On May 12, 2009, voters in British Columbia will decide which party will lead our province into the next four years. This page is meant to keep you informed and updated on election issues that matter to children and youth with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities, and their families.
To help us all keep these issues on the election agenda, BCACL has created election advocacy materials in each of our priority areas. The documents include questions to candidates, statistics, what we need, and background information on why it's important. Click on the links below to download the documents. BCACL has also created a plain language guide to voting, called Get the Vote Out, which answers questions you may have about how to vote on election day.
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Entire election advocacy document
View the sources for the statistics and facts here: http://www.bcacl.org/documents/Sources.pdf
The Community Legal Assistance Society's Disability Advisory Committee (made up of 24 disability organizations) recently hosted a party leaders' forum. Representatives from the Green Party, the NDP and the Liberal Party were in attendance. You can read the transcript here.
Party Platforms
The BC Liberals, BCNDP and Green Party of BC have all released their election platforms. We have included a brief summary of some of the issues relevant to people with developmental disabilities. Remember this is only a brief summary. Please take the time to look at the platforms - for issues such as poverty - in more depth. To find out where the political parties stand on committing to a BC poverty reduction plan, visit the poverty reduction website.
Regarding education, Carol James promises to:
Regarding community living, her party commits to "reducing Community Living waitlists, to help some of BC's most vulnerable adults and their families get adequate care."
The party has also committed to enacting a poverty reduction plan with targets and timelines.
The Liberal Party promises:
To dedicate $123 million to create 1,000 new homes for seniors and persons with disabilities across BC. Those units will be built this year, largely in smaller communities.
Green Party of BC party platform
The Green Party of BC promises to:
Create local support systems that promote health, child welfare and accessibility for people with disabilities and the aging,
Request that the Auditor General review services to persons with disabilities with particular attention to structural barriers,
Appoint an Advocate for Persons with Disabilities as an independent officer of the Legislature,
Modernize services for people with disabilities based on a social model of ability rather than a medical model,
Construct healthy, energy efficient green housing for people with disabilities and mental health problems and for lowincome people.
First Call Child and Youth Coalition has gathered excerpts on child and youth issues from each of the three platforms. You can read them here:
Green Party
Liberal Party
New Democratic Party
Find your riding and your candidates
Your riding may have changed since the last election so it's a good idea to check, just in case! To find your riding, visit this link (Elections BC): http://142.36.238.17/voter/edfinder.htm. The elections BC website has a lot of other important information, including district maps and how and where to vote. Don't forget, you can also download Get the Vote Out, a great voting guide for self advocates or anyone who wants a plain language guide to voting!
Do you know who is running for MLA in your riding? You can find out who your NDP, Liberal and Green Party candidates are by clicking on the links below.
NDP Candidate
Liberal Candidate
Green Party Candidate
Attend an 'All-Candidates' Forum
*If a candidates' forum or debate is being held in your community, please let us know. Email Danielle Kelliher at dkelliher@bcacl.org.
Nanaimo Forum on Public Education and Poverty Issues
Audience members will not only get a chance to meet the candidates personally during the informal meet and greet before hand, but they will also get to ask questions directly to the candidates. This event is free.
When: May 4, 2009 - The informal meet and greet starts at 5:45pm with the forum starting at 6:30.
Where: Gymnasium at Nanaimo District Secondary Community School (355 Wakesiah Avenue at Third Street)
Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion (BACI) Hosts All Candidates' Forum on Social and Community Issues in Burnaby
All 12 candidates from all four Burnaby ridings have confirmed their attendance. Click here to read the media release.
When: May 7, 2009 - informally (from 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm), then hear their presentations and participate in the Question and Answer Period (from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm).
Where: BACI's Still Creek Centre, 2702 Norland Avenue, Burnaby, BC.on Thursday,
Port Coquitlam
Monday, May 4th, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Terry Fox Theatre
1260 Riverwood Gate, Port Coquitlam
Coquitlam - Maillardville
Tuesday, May 5th, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Centennial Theatre
570 Poirier Street, Coquitlam
Coquitlam - Burke Mountain
Wednesday, May 6th, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Evergreen Cultural Centre
1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Port Moody - Coquitlam
Thursday, May 7th, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Inlet Theatre
100 Newport Drive, Port MoodyOther Resources:
Many of our community partners are doing great work in making sure that important issues are raised before the election. Click on the links below to check it out.
First Call Children and Youth Advocacy Coalition's Provincial Election Kit.
Social Planning and Research Council of BC - BC Votes 2009 is produced by SPARC BC as a series of articles (including Disability and Employment) intended for public education and the promotion of citizen engagement in the democratic election process. It provides information and encourages the questioning of all candidates on social issues.
The Child Care Advocacy Forum has two new "We Need Child Care to Work” postcards to send to the provincial party leaders in advance of the election. You can order postcards here.
BC School Trustees Association - To ensure that public education stays top-of-mind for both candidates and the public in the coming provincial election, the BCSTA has prepared a special Election Toolkit to provide you with advocacy resources.
BC's Poverty Reduction Plan
On February 5, 2009, more than 200 organizations and community leaders joined together to call on all BC political parties to commit to a comprehensive, legislated poverty reduction plan. Find out more.
The Lead-Up: BC Election Commentary from the CCPA
A blog by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' research associates.
Questions from the BC Association of Social Workers
"For voters who want to ask hard questions of candidates," the B.C. Association of Social Workers has prepared a list covering 10 areas.
BCACL maintains a media page, where we collect news articles that relate to issues around developmental disabilities. Visit the site here: http://www.bcacl.org/Media_Coverage_2009/. As they arise, we will post relevant pre-election news articles to the site.
Both CTV and Global are asking the public to submit questions for the May 3 leaders debate. Send your questions on community living issues to GlobalNews.BC@globaltv.com and battlegroundbc@ctv.ca with your contact information. Take a look at BCACL's election kit for inspiration.
The Hook: A Political Blog
The Hook is a frequently updated election blog that covers many of the pre-election issues. A great resource if you want to know what people are talking about!
May 1, 2009 - Georgia Straight article by Adrienne Montani, provincial coordinator of First Call: Child Poverty got worse under the BC Liberals
