Issues & Trends from the Executive Director
On November 6th, grammy award winning singer and song writer , Chantal Kraviazuk, entertained a sold out house at the McPherson Playhouse. Our 9th signature concert raised almost $100,000, and brought increased awareness about the work of Community Living Victoria. We are grateful to our Foundation for their efforts to bring this concert to Victoria.
On December 3rd, more than 260 people gathered to celebrate our 60th anniversary! Highlights of the evening included: a delicious dinner, displays from each of the decades, an accessible photo booth, and dancing to the soul and funk tunes of the Groove Kitchen. It was a wonderful evening where the people we support, families, board members, staff and friends reconnected and shared memories as we honoured our 60 year legacy.
Our anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come as a civil rights movement for social change and inclusion. We are grateful for and humbled by the work of our pioneering families and of all the families, individuals and supporters who over the past 60 years have paved the way for a better life for everyone. There is so much to celebrate.
We also distributed close to $10,000 to more than 200 individuals and families this holiday season. This was made possible through our 50/50 employee lottery fund and the Reach for the Stars fundraising campaign. The holidays were brighter for many people we support. Thank you to all who contributed.
December 3rd was also International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations marked this year with the theme “inclusion matters” to raise awareness and mobilize support for the one billion people living with disabilities who remain one of the most marginalized groups in the world.
On behalf of our movement the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) was an intervener in the Supreme Court Case “Carter v. Canada’ arguing against Physician Assisted Suicide. While the Supreme Court found in favor of allowing physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia in Canada, we continue to work on ensuring that comprehensive safeguards be established to respect and safeguard vulnerable persons, particularly those who are vulnerable by virtue of having a developmental disability. Accommodations are needed that recognize the impacts of living in a society that devalues people based on differences thus making them more susceptible to making such a decision or having others coerce them. We also need not to be seen to be restricting or infringing on the now legal right of others to choose physician assisted death. Safeguards will provide a way to ensure the right to choose for physician assisted death for all Canadians, but it must be accessed within a social/cultural framework for those who are vulnerable to being devalued.
At the provincial level, the government announced changes that represent a major shift in the disability benefits model. These changes came into effect on December 1st, 2015:
- Individuals who receive Persons With Disability (PWD) payments will be able to save up to $100,000 in liquid assets
- Families and friends can give regular gifts of cash or gift cards to those on PWD without penalty to their monthly payments.
- As of December 1st, 2015 setting up a costly trust is not necessary if the gift is within the $100,000 limit. If the gift is larger and a Trust is necessary, the rules limiting how much can be withdrawn or what the money can be used for has been eliminated.
Young adults on disability who are supported by families will benefit the most by this change in regulation. Unfortunately, older persons on disability benefits are rarely supported by anyone who can put aside that kind of money for them.
While these changes in policy are welcome, what could really make a significant difference to the lives of people living with disabilities, would be an increase in the monthly disability payment itself. To expect anyone, especially someone living in the Lower Mainland or Victoria, to live on a monthly income of just over $900 is unrealistic. It puts disadvantaged and vulnerable people under incredible stress and forces them to live in poverty. There has been no increase in disability benefits for over eight years. This is where the most immediate and significant difference should be made.
With the beginning of a new year, we will be reviewing how we did as an agency in 2015, and we also shift our focus to our priorities for 2016. We continue to seek out better physical space for our day services, as well as enhancing opportunities for people who attend our community inclusion programs.
We also will be continuing to work with BCHousing and CLBC to develop a new accessible home for the people who live at our McRae home. Ensuring people have the services and supports they need to live a good life in community is always our priority.
