Jul
13
MLA Report
By Carole James
It's been a busy spring, and I'd like to share with you a few items of note from my perspective.
The recently concluded spring session of the BC Legislature made it clear that children and families have no priority with this government. Instead of making settling the teachers' dispute a priority and a focus, the government chose to make it more difficult for everybody.
By closing the Victoria Youth Custody Centre and ignoring pleas to end the child support clawback, the government is showing a disturbing lack of understanding of the challenges facing young people and families. The clawback of child support payments for single parents on disability and other income supports is particularly troubling.
If a single parent in this province is receiving income assistance support, any child-support payments their children receive are callously clawed back into government coffers. It's wrong to take money from BC's poorest kids, and in the legislature the Opposition called on government to do the right thing and end the clawback. Government ministers and the premier refused.
Instead of realizing that closing the Victoria Youth Custody Centre without consultation was a bad decision and reversing course, the government continues to ignore the best advice of the experts in the field. They've chosen to disregard local municipal councillors, First Nations leaders, and some of the brightest legal minds who have joined voices to persuade the government to reconsider.
When the centre closes, youth will need to be sent to the detention facility in Burnaby - even further away from their families, friends and support systems. Such separation will only be more detrimental to the rehabilitation of these youth at risk.
We've also been looking at other risks facing young people. The Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth is in the midst of a special project examining youth mental health in BC. The committee is accepting submissions from stakeholders and interested British Columbians until July 25. I encourage you to share your thoughts on this issue. More information on how to make a submission is here: .
The Opposition continues its efforts to compel the government to fund a shuttle bus along the remote, dangerous stretch of Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George, known as the Highway of Tears. Over the Easter break, I flew north to tour the highway with MLAs Maurine Karagianis and Jennifer Rice. It was a powerful and heart-wrenching tour, hearing stories from women, children and families facing violence and risk. The Missing Women Commission of Inquiry recommended funding for a shuttle bus, but still the government refuses.
Back here at home, my community office has had some successful outcomes in our work advocating for constituents. "Alex" came to our office seeking help to get into a drug treatment program and we hear he's doing much better now. My staff helped "Samantha" resolve a BC Hydro billing issue, and assisted "Lisa" to obtain approval for insulin pump coverage through MSP.
Thank you to all of the local business people who accepted my invitation to discuss challenges and successes at a luncheon on April 15. Participants brought many great ideas, and I am planning to host another one next year.
Community events are always a big part of my time in our constituency, and this spring I appreciated the opportunity to serve Easter lunch at Our Place on April 17 and march in the Earth Day Parade on April 26.. There was plenty of pride as the Royal and McPherson theatres celebrated their centennial on May 18. The Fort Street Scrub Up, organized by Fabulous Fort where my community office is located, provided a fun opportunity to roll up our sleeves and work together to make the street really shine.
As we kick into summer, I'm looking forward to a fantastic variety of festivals and celebrations. The next big one in my calendar is the Pride Parade on July 6. I hope to see you there!