Government Home Page

Government Directory
Government News Releases 
Search/Browse by Ministry or by Topic 

AchieveBC - includes info organized under the following themes:
Early childhood development
Parenting
Education
Post-secondary learning resources
Jobs and opportunities
Tools and resources
A celebration of excellence

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BC Election 2005 sites

Nodice Elections: British Columbia (from Nodice Elections)
Deceive BC: the Hospital Employees' Union's election web site
BCPolitics.ca
The Tyee Election Central
Single Transferable Vote - a BIG issue in this BC election...
Other BC websites with Election 2005 content

Office of the Premier

Government of British Columbia Home Page
Premier's Speech at the swearing-in ceremony
News release (June 16)
List of new cabinet ministers
Summary of ministry responsibilities

Executive Council of the Government of British Columbia - from the website of the Office of the Premier - new Cabinet with biographies.

Google News search Results : "British Columbia, new government cabinet"
Google Web Search Results : "British Columbia, new government cabinet"
Source:
Google.ca

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Premier Announces New Cabinet
January 26, 2004
Office of the Premier
"VICTORIA – Premier Gordon Campbell today announced changes to the Cabinet, including the addition of six new members, a renewed focus on economic development and several new Minister of State portfolios to advance key priorities in the government’s agenda."

Executive Council (new list of ministers)
January 26, 2004
The new Minister of Human Resources is the Hon. Stan Hagen.
The new Minister of Children and Family Development is Deputy Premier Christy Clark.

Related Link:

Trouble for Campbell with 40 Unhappy MLAs
January 27, 2004
"A cabinet shuffle in an atmosphere of crisis, two weeks prior to the legislature opening with the Speech from the Throne, is bad news for Premier Campbell."
Source:
Strategic Thoughts.com

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AchieveBC - includes info organized under the following themes:
Early childhood development
Parenting
Education
Post-secondary learning resources
Jobs and opportunities
Tools and resources
A celebration of excellence

New Initiative to Help British Columbians Reach their Goals
News Release
September 19, 2003
"Premier Gordon Campbell today unveiled a new initiative ["AchieveBC"]aimed at helping all British Columbians achieve their goals, by providing a window to information from early childhood development to lifelong learning, career planning and job training.(...) For example, parents of newborns and toddlers have said they would like advice on nutrition, diet, health and safety. Parents of students want better information on each public school in B.C., learning standards for each grade and how they can help their children. Students want easier access to information on post-secondary institutions, programs offered, financial assistance and new career opportunities. And workers want to know where they can go for information on job training or starting their own business."
Source: Office of the Premier

Legislative Assembly
This link is a launchpad to many pages, including the following : Bills, Debates of the Legislative Assembly (Hansard), Votes and Proceedings, Orders of the Day, Legislative Committees, Standing Orders, Speech from the Throne, Revised Statutes of British Columbia, Regulations, Regulations Bulletins, Provisions in Force, Orders in Council and Ministerial Resumes, Message from the Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, MLA biographies including office and constituency information, e-mail addresses, Visiting the Legislature, Online tour of the Legislative Chamber, Other Canadian Legislative Assemblies, Statutory Officers of the Legislature, Important Information, Frequently Asked Questions, etc. 
Legislation : Statutes - Regulations - Orders-in-Council - B.C. Regulations Bulletins - Order in Council and Ministerial Order Resumes - Act/Ministry Responsibilities
See also QPLegalEze (the link below this one) - one of these two may be more current or complete than the other...

QP LegalEze (Queen's Printer - $)
An internet-based legal guide to the unofficial early consolidation of the statutes and regulations of the province of British Columbia.
- incl. links to : Revised Statutes of British Columbia - Complete Listing of Statutes with Associated Regulations - BC Regulations Bulletins - Order in Council and Ministerial Order Resumes - Proceedings of Bills - Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

See also:

Quickscribe Services - law library service (BC) - ($)
"Quickscribe is a Victoria-based, family owned business offering clients access to provincial legislation both in hard copy and online formats. We've been in business since 1984 and offer a more affordable alternative to the subscription based Queens Printer legislation service. Our online service is fully searchable, printable and includes and email notification service that alerts clients to recent amendments.

Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance
(formerly Human Resources)

Reports and Publications - links to reports, manuals, books, brochures and other publications 

News Releases

2004/05 – 2006/07 Service Plan: Ministry of Human Resources

2005/06 Annual Service Plan: Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance
July 17, 2006
- includes : Message from the Minister and Accountability Statement * Highlights of the Year * Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values * Strategic Context * Service Delivery and Core Business Areas * Report on Performance * Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Performance Measures * Deregulation * Report on Resources * Appendix A: Values and Service Code * Appendix B: Glossary of Terms
- highly recommended reading, especially the three links that you can click in the two lines above --- that's where you'll find (under "Core Business Areas") a good description of how Employment and Income Assistance (welfare) works in British Columbia, along with what they've accomplished and what they've spent in the past year, compared with what they said last year they would do and how much they planned to spend. There's much more info in the service plan, definitely worth checking out. You might also want to go to the service plan page for all Ministries to explore the plans for Children and Family Development and Health, among others.

BC Employment and Assistance Programs (Welfare)

Legislation
Employment and Assistance Act
- Employment and Assistance Regulations
Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act
- Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations
Child Care Subsidy Act
- Child Care Subsidy Regulations
Source:
Statutes and Regulations of British Columbia

New from the BC Ministry of Employment and Assistance:

Latest Employment and Assistance statistics- December 2007
Updated January 29, 2008
- incl. * Number of Cases by Program and Family Type * Number of Clients by Program and Family Type * Number of Cases by Region

BC Employment and Assistance Statistics
- links to earlier statistics

Related link:

BC Welfare Caseload Up
February 5, 2008
The Campbell government continues to suffer from the excesses of its first term. Time will tell whether the bungled sale of BC Rail, details of which are unfolding in the courts, will inflict damage before the May 2009 election. It still has not escaped the consequences of cutting the Ministry of Children and Family Development as if it were any other government department, and this week it is being reminded of its 2001 decision to cut the Mental Health Advocate. For a surprise on the list of memories, who would have thought that under the hard-hearted Campbell government the welfare caseload would increase?
Source:
Strategic Thoughts

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January 31, 2008
Province invests $200,000 in Direct Deposit initiative
News Release
VICTORIA – The Province is offering an incentive package that consists of a knapsack, warm socks, a toque and a pair of gloves to encourage income assistance clients to sign up for direct deposit, announced Claude Richmond, Minister of Employment and Income Assistance.
Source:
Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance

<...and, if the writers of This Hour has 22 Minutes were writing the next line of the above news release, it would read : "Minister Richmond is pleased to report that the initial response to the direct deposit incentive has been quite positive among those Income assistance clients who would prefer to not freeze their feet, head and hands this winter.">

Related link:

Welfare payments to be loaded on to debit cards for 20,000
February 01, 2008
The B.C. government plans to issue direct-debit cards to more than 20,000 welfare recipients who don't have a bank account. Each month, Victoria will load the welfare payments on to the debit cards, which can be used at any ATM or commercial outlet. (...) The direct-deposit program started in 2006 and has about 60,000 clients out of a possible 80,000.
Source:
The Vancouver Province

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B.C. to put welfare payments on government debit cards
System to free recipients from cheque fees and carrying cash
December 06, 2007
VICTORIA -- Low-income British Columbians may soon get government-issued debit cards so they can manage assistance payments without facing hefty cheque-cashing fees or other problems. The project -- which follows a similar program in Alberta -- is meant to target the 24,000 low-income earners in the province who either don't have bank accounts or are otherwise ineligible to receive payments by direct deposit.
Source:
Vancouver Sun

 

JobWave "JobWave™ is the most successful employment program in the history of British Columbia, continually bringing innovation to the field of job placement." Source: WCG International WCG International will run the JobsNow pilot in six pilot communities in cooperation with municipal Ontario Works offices. Related Link: JobsNow (Ontario) - "Brighter Futures, Stronger Communities" A website of WCG International ------------------------ New Employment Program Means More Job Success July 26, 2006 KAMLOOPS – The new $35-million BC Employment Program has been successfully launched by the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance. This means 15,000 income assistance clients in British Columbia will have an even better chance of finding and keeping a job this year. (...) The new BC Employment Program replaces two existing programs – the Job Placement Program and Training for Jobs – and is managed by GT Hiring Solutions (2005) Inc., the BC Society of Training for Health and Employment (THEO BC) and WCG International Consultants Limited." July 12, 2006 More Support for Low-Income B.C. Families (PDF file - 21K, 2 pages) - two-page document highlighting the accomplishments of the BC Government with respect to low-income families. Related Link: Budget 2006 - Focus on Children (video) "...more information on increased government supports for British Columbia’s children." Source: British Columbia Budget 2006 - February 21, 2006

BC Employment and Assistance (welfare) Rate Tables
Income Assistance rates - (effective January 1, 2005)
Disability Assistance rates - (effective January 1, 2005)
Source:
BC Employment and Assistance Rate Tables
- also includes the latest rates for the following: Child in Home of Relative - Hardship Assistance - Hardship Assistance for Persons with Disabilities - Assets - Payment of Assistance [special needs] - General Supplements - Health Supplements and Programs - Fees for Medical Practitioners - Seniors Supplement
Source:
Ministry of Human Resources (MHR)

Related links:

March 23, 2005
Increased supports for people most in need
"VICTORIA – The Province will invest another $1.25 million to boost supports to two existing programs for British Columbians who are most in need – including persons with persistent multiple barriers and persons with disabilities."

March 21, 2005
Province promotes health for moms and babies
"VICTORIA – The province will spend close to $400,000 this year for expectant mothers in need and their babies, Minister of Human Resources Susan Brice announced."

March 14, 2005
Enhanced dental program benefits British Columbians
"VICTORIA – Government is investing over $47 million over three years to improve access to dental treatment for young children and low-income families, Health Services Minister Shirley Bond and Human Resources Minister Susan Brice announced."

Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance
Online Resource - British Columbia
"Effective March 27, 2006 the BCEA (welfare) Manual has been retired and replaced with an exciting* new information source – the Online Resource. The Online Resource incorporates information from a number of different sources into one user-friendly website, which will save time spent searching for up-to-date information and resources."

*"Exciting" isn't the first word that pops into most people's heads when they hear the expression "welfare information", but I, for one, found the old BC welfare manual more "exciting" because I could actually "find information" in there. The new manual has no hyperlinked table of contents - in fact, you have to open a PDF file to see the table of contents. And someone should tell the web design team that the plus sign to the left of a directory item (e.g., on the front page) is usually a simple piece of javascript that opens sub-directories, not just a graphic used in lieu of a bullet or a dash in front of each item in a list...

"Retired" BC Employment and Assistance Manual (Oct. 2004) - from The Internet Archive
NOTE: Do spend some time exploring The Internet Archive --- you'll find it has not only obscure Canadian provincial welfare policy manuals, but also large collections of links to events, people and places...

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Changes Modernize BC Employment and Assistance Act
News Release
April 3, 2006
"VICTORIA – Amendments to the B.C. Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act – introduced today in the B.C. legislature – modernize eligibility criteria, obligations for income assistance clients, and conditions for sharing information. 'These amendments reflect our commitment to provide British Columbians with an income assistance system that is fair, caring and sustainable,' said Claude Richmond, Minister of Employment and Income Assistance. 'They will increase our ability to better serve our clients while at the same time strengthening and protecting the integrity of the British Columbia Employment and Assistance program.'

The amendments affect three areas of the legislation:
· definitions of dependant and spouse;
· sanctions for inaccurate reporting of circumstances; and,
· information-sharing agreements.
Source:
Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance

Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB)
Fact Sheet
Effective September 30, 2002
Updated August 3, 2004
The PPMB category of the BC welfare caseload applies those individuals who are unable to achieve financial independence because of specific barriers to employment.
Related Links:
Persons with Persistent Mutiple Barriers
Persons with Disabilities
[ BC Employment and Assistance Program ]

July 27, 2004
Fact Sheet: Sponsorship - Obligations and Responsibilities
Fact Sheet: Sponsorship Default - Next Steps

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June 11, 2004
Updated Brochure: Assignment of Benefits for People Waiting for Employment Insurance (EI)

Canada and British Columbia sign an agreement to assist people with disabilities
News Release
May 17, 2004
"VICTORIA - British Columbians with disabilities will be able to participate more easily in the labour market because of an agreement announced today by the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, on behalf of the Honourable Liza Frulla, Minister of Social Development, and the Honourable Stan Hagen, British Columbia Minister of Human Resources. 'Helping people with disabilities to participate fully as citizens of this country is a priority for all governments,' said Minister Anderson. 'Every British Columbian must have the opportunity to make a contribution to our economy and our society. I am so pleased to work with British Columbia on this national priority.'"
Source:
Social Development Canada (SDC)

This agreement was signed under the Multilateral Framework for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities, which replaced the Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities initiative in April 2004.
For more info about the national framework and the agreements signed with other jurisdictions to date, go to the Disability Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/disbkmrk.htm

New Exemptions for Caregivers of Disabled Children
June 30, 2003
"Children with disabilities in British Columbia will benefit from changes to vehicle and earnings exemptions being provided to their caregivers."

Eye Exams Focus on Those in Need
June 30, 2003
"Adult Income Assistance clients are now covered for routine eye exams as part of a new optical program."

$20 Million Helps People with Disabilities Access Jobs
News Release
April 23, 2003
"Government is establishing a $20-million endowment fund with Vancouver Foundation to help British Columbians with disabilities find and keep jobs, Human Resources Minister Murray Coell announced today.(...) The Minister’s Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities will provide advice to the Vancouver Foundation on the disbursement of funds."

Backgrounder

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Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities
"The principal goal of the Council is to advise the Minister of Human Resources on solutions and strategies for increasing the employment, employability and independence of persons with disabilities, particularly through partnerships with business and industry throughout British Columbia."

Minister's Council Reports

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Greater Supports for People with Disabilities
March 27, 2003
"People with disabilities will be able to keep more of what they earn with an increase to the earnings exemption from $300 to $400, Human Resource Minister Murray Coell announced today."

Job Placement (JP) Program Successes
"The Ministry of Human Resources is spending more than $300 million over three years on job placement and training for jobs programs. It's working. Since this government took office over 15,000 income assistance clients have been placed in jobs through ministry contracted job placement agencies."
- incl. links to success stories for each program

Ministry on Track with Commitment to Sound Fiscal Management
March 3, 2003
Murray Coell, Minister of Human Resources, responds to the provincial budget.
- link to the full text of the Minister's speech.

Income Assistance Changes Support People in Need
Opinion Editorial
By Murray Coell
Minister of Human Resources
March 5, 2003

Feb. 26, 2003
Leaving Welfare for Work Triples Income
"British Columbians leaving income assistance for work are almost tripling their income, according to the Ministry of Human Resources’ third exit survey of 1,512 former clients who have been off assistance for six months. “This survey continues the trend that sees the majority of clients moving into sustainable jobs, earning solid wages and becoming self-reliant,” said Human Resources Minister Murray Coell. “This is precisely the goal of B.C. Employment and Assistance: to assist people to move away from dependence and take control of their lives.”

More Income Assistance Clients Finding Jobs
December 11, 2002
"More British Columbia income assistance clients are successfully leaving assistance for work, according to the Ministry of Human Resources’ second exit survey of nearly 1,000 former clients."
Source : Ministry of Human Resources
This is the second report in a new series of quarterly welfare exit surveys conducted by the Ministry. It's also the second time the Ministry's numbers and conclusions will be called into doubt by advocacy groups.
"Completed between July and September, the survey found 92 per cent of individuals left income assistance for employment, educational opportunities, other sources of income, or because of a change in family or financial status. The majority – 66 per cent – left income assistance for paid employment. "

- Encouraging results they *would* be, except that the 92 per cent and 66 per cent figures are based only on the 994 people who replied, not the 2,000 who didn't. From a survey "cohort"(clients who were identified as having left the system between December 2001 and June 2002) - of 3,110 clients, over 2000 did not participate in the survey, and almost three-quarters of those because their phone was not in service. If their phone wasn't in service, social advocates would say that chances are greater that they would not have a job or other sources of income. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be : "...the survey found that 92 per cent of the one-third of the survey cohort who actually responded..."

Related Links:

BCEA Web Orientation Session - As a prerequisite to applying for income assistance, applicants are required (among other things) to complete a BC Employment and Assistance Orientation Session no more than 60 days before the date of their application. They can arrange to attend a session in person at an office of the Ministry, or complete this web session.
Income Assistance Estimator (Calculator) - key in some personal (or theoretical) numbers and this online calculator will tell you if you're eligible for income assistance and roughly how much you might expect to receive.

Information for Persons with Disabilities

Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities

See also:
BC Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

Training for Jobs Program Pilot
Ministry of Human Resources
Oct. 3, 2002
"A total of 15 companies were chosen for the Training for Jobs pilot program that will support 5,000 BC Employment and Assistance clients across the province by providing them with the specific skills training and job placement leading to sustainable employment. Payment will be based on clients completing their training and staying off income assistance for a year."

Income Assistance Changes Protect Disabled, Promote Jobs
September 30, 2002
Information Bulletin
"Two new acts designed to ensure income assistance is available for people who need it most, while creating greater opportunities for employment, come into effect today."
NOTE: The two acts were actually proclaimed at the end of May, but the regulations under both acts have just been gazetted and are coming into effect now.

June 28, 2002
Policy Manual Manual Amendment #2
- incl. descriptions of changes to the following policies : Job Placement Program - Assets - Shelter Changes - Pharmacare - Medical Transportation - Diet - Medical Equipment & Devices - Hearing Aids - Orthotics and Bracing Devices - Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Massage Therapy - Optical - Dental - Medical Services Plan - Health Benefits (Eligible Items, Non-Eligible Items)

June 25, 2002
Income Assistance and Disability Benefits Rates
Shelter Allowance eff. July 1, 2002
Support Allowance eff. April 1, 2002
Incl. max. benefit levels for :
- Income Assistance
- Disability Benefits
- Hardship Assistance
- Child in the Home of Relative Benefits
- Youth Works Living Allowances

Welfare Bills Passed Into Law
Both the Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act were tabled for first reading in the BC Legislature on April 15 (2002), and both were passed at the end of May.
Links to the final (Third Reading) version of each bill appear below

Employment and Assistance Act (May 28, 2002)
BILL 26 -- 2002
(Third Reading)
Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act (May 29, 2002)
Bill 27 -- 2002
(Third Reading)
NOTE: these two bills were passed into law at the end of May 2002. The legislation appearing below will be repealed when the two bills come into force (by regulation)
BC Benefits (Income Assistance) Act and Regulation - BC Benefits (Youth Works) Act and Regulation - Disability Benefits Program Act and Regulation - BC Benefits (Appeals) Act and Regulation - BC Benefits (Child Care) Act and Regulation [NOTE: this last statute will not be repealed, but rather re-written and re-named Child Care Subsidy Act]

Progress of Bills - this BC Legislative Assembly page offers links to all 14 debates on the Employment and Assistance program bills introduced by the Campbell Government.
Click on the Progress of Bills link and scroll down the page to numbers 26 and 27 for links to the debates in the BC Legislature.
You'll find hours of reading and tons of detail about welfare reforms in BC in these debates.
Here's just one sample of what you'll find here - proceedings from the final Committee debate on the proposed Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act:
May 29 Committee Debate proceedings (Hansard) - final debate before the Bill was passed (you have to scroll about two-thirds of the way down the page (or use Ctrl+f to find the relevant section in this issue of Hansard
[Note: PovNet has close to 80 links to NGO critiques of the BC Government cuts.]

Child Care Subsidy - New Policy
May 9, 2002
Ministry of Human Resources
"This program has been carefully reviewed to ensure that the subsidy is available to families who are most in need. The subsidy now reflects the principles guiding the BC Employment and Assistance program by targeting the subsidy primarily to working parents with low to moderate incomes and parents who are actively looking for work."

New Acts Provide Assistance, Opportunity, Independence
News Release (incl. backgrounder)
Government of British Columbia
April 15, 2002
"Income assistance in British Columbia is being redefined to focus on employment and self-sufficiency with the introduction of two new bills, the Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act. The two acts replace four BC Benefits acts."

Work Search Guidelines
"The Ministry of Human Resources is committed to increasing independence through employment and providing services that support clients. As part of this shift to employment and active participation, you are required to carry out a three-week work search prior to applying for assistance."
Other versions - includes a PDF file and translations in nine other languages

- See the BC NGO Links page of this site for related links

Employment and Assistance Act
BILL 26 -- 2002
First Reading version (April 15, 2002)
Third Reading version (May 28, 2002)

Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act
Bill 27 -- 2002
First Reading version (April 15, 2002)
Third Reading version (May 28, 2002)

NOTE: See the British Columbia NGO Links page for reaction to the new legislation

BC Employment and Assistance Initiatives Effective April 1, 2002
Fact Sheet
March 15, 2002
NOTE: this fact sheet is no longer available on the BC Human Resources website; the highlights below were copied directly from the fact sheet.

Some salient points :
- three-week wait from first contact until intake review
- child care subsidy reductions
- children living with relatives who are their legal guardians are considered to be part of that family and thus no longer eligible for "Child in the Home of a Relative" assistance.
- monthly limits on crisis grants for food, shelter, and clothing
- discontinuation of the the 25-per-cent earnings exemption
- elimination of the earnings exemptions for employable clients and people with level one disabilities
- increase in earnings exemption for clients with level two disabilities ("DB2")to $300/mo. (up from$200)
- discontinuation of exemptions for family maintenance payments and orphans' benefit from CPP and income from other specified sources
- full-time non-disabled post-secondary students in programs eligible for BC Student Financial Assistance (SFA) are not eligible for income assistance through the BC Employment
and Assistance program
- discontinuation of homemaker services; short-term, emergency home-support services are provided by local health authorities and other ministries.
- revised (downwards) asset limits
- security deposits will be recovered from BC Employment and Assistance cheques at $20 per month; all BC Employment and Assistance clients are limited to a maximum of two
outstanding security deposits (except where the recipient is fleeing domestic abuse or has to move as a result of sale or demolition of the residence)
[NOTE : BC is the first Canadian jurisdiction to impose a time limit for receipt of welfare]
- employable single parents receiving BC Employment and Assistance are expected to seek work when their youngest child reaches age three
- support rates reduced ("The support rate has been simplified to create standard rates for people under 65 years.")
- employable clients will be limited to a cumulative 24 months (two years) of income assistance out of every 60 months (five years); after receiving assistance for a total of 24 months in a 60-month (five year) period, eligibility will cease for single people and rates will be reduced for families with children
- work entry assistance is discontinued and clients' requirements for items such as work clothes will be considered through the new job-placement programs
- ongoing transition-to-work assistance is discontinued.

February 19, 2002
- Ministry of Human Resources Service Plan, 2002/2003 - 2004/2005
- Employment Programs - Contract Planning Fact Sheet

Ministry of Human Resources Service Plan Summary (PDF file, 22K) - January 17, 2002
- Major overhaul of the BC Benefits (welfare) program

Seniors Supplement
July 2001
Information for those 65 years and over receiving federal Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS) and for those receiving federal Allowance (SPA).

Annual Performance Report 2000/2001
Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security

The Self-Sufficiency Project (SSP)

.

BC Human Rights Tribunal
- incl. links to the Attorney General's unofficial Consolidated Code including Bill 64 - the Tribunal's new Rules of Practice and Procedure effective March 31, 2003 - Human Rights Code - Rules of Practice and Procedure - Hearing Schedule - Decisions - Decision Index by year - Decision Index by ground - Tribunal Members - Judicial Reviews of Decisions - Practice Direction

Ministry of Children and Family Development

News Releases

Funding Creates Child Care Spaces, Supports Providers
August 10, 2005
"RICHMOND – Child care providers will benefit from an $8.1-million investment in child care supporting the creation of more quality child care spaces, staff training and other service improvements, Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid announced."

Backgrounder - list of projects, number of spaces created and funding amounts

Related Link:

Child Care in British Columbia

Administrative Justice Project Reports - links to almost two dozen online documents - Core Services Review Reports, Administrative Justice Project Reports and workplan

Office of the Ombudsman

Publications

Ombudsman Investigation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre's
Complaints about the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance (PDF file - 31K, 2 pages)
Press Release
March 28, 2006
Ombudsman investigates Income Assistance complaints
VICTORIA – Acting Provincial Ombudsman Howard Kushner today released Special Report No. 28, Ombudsman Investigation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s Complaints about the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance. The report details the outcome of three investigations initiated in response to complaints from the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)

Complete Report:

Ombudsman Investigation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s
Complaints about the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance(PDF file - 121K, 22 pages)

Source:
BC Ombudsman

Related NGO Link:

Ombudsman report reveals underlying problems in welfare ministry (PDF file - 55K, 1 page)
News Release
March 28, 2006
(Vancouver) Fifteen anti-poverty groups across BC are welcoming the Ombudsman’s report, released today, into complaints about unfairness at the BC Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance. As a result of the Ombudsman’s investigation, the Ministry has been making sweeping changes to policies and procedures, including to the application process and three week work search, reconsideration and appeal rights, and Ministry home visits.
Source:
British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre (BCPIAC)

Fairness and Accountability in Public Administration Remain Paramount in Victoria (PDF file - 127K, 1 page)
Press Release
July 5, 2004
"B.C. Ombudsman Howard Kushner released his 2003 Annual Report, which outlines the achievements of his office for 2003. The report highlights achievements that occurred during a year of immense challenge and change for the Office of the Ombudsman. “Downsizing of staff, relocating the Victoria office, sharing space and services with other legislative officers, restricting investigative activities as a result of severe, cumulative budget cuts, and the planning for the closing of our Vancouver Office were some of the changes and challenges faced by the Office of the Ombudsman during 2003,” stated Kushner. Mr. Kushner noted that the processing of approximately 10,000 intakes and the closing of over 2,000 investigative files, all with fewer staff and less resources than in 2002, is a reflection of the hard work of his staff and of the office’s commitment to administrative fairness. Individual case summaries included in the report provide a sample of the results of some investigations."

Office of the Ombudsman Service Plan 2004/05 – 2006/07 (PDF file - 1.9MB, 35 pages)

Ministry of Finance