British Columbia’s Crown agency responsible for delivering services to adults with developmental disabilities and their families has devolved into an undeniable state of crisis.

The situation for Community Living BC is beyond damage control. It was initially powered by repeated denials at administrative and political levels regarding the reality of program cuts, group home closures and out-of-control wait-lists.

 

There has been an outpouring of public condemnation, with families courageously coming forward and sharing their stories with MLAs, the minister of social development, Premier Christy Clark, and the media. This has forced a change in the minister responsible for CLBC as well as the firing of its CEO. It has also prompted the provincial government to respond with a series of piecemeal steps that have thus far included the launching a new client support team, initiating a deputy minister review, and an internal audit of the Crown agency.

 

These steps may be necessary to deal with the immediate fallout, but they don’t even begin to address the serious, systemic issues of public accountability surrounding CLBC, and the vulnerable population of British Columbians this crown agency is meant to serve.

 

The fact is there is a fundamental loss of confidence. Public trust has been badly damaged, if not irreparably harmed. CLBC’s original vision – to support people with disabilities’ right to independence, choice and support – has been lost. Perhaps most regrettably, there is now a climate of fear amid service providers, individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and support staff.

 

All these are serious and pressing matters of public interest that can only be dealt with through an independent review, a commission of public inquiry into CLBC under the Public Inquiry Act. The powers of a hearing commission also include the authority to compel witnesses and order disclosure, receiving submissions and evidence under oath or affirmation, and making a finding of misconduct against a person, or making a report that alleges misconduct by a person.

 

Without a similar commitment from the Clark government we will not be able to achieve the level of systems change, transparency or accountability that is required to deal with the devastating upheaval that is affecting tens of thousands of adults with developmental disabilities and their families on our province.

 

Excerpted from - Michael J. Prince's column on behalf of the BC Community Living Action Group.