA) is still controversial and not all individuals or families want it.  Still, for some individuals it has been effective and government's current program for children under six and over six should be continued for those individuals that want it.  There is a ministry press release on this issue:

9. Children's Services: The Joint Policy Directorate has not met in over a year.  The Ministry has been asked about calling a meeting or identifying a process for addressing concerns around children's services.  There has been no response.

Family member reported that she has attempted to get numbers from MCFD for kids who are transitioning to adult services each year.  She was unable to get these numbers and replied to the MLA from the Budget consultation committee that MCFD is not able to give her these numbers.  He said he will attempt to get them from MCFD.  She also requested the Ministry policies and procedures around transitions support as her daughter is 17 and planning needs to begin.  She was informed that the Ministry has no formal policies and procedures on transitions for children becoming adults.

10. Consultation Committees: Lois and Phil have both promised that they would re-invigorate the reference groups.  They requested that service providers create an advisory council to give them an avenue for feedback on the transition process.  There will hopefully be more information at tomorrow's IACLBC board meeting.  If not, then perhaps the coalition needs to take the initiative.  Self-Advocates also expressed concern that their reference group has not met for over a year and wants to be involved in consultations. Existing Reference Groups, established in 2003, are on the interim authority website:

11. Coalition members requested more information on dates of upcoming IACLBC meetings.  Next meetings are scheduled (from IACLBC minutes) on December 7th, 2004 and January 12, 2005.  When further meeting dates are released, we'll publish them on the coalition website. 

12. Recent Increase to MHR Disability Benefits: What can self-advocates do to protect their increase from unscrupulous landlords who will raise the rent by $70 per month and take away the increase from self-advocates?  The amount of the housing portion is currently at $325.00.  We have heard that it is not being increased, so that would not give landlords a reason to increase their rents.  As well, the landlord tenancy branch has rules around when a landlord can increase rents (only once per year, with three months notice) and by how much rent can be increased.  More info at the Landlord Tenancy website.

13. Next Coalition meeting date: Thursday December 16th, 2004 10am to Noon at BCACL - 300 - 30 East 6th Avenue.