CLC Meeting Minutes

July 16, 2004

1. Introductions.

There were approximately 30 people present. Everyone introduced themselves.

2. Meeting with new CLBC board members.

Mike Keating summarized the meeting between the Community Living Coalition representatives and the new Community Living B.C. board.

CLC reps went to this meeting with the intention of discussing the history and some critical points that led to the creation of the Transition Steering Committee, the Interim Authority and the C.L.B.C. These points were: lifelong supports for kids and adults; family and self advocacy governance; budget concerns; and Individualized Funding and Planning.

The tone of the meeting was positive but it appears that the new board sees their role to follow through on the legislation.

The understanding that the CLC reps came away with was that the new CLBC board view on the legislation is as good as can be negotiated and don’t see themselves as appropriate vehicle to change it. They are now comfortable with the legislation. And they feel they have no control over changes in the legislation.

The CLBC board members present in the meeting see their primary roles as moving the organization from inside government to community. They are the arms and legs for the legislation.

The board members do not see the legislation language changes “must” to “may” regarding Individual Planning and I.F.

They feel that many of the goals will be realized in the regulations and the people that are hired.

The CLC representatives clearly stated that while having a self advocacy advisory committee would be useful, it’s not the same as having self advocates on the board.

At this point the Planning Commission may or may not exist as it is not obligated by the legislation. But it could be in regulation.

Communication was acknowledged as still being an issue.

3. Meeting with Minister Clark

Angela Clancy, Karen Delong, Linda Perry, Bryce Schaulfelberger and Jordan Thurston reported back on their meeting with Minster Clark.

The meeting was scheduled for twenty minutes but lasted about fifty. It was a lively discussion, and covered the issues as outlined by the CLC in the last meeting.

Discussion of budget and funding concerns. The CLC representatives expressed concerns about individuals and families that require services and are not receiving them. They further stated that the community has worked very hard and in good faith with the Ministry to find cost savings. Any more cuts will hurt individuals and families. And in fact there are people being hurt and struggling now. The Minister indicated that she was not aware of this. We assured her that each of us could provide her with individual profiles in which people are struggling.

The Minster responded that any further cost savings would come from systems change and internal management. She further stated that “no one will be moved without their or their family’s consent”.

We also discussed the need to provide supports before it is a health and safety issue. Once the individual or family reaches such a critical stage it is always more expensive.

There was discussion on was what appears to be a huge disconnection between the field and Victoria.

Also discussed the need for a self advocate on the board. The Minster was very clear that her priority is to have a board that has experience with financial management given the size of the budget. We expressed our concerns about the narrow expectation of the board that the board should have a variety of skills and individuals to ensure it’s strength.

The group pointed out that self advocates are the only people who can accurately represent their point of view. Families don’t know everything. Self Advocates wish to work with families, but want their own, independent voice on the board of CLBC.

The Minister stated that there will be an advisory committee of Self Advocates. It was pointed out that the Reference Groups established under the IACLBC was not particularly effective and the people involved, most of whom were very committed, were not utilized.

The seamless supports from Childhood to adult life was discussed. The Minister indicated that the services for children 0-6 would remain in the current ministry after the age of six if a child has an intellectual challenge they could be included in CLBC. However, a family that has a child with special needs could access planning supports prior to that if they wished.

A follow up letter was sent to the Minister summarizing the meeting points. The letter is included with these notes.

4. Anita Dadsen’s meeting with Premier Campbell.

Anita Dadsen reported on her meeting with Premier Campbell. She stated that she let him know that there are serious concerns within our community. That restructuring during budget reductions cannot be successful. That he needs to listen to families. There is a need for more flexibility and the process was flawed from the beginning. The Premier indicated he would like to meet again.

5. Licensing

Richard Little reported that families in the South Okanagan met with their MLA to discuss concerns around licensing requirements. They stated they support the new legislation, but the cost of licensing is overwhelming.

Representatives from Burnaby met with Alison McPhail to also discuss concerns about licensing. She encouraged them to call directly about licensing concerns.

6. Self Advocacy Rally

Gerry Juzanas read a letter out to the group. This letter read:

“All self advocates support having the advisory committee (to CLBC) BUT is there support from the Community Living Coalition for a self advocate to sit on the CLBC board now?

I have been in touch with self advocates all over the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley and we know the legislation says self advocates might be on the CLBC board, but this is not definite and we want to be on the board NOW!

It is discrimination not to let self advocates influence decisions about our lives at the top levels.

With support from everyone, self advocates can be on the CLBC board and to understand budgets. Lots of self advocates sit on boards with millions of dollars in their budgets now.

Self advocates started this whole transition from the very beginning and we should have our place at the CLBC board now.

Does the Community Living Coalition support having a self advocate on the CLBC board?

Self advocates want to hold a public rally at Christy Clark’s MLA office and we want to know if the Coalition will support us to have our voices heard?”

The group voted to support the self advocacy rally. We will also assist with communicating requests for assistance with transportation for self advocates to get to the rally.

We will also ensure any information on the rally will be posted on our website and encourage our members to do the same.

7. Strategies and Actions

(a) Set up a meeting between Family Net, CLC, BCACL, and FSI reps to look at our common goals. Volunteers that agreed to attend this meeting:
Angela Clancy, Anne Carr, Anita Dadsen, Karen Delong, Linda Perry, and Jane Short.
Angela will also contact Cindy from BCACL.

(b) As part of the above meeting has occurred we will develop an information package to share with our members that they can use if meeting with their MLAs.


(c) Linda will write a letter to Lois Hollstedt, Chair of the CLBC board outlining our wish to remain engaged on an ongoing basis in the following issues of concern:
• Mental health supports, this is still a serious issue and the CLBC board needs to be aware of this

• RN consultancy

• Structure of how the CLBC plans to involve the community

• A community process to participate in the development of regulations

• Seniors issues

• Kids in care

• Youth in Transition, in particular those that will not require a great deal of support but to whom innovation will be critical

The group meeting to discuss common purposes will assist Linda with this letter.

(d) Support the Self Advocacy Rally through sharing of information, offering to assist with transportation if possible, making sure all self advocates in each of our networks knows about the rally.

8.  Mike Keating stepping down as co-chair.

Due to work demands, Mike Keating has stepped down as co-chair of the CLC. The group thanked Mike for his hard work in his role. His time has been appreciated.

Jane Short has agreed to co-chair the next meeting with Linda. At that meeting we will see if there are any other parents interested in becoming the co-chair.

The group also thanked the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion for hosting our meeting and for providing coffee.

9. Next meeting

At: The Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion
Date: September 15, 2004 - UPDATE: Now September 17th, 2004
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.