COMMUNITY LIVING COALITION
FEBRUARY 3, 2004
2702 Norland Avenue, Burnaby

1. Introductions and welcome
Approximately 60 people in attendance. 40 parents 20 service providers
and other supporters.

2. Interim Authority Update

The Interim Authority Board has been reduced from a 24 member board to a 10 member board. Their term will run out on Feb. 19, 2004.

Members of the I.A. board met with new Minister Christy Clark, Dep. Minister McPhail along with senior staff Kim Henderson and Robyn Syme

I. A. board members present at this CLC meeting reported that the meeting with the new minister was positive.

Minister Clark also attended the Joint Chair’s meeting last week.

The I.A. continues to push for:
- legislation
- 50% plus 1 on permanent board
- IF
- Independent Planning Support
- Children & Adults together

Legislation/Governance
- Corporate Board - many family members are leaders in community and would fit the profile for a corporate board. It is critical that we have a 50% + 1 representation on the board.

Governance - want to give choice also to communities via possible local government boards with resources in community

IF - Important to reinforce that this will be an option for families and individuals.  It is not "the new system" as some media reports have characterized it.  If you don't want IF, you don't have ut use it.

Individual Planning
- different for every individual
- want to ensure that families and individuals have access to support to plan what their life look like.

IF and planning def. in legislation or regulation
- Everything is going ahead, make sure the facts are straight.

- IA wants to let people have a chance to ask questions, get information out Green light to talk to communities in March. - twenty-two communities planned for presentations.  Recognized this has been a problem with communications - need to get more information out to communities.

BCACL, CLC and IA did four workshops - 3 hour workshops with overview of governance model and bylaw #3, re community governance at the end of January.
- will be posted to the net:

 http://www.interimauthorityclbc.ca/CLGovernanceJan04.htm

New Board Appointmenst should occur around February 19th
Interim CEO applications close Thursday, February 5th, 04.

Readiness Report - we have one yellow left. No massive delays. This was mis- represented in the press

Statement of facts document was provided to the coalition members present.

http://www.interimauthorityclbc.ca/PDF/FactSheetRevFeb52004.pdf

Laney Bryenton reported that BCACL reps met with Christy Clark
- clear the Minister is in support of broad vision
- support for the work to date
- morally right thing to do
- system won’t be different without pillars
- life long service system
- children & adult together
- Planning & IF
- community governance
- clear support to go forward and there will be an opportunity to celebrate when legislation with key elements goes forward
- regional community governance - people having most concern are the MCFD staff themselves. Minister to staff that this is something that can not be derailed.
- Minister thin on system awareness
- families are saying MCFD staff are saying this isn’t going to happen
- issues around labour relations and transition around staff

3. Assessment of the latest events and suggestions for action

Concerns were raised regarding the 1.75% cut in budget. Worried that in some cases family has to pick up the difference. Family has to look after kids on weekend to address cuts. Members from the I.A. and BCACL agree that the cuts are a challenge, but MCFD has control of the budget currently.

Concern was also raised regarding the move to new governance being a way for Government to download responsibility and could create a way to quiet community because of the downloading to a community based board.

This is a concern that has been raised many times. The move to community governance does not mean government will no longer be responsible for providing funds. Families, individuals and concerned supporters will still have the opportunity to advocate for funds.

Try to put power back in the hands of families to support what family needs. Tailored to fit the needs of family. Eliminate layers of bureaucracy. Current system doesn’t work. Dollars don’t smooth over the cracks - lets change the way the system is fundamentally.

Budget cuts- the IA have never supported cuts but we recognize that all sectors have been slashed and burned. Government could have proceeded with the original planned cuts which would have been worse. Let community decide how the cuts will/would occur.

Lots of apprehension out there. We recognize that the CLC does not speak for all people. And there are many people in outlying areas that are still very confused about what is going on.

It was reported by a service provider from the Okanagan that people in their region did not understand the community governance presentation. Need to do more to reach people.

From a parent in the Lower Mainland the following feedback and suggestions were offered: impressed with the information; impressed with the website; local associations need to take responsibility and help with communications; and, we want to drive what we want for our sons and daughters forward.

This group doesn’t support cuts. Recognize that the 1.75% cuts service providers and I.A. negotiated was a damage control measure and we are grateful, but doesn’t mean we are happy with any cuts. No one is.

Concern was expressed about eligibility for people that are Deaf Blind. 1 to 1 support is critical for this group of individuals.

Plain language must always remain a part of this process. As well as consulting with
self advocates regarding labels. Many of the labels used are offensive to self advocates.

As a result of today’s discussion, the following six resolutions were approved by the group. The motions are as follows...

“During the February 3, 2004 meeting of the Community Living Coalition, a number of issues and concerns were discussed. As a response, the Coalition members present at the meeting have approved 6 resolutions to be presented to Minister Clark, Minister responsible for the Ministry of Child and Family Development, and to be shared with other families, self advocates and service providers.

Be it resolved that:

1) It is the position of the Community Living Coalition that the current cuts to funding cannot must not negatively impact any family or self advocate.

2) The Community Living coalition urges the Minister of Child and Family Development to put immediate attention and consideration into restoring the CLS budget to the 2001/2002 level in order to address the needs of those on waiting lists.

3) In addition, the Community Living Coalition urges the Minister of Child and Family Development, when allocating these funds, to ensure that individuals and families have the option of choosing Individualized Funding if that is their choice.

4) The Community Living Coalition declares that we will only support legislation that will respect our original vision which includes: Community-based governance with a majority of family members and self-advocates; the right to full decision- making opportunities; and a variety of mechanisms for access to funding, including individualized funding.

5) The Community Living Coalition supports the Interim Authority in their request for an independent audit. We agree that the audit should be completed as quickly as possible. Furthermore, we believe that the complete results of this audit should be made public.

6) The Community Living Coalition calls on Minister Clark to honour former Minister Hogg's commitment of April 2002, to develop a lifelong stream of service by ensuring that services for children are transferred to Community Living Services at the same time as adults.”

Moved by Cathy Anthony. Seconded by Jane Short. Approved.

The group expressed our thanks for David Driscoll’s ongoing leadership and support to the movement as well as his hard work as the I.A. board chair

4. Next meeting date

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 25th from 10 am to 1:00 pm

Richard Faucher will look into finding additional parking for the BACI space. If this is not possible we will look into an alternative space for the meeting.