James

Restoring key public services for those in need:
Women in need, seniors, the poor and homeless and so many others have borne the brunt of
the Campbell government’s cuts in programs designed to help the most vulnerable in our
society. The rebuilding of those services cannot be done overnight or in one year. The NDP
plan would immediate increase amounts in the Liberal 2005 budget in the following areas:
– Restore funding for women’s centres $2 million
The cuts to services provided by women’s centres revealed
just how out-of touch Gordon Campbell is with the situation
too many women face in our province.
– Build affordable housing for low-income families, seniors,
the homeless, and people with mental and physical disabilities 16 million
The funds needed to operate publicly supported housing vary
greatly, depending on the type of facility. This increase will
support both the operating and capital costs of opening an
additional 1200 units of housing around the province.
– Help people living in poverty and seeking employment 33 million
This funding will improve the programs of the
Ministry of Human Resources by:
– allowing recipients of income assistance to retain a portion
of earnings from employment ($100 a month for singles;
$200 for families): 18 million
– allowing income assistance recipients to retain a portion of
court awarded maintenance payments ($100 per month): 6 million
– increasing support payments by 20% for income assistance
recipients facing persistent multiple barriers to employment: 9 million
– Strengthen protection of vulnerable children and families 32 million
– Restore the independent review of services for children at
risk which were provided by the Children’s Commissioner
and the Child Advocate: 2 million
– Significant cuts have been made to this ministry, and a
successful regionalization plan must include adequate
community resources to support families and youth;
social workers to investigate concerns about children at
risk and to work with families to remedy problems; and
residential and adoption resources for children who must
leave their families: 30 million
– Improve the justice system’s treatment of victims and the poor 22 million
– Legal aid funding has been devastated by the Campbell
government; more needs to be done to ensure everyone has
access to the justice system: 15 million
– Increase the budget for Native Court Workers which was
slashed in the last two years: 2 million
– Fund the hiring of an additional seventy counsellors to work
with those who are victims of crimes: 5 million
– Open regional residential tenancy offices 3 million
– Improve tenant and landlord access to information on new
legislation and provide better arbitration services by opening
offices in all regions.
68 BCNDP Platform 2005