Is It Just a Dream?

MLA Report

By Carol James

Imagine a government that stood up for citizens, didn't make decisions in private, kept its word, invested wisely in the people's priorities, and made it possible for British Columbians to pursue their hopes and ambitions. Is it just a dream?

I believe it is more than a dream. It should be an expectation for all governments.

Good governments don't make decisions behind closed doors. They certainly don't tell the public one thing and do just the opposite. Good governments understand the difference between right and wrong. They understand they are there to serve all the people of our communities and province.

Citizens want government to pay attention to the issues affecting them in their everyday lives. When they need help, they expect it to be there. Not so much to ask, really, but it's not the way it always works, unfortunately.

Victoria-Beacon Hill constituent John Barna found out firsthand just how badly the system works. To simply get the help he urgently required, it took both his MLA and local media to shame the Ministry of Social Development into doing the right thing.

Mr. Barna is on PWD (persons with disabilities) income assistance. He has potentially terminal pancreatic cancer, but wasn't getting enough money to purchase the Ensure nutritional supplement that his doctors said he needed. The supplement helps stave off weight loss.

My constituency office staff sent off an urgent fax to Harry Bloy, B.C.'s Minister of Social Development, and then placed three follow-up calls to his office. Two weeks later, Mr. Barna received a letter requesting his "patience" while they prepared a response.

That's when we'd had enough, and decided to take his case to local media. The day of the interview, Mr. Barna received an offer to get the supplements he needed delivered, but the ministry advised that he would have to give up other supports. Totally unacceptable!

The day the story aired, he was at last told he would get his Ensure supplement plus his other supplements covered. I'm pleased that Mr. Barna has received the help he needed. But it's completely unacceptable that anybody who is so very ill should have to jump through hoops, and then go to their MLA and the media just to get their basic needs met.

Sadly, it's another disturbing sign of a government that is out of touch and has lost its way. No wonder this government doesn't want to face scrutiny and accountability.

It nickels and dimes our most vulnerable citizens, and at the same time continues to shovel money out for expensive smart meters that most citizens don't want. There are truckloads of money for inflated executive salaries, but only crumbs left for seniors who are being hit hard by price increases for daily necessities. Talk about priorities upside down!

I'm looking forward to getting back into session at the Legislature this month, and holding this government accountable for its policies and actions. Months have passed since MLAs sat in an abbreviated spring session, and it's long past time to deal with the critical issues now being faced by our communities.

When I take my place in the Legislative Chamber, I will think of Mr. Barna, and of the many other constituents in Victoria-Beacon Hill who have shared with me their hopes for caring government and better lives for all. Just imagine. As a dear friend of all of ours said, "Don't let them tell you it can't be done."