The Interim Authority for Community Living hits the Lower Mainland this week in its province wide tour "to present community with an opportunity to learn more about the plans for Community Living BC." Notice that the emphasis is on having the "community" attend information meetings to learn what the Interim Authority is doing; the meetings are not opportunities for the Interim Authority to hear concerns from the community.

The Interim Authority, whose new board consists of just three people, plays a key role in budget cuts in the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Although ten authorities, which have community support, have been fired, the Interim Authority for Community Living, whose support is questionable following the controversy involving Doug Walls, is continuing on a path to assume responsibility for over $553 million. That is more than the $489 million budget for the Ministry of the Attorney General; it is more than 12 times the $45 million budget for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. That is a shocking amount of money to put in the hands of three appointees when the transfer of responsibility is shrouded in controversy and scandal.

The B.C. Federation of Families Society has encouraged families to ask the Interim Authority several direct questions in its information sessions. Those questions include:

1. Is it possible to show us any statistics that CLBC's vision or community governance plan was backed by families?

2. Was a survey conducted that would give a clear indication of our choice?

3. In my community (name) there are families of senior citizen age, who are also still providing full time care for their adult children. Knowing that this situation will not last long, what plans are in place for my community of (name) to meet their approaching needs?

4. Has anyone informed these parents that if they choose I.F. for the flexibility it might offer, that they must accept funding dollars that are based on lower cost services than they presently receive?

5. Does this mean that older parents who have been unpaid care-givers for many years cannot choose individualized funding because their child hasn't cost the system enough in the past?

6. Are facilitators social workers with a new name? Will some be volunteers? Will they often do their job from a different community than the one a family needing services might live in?

7. Will they be qualified?

8. Will the social worker who knows my adult child, our family, and community continue to serve us, or must we accept the unknown facilitator offered by an untried system?

9. How many social workers have lost their jobs in our province? How many more will we lose?

10. How many group homes have been closed? Have these residents been consulted or tracked to see if they are happy with their new living situation? How are they being monitored?

11. Do parents want their children to enter the revolving door of foster care? Is this the best placement for individuals who are known to be slow adapting to new situations and people?

12. Will an audit be available to let the public know what costs have been accrued in the transition effort to date?

13. Is there any documentation to demonstrate communities, or service providers will be able to meet the imposed demands of community governance? Will volunteers be readily recruited to meet the needs of people with disabilities? Is there any formula that shows what is being proposed will not place this population at considerable risk?

14. What happens when costs exceed a budget for a high needs community?

15. In our community we know that more high needs adults will be entering the system as they graduate from school. Will new funding be made available to meet their needs? Will new young adults have to use funds from thinly stretched budgets, or will dollars be made available to address their needs as they enter the important transition to the community?

16. Is it true that no new group homes or living settings are being developed?

17. Will the placement of these high needs persons in care homes not cause grave situations to develop? What solutions will be found when care homes cannot meet the demands placed on them?

18. It appears that some children have been removed from their home communities when their needs have exceeded the ability of a foster home to cope. Must these children also be housed away from their friends and schools? Will closing staffed houses that have helped stabilize such young people in their home community not create even more problems?

On Monday, April 19th between 7 PM and 9 PM, you can hear how the Interim Authority answers questions by attending its meeting at the Vancouver Airport Marriott, 7571 Westminster Highway. On Tuesday, April 20th, during the same hours, they are in Vancouver at the Plaza 500, 500 West 12th Avenue. On Thursday, they attend the North Shore at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel, 123 Carrie Cates Court, and the following week they face the public in Richmond and Surrey. No doubt there will be media reports on how the Interim Authority answers the questions.