The party that promised not to sell BC Rail, not to expand gambling and not to create chaos in the Ministry of Children and Family Development is at its promise game again. At least one promise, increasing benefits for people with disabilities, is being implemented December 22nd. Other promises are a little fuzzy with respect to both implementation date and details.

It is hard not to think of Campbell's promises as "election goodies", motivated by the need to buy votes. Nevertheless, the government deserves some credit for finally increasing the monthly allowance received by people with disabilities. Advocates for people with disabilities are concerned how the $70 increase per month will be structured. Payments consist of a living allowance and a shelter portion. Recipients are guaranteed the living allowance, but the shelter portion depends on the actual cost. The concern is that any increase in the shelter portion will be a signal to landlords for rent increases. Alternatively, anyone who isn't already using the maximum shelter allowance would not receive the full $70 if it is applied to the shelter portion of the cheque. For a single person, the $70 is an increase of 8.9%. Of course, that comes after more than several years of no adjustments. The consumer price index for BC rose by 8.9% between July 1999 and September 2004. The increase for families with one disabled parent is no greater; for a one parent family with two children, the $70 is an increase of 6.0% (the amount inflation has increased since February 2001). In September 2004 there were 3,651 single parent families receiving disability assistance.

The government's news release says that the rate increase for persons with disabilities is expected to benefit 66,500 clients in 2005-06. In September 2004 there were 53,586 disability assistance cases which involved 65,211 people (clients). The Ministry appears to be forecasting a 2% increase in the caseload. Although the government was criticized for a mean-spirited "review" of disability assistance that cost millions, while achieving little other than increased anxiety, the total caseload has increased by almost 24% since June 2001. A 2% increase in the caseload is not consistent with recent growth of more than 6% per year unless government has a secret plan to make it more difficult to apply for disability assistance.

At their Whistler convention, Premier Campbell also announced a 15 year plan for making BC's schools earthquake safe. It would help Campbell's credibility if a plan could be released saying when each school will receive seismic upgrading. That would mean telling a lot of parents that their children will have graduated before their school is considered. Everyone can remember the broken promise of 5,000 new long term care beds that turned into the closure of residential care beds so as to fund assisted living (where a person might get a bath once a week). Promises that are short on details and vague on timelines are worth little.

Who can question the Whistler convention promise to provide, over the next four years, a comprehensive diagnostic program for children under the age of six that will provide testing and support for hearing screening, sight testing and dental checks. Perhaps Campbell forgot that when he eliminated coverage for eye exams in November 2002, he exempted children and seniors. He should also visit the Ministry of Health's website where it provides a fact sheet on hearing. The Ministry has been encouraging parents to have their children tested by an audiologist if they suspect their child has a hearing problem. It concludes "For more information on hearing loss in infants and toddlers, please contact your local public health unit or family doctor, or call the 24-hour BC NurseLine to speak to a registered nurse." It looks like Campbell's diagnostic program is a new effort to provide dental exams combined with repackaging existing eye and ear exams, but we'll have to wait (maybe four years) to learn what is really intended.

With a record of broken campaign promises, Campbell stands on the edge of a major credibility gap going into the next election. Promises, and even an extraordinary pre-budget sales tax cut, did not help him in the Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election. He may have nowhere to turn for help.