Today’s B.C. Liberals recognize the unique struggle facing persons with disabilities in our province. Our vision is simple. We believe that British Columbia should be the most progressive jurisdiction for the people and families living with disabilities in Canada. But there is much more that we can, should, and will do. — B.C. Liberal Party 2013 Platform, p. 62.
Upon his appointment as minister of social development and social innovation, Don McRae, the Comox Valley MLA and lone cabinet minister from the Island, received a mandate letter from Premier Christy Clark that outlined her expectations for McRae and his staff.
Not surprisingly, those expectations included balancing his ministerial budget and completing reforms to Community Living B.C., as well as managing the CLBC budget.
Another expectation is probably less familiar to most citizens: to deliver on the Liberal party platform commitment to develop a white paper and then host a provincial summit on how to improve the lives of those living with disabilities.
In her letter to McRae, the premier says that making B.C. “the most progressive jurisdiction for people and families living with disabilities in Canada” is a challenging goal. However, she writes that “it is a goal that we must attain if we are to ensure our provincial prosperity is shared among all citizens.”
Sharing that prosperity will require continued and enhanced efforts to reduce barriers and to increase genuine opportunities to learn, to train and work, and to live with dignity by investing in services and supports for individual and families.
It is little known that for several years, B.C. has had a provincial disability strategy of sorts. The strategy originated in the second Gordon Campbell government (2005-09) and has focused mainly on matters of administration and system integration. In more recent years, some program and service changes have been introduced, but often in a reactive and ad hoc manner.
While the Clark government vows to “run a tight ship” in financial terms, they must never forget that some citizens inhabit the lower berths in discomfort and despair with little sunlight.
It is time for a new look and a wider public discussion on improving the lives of British Columbians who have significant physical, sensory, cognitive and intellectual disabilities.
If the white paper is mainly a description and justification of recent government decisions on income assistance or on the CLBC, then a critical opportunity will be lost.
Among the challenges for the one in six British Columbians with a significant disability are the high levels of poverty and unemployment for most working-age people with disabilities; effective, inclusive classrooms for all children in our schools; the unmet needs of seniors and others for essential equipment, assistive supports and services for basic everyday living.
To develop a fresh approach strategically and to display political leadership, the white paper could express an overall set of principles and objectives followed by proposals for a range of policy, program and legislative changes under consideration by the provincial government.
More than that, after its publication, the white paper process should actively seek out the experiences and ideas of individuals and families living with disabilities as well as those of service providers and caregivers throughout the province.
Nothing truly worthwhile can be done on a disability strategy without the participation of those directly affected.
Presumably this could be a main purpose of the provincial summit that will follow creating the white paper and inviting public comment. In order to be credible and democratic, the summit must be a collaborative public occasion. It must also be accessible to people with diverse needs and capacities, and inclusive of the array of interested parties and involved groups.
On how best to approach the white paper and summit, McRae should consult with persons with disabilities, families and relevant community groups. In addition, he would benefit from conferring with his counterpart in Saskatchewan, where that provincial government is developing a comprehensive disability strategy.
Led by the provincial government, in partnership with the legislative assembly plus other sectors of society, we need an ambitious vision for expanding the opportunities and choices to improve the quality of life of citizens with disabilities.
Michael J. Prince is Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy at the University of Victoria and author of the book Absent Citizens: Disability Politics and Policy in Canada.
