►
From YouTube: NOVEMBER 1 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
C
C
Debra
pugh,
with
autism
community
training,
says
her
non-profit,
has
already
received
over
500
calls
from
families
who
are
scared,
and
they
are
angry
about
this
callous
decision.
I
am
confident
that
mlas
on
all
sides
of
this
house
are
hearing
from
parents
who
don't
understand
what
in
the
world,
this
government
is
doing
jessica.
Scott
says,
and
I
quote,
we
have
worked
hard
to
build
a
team
that
is
supportive
for
my
daughter.
C
She
is
thriving,
and
now
we
receive
this
news,
I'm
feeling
scared
and
disheartened.
We
need
to
be
able
to
choose
who
she
works
with
her
success
and
well-being
depend
on
it.
End
quote.
So.
Will
the
minister
relieve
the
anxiety
and
concern
that
parents
are
feeling
across
british
columbia
today?
Will
she
reverse
her
decision
and
will
she
commit
to
families
across
this
province
that
they
will
continue
to
receive
the
individualized
funding
that
they
rely
on.
D
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
I
thank
the
member
for
the
question
I
too
have
heard
from
families.
I
understand
the
concerns
that
families
have
right
across
british
columbia
and
that's
why
we're
taking
our
time
to
make
this
change
so
that
we
get
it
right
and
that
we're
working
with
families
and
continuing
to
listen
to
families,
providing
that
support
over
the
next
three
years
to
make
that
transition.
Successful.
D
D
The
the
services
were
too
delayed
because
they
had
to
wait
for
a
diagnosis
and
we've
been
told
by
so
many
other
families
and
advocates
that
we
need
to
move
to
a
needs
like
a
needs-led
system,
a
public
system
that
creates
a
safety
net
for
children
and
families
and
we've
seen
that
really
had
a
spotlight
shone
on
it
during
the
pandemic.
So
we're
going
to
create
that
system
for
all
children
and
families
across
british
columbia
who
need
those
services
and
support.
C
You
very
much,
and
obviously
the
answer
to
the
question
was
no.
The
minister
won't
reconsider.
C
Not
one
heather
harrison
says,
and
I
quote:
this
change
is
ludicrous
and
disrespectful,
so
callously
announced
with
no
consultation
with
autistic
people
or
parents
of
autistic
children.
End
quote
so.
Will
the
minister
stand
up
again?
Show
some
respect,
do
some
actual
consultation
with
families
who
are
being
impacted
by
this
decision
and
reverse
the
decision.
D
You,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
in
2019.
It
is
important
to
listen
to
families
and
listen
to
advocates
in
2019
the
ministry
consulted
with
over
1500
individuals
and
families,
including,
for
example,
autism
bc
and
then
covert
hit.
So
we
pivoted
to
make
sure
that
we
implemented
emergency
measures
to
make
sure
that
we
supported
families
who
were
already
struggling,
who
were
then
hit
by
the
pandemic
and
make
sure
that
we
could
support
them.
D
Once
we
establish
the
minister's
advisory
council
and
I
want
to
say
a
really
big
thank
you
to
everybody,
who's
sharing
their
lived
experience,
their
expertise
and
they're
so
generous
with
sharing
their
perspectives
in
the
council.
We
have
lived
expertise
and
we
have
experience
among
our
members
on
the
council
of
autism.
D
We
will
continue
as
we
go
through
our
implementation
phases
to
listen
to
families
across
the
province,
not
only
families
with
children
who
happen,
who
have
a
diagnosis
of
autism,
but
families
with
children
with
down
syndrome,
families
with
children
with
fetal
alcohol
spectrum
disorder,
the
whole
range
of
families
who
are
impacted
by
needing
services
for
their
children,
youth
wanting
to
do
the
best
for
their
children
and
youth
and
we're
going
to
be
delivering
those
services
to
help
those
children.
You
thrive.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
in
the
consultation
of
1500
people
across
british
columbia.
None
of
that
information
was
discussed
in
terms
of
this
dramatic
shift
in
funding
and
those
conversations
from
that
consultation
are
not
at
all
reflected
in
what
was
announced
last
week
by
the
minister.
A
A
She
called
the
government
trying
to
get
clarity,
mr
speaker,
but
says
quote:
they
are
not
listening.
I
told
the
lady
on
the
phone
stop,
I
said:
stop
with
your
spiel,
it's
not
the
good
of
all
children.
We're
losing
everything.
End
quote.
Will
the
minister
admit
she
was
wrong?
Mr
speaker
reverse
her
decision
to
cut
direct
funding
and
actually
consult
with
the
autism
community.
D
Oh,
thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
for
the
question.
It
is
important
to
listen
to
families
and
I've
been
hearing
from
a
lot
of
families
about
the
struggles
that
they've
been
facing.
Many
families
in
british
columbia
do
not
have
access
to
services.
Many
families
in
british
columbia
have
had
to
wait
for
a
diagnosis
before
they
can
even
get
access
to
services.
D
We've
been
listening
to
families
and
individuals
because
we
began
our
consultation
in
2019.
We
continued
our
work
with
the
advisory
council
from
2020.
We
have
actually
had
government
in
british
columbia
has
actually
had
multiple
reports
from
the
representative
for
children
and
youth,
suggesting
directing
recommending
that
we
move
to
a
needs-based
system.
We
will.
A
Mr
speaker,
we're
not
sure
that
they're
going
to
be
able
to
walk
into
a
hub
center
because
we
have
none
of
that
information,
and
none
of
these
families
have
that
information.
Jen
biddlecombe
from
port
moody
is
the
mother
of
an
autistic
son.
On
the
weekend
she
started
a
petition
that
calls
on
the
minister
to
leave
individual
funding
in
place
and
actually
consult
with
parents,
service
providers
and
autism
bc.
A
Thousands
of
british
colombians
have
already
signed
the
petition,
including
deborah
antifa,
who
says
quote:
we
fought
this
battle
against
the
ndp
over
20
years
ago.
We
can't
afford
their
unaccountable
bureaucracies
when
it
comes
to
the
well-being
of
our
kids.
End
quote:
will
the
minister
listen
to
jen
deborah
and
thousands
of
others
and
thousands
who
have
signed
the
petition,
who
are
hurt
by
her
callous
decision
to
cut
funding.
D
Thank
you
honorable
speaker,
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
I
understand
the
concerns
that
some
families
have
and
I've
also
heard
from
other
families
how
grateful
they
are
that
we're
starting
to
make
this
change
for
many
families
in
british
columbia.
This
change
cannot
come
fast
enough.
We
have
a.
D
We
have
a
good
period
of
implementation
so
that
we
can
get
this
right
and
we
can
continue
to
listen
to
families
and
to
youth
and
to
agencies
and
advocates
so
that
we
can
make
sure
that
this
implementation
is
successful
at
the
end
of
the
day.
What's
really
important
is
connecting
the
services
that
are
needed
to
the
children
and
youth
and
their
families
who
need
them.
Joshua,
myers,
executive
director
of
the
bc
center
for
ability
said
after
many
years
of
a
system
that
has
been
fragmented
and
challenging
for
families
to
access.
D
We
are
happy
to
see
the
significant
changes
proposed
in
this
new
approach.
The
member
opposite.
The
member
for
west
vancouver
capilano,
actually
herself,
has
said.
I'm
happy
to
hear
that
the
new
cysn
framework
will
actually
take
some
of
those
barriers
away
for
the
challenges
that
parents
have
on
trying
to
self-manage
those
funds.
E
E
Cynthia
lochrie
is
a
parent
of
an
autistic
child
in
duncan
she,
like
so
many
others,
is
incredibly
concerned
about
these
changes.
She
acknowledges
that
there
does
need
to
be
change,
but
what
she
has
is
a
message
for
the
government,
and
this
is
a
quote
from
cynthia.
These
parents
already
are
under
enormous
stress,
raising
and
advocating
for
their
kids.
Every
parent
has
mentioned
the
stress,
anxiety
and
trauma
caused
by
this
announcement,
and
many
many
tears
have
been
shed.
The
government
isn't
looking
at
the
human
element
of
the
decisions.
E
The
minister
in
response
to
one
question,
said
that
they
will
be
taking
time
to
make
this
change,
but
the
outcome
seems
to
be
predetermined,
and
this
is
the
issue
that
parents
have
is
that
a
consultation
process
should
feel
that
the
people
being
consulted
are
included
in
the
outcome.
That
comes
as
opposed
to
the
outcome
being
told
to
them,
and
then
the
consultation
happens.
E
D
Oh,
thank
you
honorable
speaker,
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
The
consultation
with
community
with
families
with
agencies
began
in
2019
and
the
fine
with
over
1500
contributions.
The
framework
was
created
on
the
basis
of
that,
and
so
we're
now
working
with
families
and
with
communities
and
agency
providers
on
the
implementation.
D
D
Youth
with
support,
needs
that,
rather
than
having
to
wait
and
wait
and
fight
for
a
diagnosis
and
then
have
to
go
out
and
create
their
own
package
and
case
manage
a
package
of
services
for
their
young
person,
but
actually
when
they
first
identify
a
developmental
delay
or
an
issue
with
functionality,
they're
able
to
take
their
child
into
a
fully
staffed
service
hub,
get
connected
with
a
professional
straight
away
and
and
have
a
care
plan
created
around
that
child
and
youth
in
partnership
with
that
family.
It
takes
away
the
burden
that
we've
heard.
D
B
D
E
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
in
no
way
do
I
suggest
that
this
isn't
a
incredibly
complex
and
difficult
system
to
navigate.
However,
the
minister's
suggestion
that
had
this
been
in
place
in
the
pandemic,
although
she
might
not
have
been
suggesting
that,
but
let's
be
clear,
had
there
been
public
hubs
in
place
in
the
pandemic,
those
services
would
have
disappeared
too.
E
So
what
I
think
is
essential
in
this
is
that
diverse
needs
need
diverse
options
and
that's
what
parents
are
really
indicating
to
us
right
now.
They're
asking
about
in-school,
supports
diagnosis
needed
for
in-school
supports.
How
will
these
changes
affect
them?
Will
children
who
have
seen
the
same
speech,
therapist
or
occupational
therapist
for
years
develop
trusting
relationships?
Will
they
be
required
to
abandon
their
care
providers?
E
Parents
of
children
with
disabilities
are
already
working
in
a
scarcity
model.
They
have
worked
tirelessly
to
find
the
right
service
providers
for
their
kids,
and
now
they
fear
that
these
hubs
risk
taking
that
support
away
from
them.
Children
with
diverse
needs
cannot
be
served
by
one
hub
without
mention
of
more
funding
or
a
plan
to
meet
everybody's
needs.
E
D
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
It's
there's
nothing
more
important
to
us
than
making
sure
that
we
get
the
services
that
are
needed
to
children,
youth
across
the
province
where
and
when
they
need
them.
Our
government
has
been
committed
to
that.
We
increased
respite
funding
by
six
million
dollars.
For
example,
the
current
budget
in
budget
2021
was
increased
by
13
million
dollars.
D
Of
that
two
million
dollars
was
an
increase
for
deaf
and
hard
of
hearing
children
that
those
programs
hadn't
received
an
increase
in
10
years.
We
also
made
the
announcement
of
an
additional
10
million
dollars
for
the
at-home
medical
benefits
program.
That's
for
the
really
important
functional
equipment
that
children
with
complex
needs
need
to
have
just
for
daily
functioning
like
wheelchairs,
like
lifts.
There
had
not
been
an
increase
in
that
funding
in
over
20
years.
D
Honorable
speaker,
we're
also
making
changes
to
the
system
like
we're,
making
permanent
the
emergency
measure
of
respite
funding
being
flexible
as
well.
We're
committed
to
making
sure
that
the
implementation
of
the
children,
youth
with
support
needs
framework
is
successful,
because
that
approach
provides
that
public
system
that
safety
net
of
services
that
are
there
where
and
when
children
youth
need
them.
F
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Well,
the
the
member
of
the
third
party
asked
a
pretty
specific
question
about.
Will
additional
funding
be
wrapped
around
the
new
framework
that
the
minister
has
announced?
The
answer
seems
to
be.
No,
the
minister
would
save
us
all
a
lot
of
time.
She
just
said
no,
there
won't
be
more
funding
moving
forward
and
the
sad
reality
is.
British
columbia
has
been
the
acknowledged
leader
in
the
country
when
it
comes
to
autism
supports
and
the
ndp
through
these
changes
are
taking
us
backwards.
F
They're
taking
families
backwards,
that's
a
sad
reality
for
families
across
british
columbia.
Mr
speaker,
foi
documents
show
why
parents
were
blindsided
by
the
ndp
with
this
decision
to
cut
autism
funding
the
ndp
used
non-disclosure
agreements
to
prevent
the
minister's
advisory
council
from
communicating
with
the
outside
world
on
the
ndp's
plans.
Now,
mr
speaker,
it's
one
thing
to
require
confidentiality
about
pending
legislation.
F
B
D
It
is
really
important
that
we
listen
to
parents
and
it's
going
to
be
really
important
as
we
move
forward
that
we
continue
talking
to
parents
and
advocates
and
community
partners
and
service
agencies,
so
that
we
can
make
this
transition
in
the
best
way
and
the
most
successful
way
for
children
and
youth,
as
we
recognize
it's
children
and
youth
who
are
already
needing
services
and
already
vulnerable.
So
we
need
to
make
sure
that
that
transition
is
successful.
The
consultation
started
in
2019
and,
as
I
said,
when
covid
hit,
we
had
to
focus
on
emergency
measures.
D
We
continued
on
the
recommendation
of
the
representative
for
children
and
youth
to
work
with
an
advisory,
an
advisory
council,
and
I
really
appreciate
all
of
the
work
and
expertise
that
they
were
able
to
share
with
each
other
and
share
with
the
ministry
as
we
were
finalizing.
Our
implementation
plans
a
bit
to
be
able
to
deliver
the
framework
in
a
way
that
best
meets
the
needs
of
children
and
youth
with
neurodiverse
needs.
F
F
None
of
that
feedback
made
its
way
into
into
the
minister's
framework,
what
she's
announced
none
of
it
and
and
and
surely
the
minister
is
receiving
the
hundreds
of
emails
that
all
of
us
in
the
opposition.
I
would
venture
to
guess.
Everyone
in
this
chamber
is
receiving
from
frustrated.
Anxious,
stressed
angry
parents
who
have
no
idea,
which
end
is
up
in
terms
of
what's
being
announced.
Mr
speaker,
this
is
what
autism
bc
says
about
the
minister's
consultation,
and
I
quote:
when
the
minister's
advisory
council
was
formed,
it
cut
off
all
community
engagement,
consultation
and
information
sharing.
F
End
quote:
foi
requests
for
minutes
of
meetings
consist
of
page
after
page
of
redacted
documents,
so
we
still
don't
know
what
the
ndp's
plans
really
are.
It's
more
than
a
little
baffling
how
you
could
overhaul
autism
funding,
but
not
talk
to
the
parents
and
the
families
impacted
it's
kind
of
like
not
talking
to
the
commissioner
when
you're
making
changes
to
the
foi
legislation
in
this
province.
F
D
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
There's
nothing
more
important
than
making
sure
that
we
build
the
supports
that
are
needed
for
children,
especially
vulnerable
children
and
youth
across
our
province.
We
started
consultation
on
what
would
be
the
best
model
in
2019
and
then
covid
hit
in
2020..
D
Was
to
make
respite
funding
more
flexible
so
that
people
were
able
to
manage
their
home,
like
maybe
one
family
was
buying
a
freezer
so
that
they
didn't
have
to
go
to
the
grocery
store.
So
often,
for
example,
another
family
was
purchasing
housework
support,
so
they
could
just
spend
more
quality
time
with
their
family.
So
we
have
been
listening
to
families.
Honourable
speaker,
we
also
have
the
reports
from
the
representative
for
children
and
youth.
B
G
This
is
this
is
a
situation
where
we
have
a
government
that
is
so
arrogant
that
they
believe
that
you
can
cut
somebody's
funding
to
give
it
to
more
people
and
somehow
that's
okay.
It's
not
okay.
Minister,
on
september,
27th
autism
bc
wrote
to
the
minister
to
share,
and
I
quote
their
grave
concern
and
uncertainty.
G
End
quote
last
month
the
minister
told
them
that
no
decisions
would
come
for
six
to
twelve
months
and
then
she
blindsides
the
community
with
these
sweeping
changes
instead
of
expanding
services,
which
definitely
is
required
and
allowing
for
a
combination
of
individualized
and
shared
care,
the
minister
is
pitting
parents
against
each
other
in
a
competition
for
resources.
When
will
the
minister
reverse
her
decision
to
cut
the
individualized
funding.
B
D
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker.
Well,
I
have
met
with
autism
bc
and
I
have
met
with
many
organizations
and
heard
from
families
as
well.
It's
really
important
to
listen
to
the
lived
experience
and
the
expertise
that
families
that
advocates
and
that
service
agencies
are
able
to
share
with
us
as
well,
and
we
have
had
multiple
reports
from
the
representative
for
children
and
youth
advising
us
and
recommending
to
us
that
we
move
to
a
needs-based
system.
D
Indeed,
the
legislature's
select
standing
committee
on
children
and
youth
also
wrote
a
report
related
to
neurodiverse
children
in
the
province
of
british
columbia
and
was
also
making
the
same
recommendations
as
well.
So
our
government
is
committed
to
making
sure
that
we
don't
have
children
locked
behind
a
diagnosis
waiting
years
before
they're
able
to
access
services.
D
What
will
help
children
and
youth
will
be
having
services
at
the
earliest
age
and
the
earliest
stage
of
intervention
when
issues
are
recognized
not
waiting
for
a
diagnosis,
so
we
will
provide
that
barrier-free
access
for
children
and
youth
to
be
able
to
get
the
services
that
they
need,
because
that
will
make
a
difference.
Honorable
speaker
on
their
long-term
pathway.
As
we
support
them
and
launch
them
to
fulfill
their
potential.
G
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Nobody
is
arguing
that
there
are
kids
that
need
support.
The
problem
is
that
the
minister
is
cutting
the
support
for
one
group
to
give
some
to
the
other
group.
It's
not
good
enough.
This,
minister,
without
consultation,
has
adopted
the
ontario
government's
approach
to
autism
funding
and,
as
charlotte
patrol
said,
and
I
quote:
if
you
want
to
understand
the
need
talk
to
the
people
directly
affected.
This
is
not
an
area
to
make
cuts
and
ontario's,
not
a
place
to
copy
parents
are
in
despair
there
as
a
parent.
D
Well,
thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
our
approach
to
delivering
services
for
children
and
youth
with
support
needs
is
to
put
them
right
at
the
center.
We
are
focusing
on
the
needs
of
children
and
youth
and
wrapping
services
around
them
in
partnership
with
parents
as
well,
so
they
will
be
such
an
active
part
of
creating
the
care
plan
and
working
out.
The
services
that
are
going
to
be
needed.
D
But,
honorable
speaker,
there
are
many
many
families
in
british
columbia
who
have
been
left
out
for
a
long
long
time
and
we
need
to
move
to
a
needs-based
system
so
that
those
other
children
and
youth
will
also
receive
services,
so
we'll
be
able
to
provide
services
for
children,
youth
with
fetal
alcohol
spectrum,
disorder
down
syndrome
and
other
developmental
issues
where
who
they
currently
don't
receive.
Services.
H
Mr
speaker,
this
is
not
the
only
place
where
the
ndp
are
making
an
ideological
decision
to
limit
choices
for
parents
of
children
with
autism.
There
are
over
two
thousand
autistic
children
in
independent
distance
learning.
Schools
and
families
are
shocked
and
angry
with
the
multiple
ndb
cuts
to
the
supports
they
need.
Last
year
the
ndp
chose
to
slash
vital
funding
to
these
schools,
and
now
they
intend
to
restrict
them
to
only
operate
within
their
district.
H
I
Thank
you
very
much,
honorable
speaker
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question,
and
I
would
just
note
that,
of
course,
following
from
a
briefing
that
my
staff
in
the
ministry
of
education
provided
to
to
the
member
and
other
members
from
from
across
the
aisle
last
week,
I
think,
as
you
well
know,
this
is
a
discussion
and
a
set
of
recommendations
that
has
flown
from
flowed
from
the
from
the
the
funding
review
that
was
conducted
in
2018,
and
it
is
the
intention
of
the
ministry
on
honorable
speaker
to
ensure
that
all
children
who
rely
on
online
educational
services
in
this
province
have
equal
access
to
standard
to
a
standard
of
quality
that
is
equal
across
the
entire
province.
I
We
are
working
with
with
the
the
families
of
children
who
are
enrolled
in
these
programs,
we're
working
with
the
providers
through
both
the
public
schools
and
the
independent
schools.
We
have
heard
from
parents,
and
we
have
worked
with
them
on
an
extended
consultation
and
implementation
timeline
to
ensure
that
we
hear
the
stories
that
we
need
to
hear
in
order
to
move
forward,
to
make
this
very
important
development
in
ensuring
quality
access
to
quality
programs
for
for
online
students
across
the
province.
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,.
H
Parents
were
already
reeling
from
the
dl
school
changes
and
then
the
minister
of
children
and
family
development
announced
the
elimination
of
individual
funding.
Individualized
funding
ndp
ministers
clearly
have
no
understanding
of
the
impacts
of
these
decisions
and
aren't
even
talking
to
each
other
autism
bc,
surveyed
parents
who
are
deeply
concerned
about
the
ndp
government's
coming
changes
to
independent
and
distributed
learning.
One
parent
had
this
to
say,
and
I
quote:
I've
written
a
letter
to
my
mla,
who
also
happens
to
be
the
minister
of
education.
H
I
You,
honourable
speaker,
and
I
asked
to
sim-
I
appreciate
the
concern
from
the
member
opposite
with
respect
to
ensuring
that
children
in
this
province
have
access
to
quality
online
learning,
and
that
is
the
objective
of
the
consultation
and
the
process
that
we
are
undertaking.
We
have
been
consulting
with
parents,
we
have
been
consulting
with
autism
bc.
In
fact,
I
met
with
them
very
recently
about
these
very
changes.
I've
met
with
bc
ad
access.
We
are
meeting
with
the
providers
of
of
all
of
these
programs.
I
We
are
engaged
right
now,
as
we
speak
in
an
extensive
consultation
with
families
who
are
engaged
in
these
programs,
and
we
look
forward
and
value
their
input
and
will
the
all
of
that
input
will
inform
how
we
move
forward
on
this
process
over
the
over
the
coming
months
and
in
the
next
couple
of
years.
As
I
will
say,
the
member
well
knows,
because
that's
the
information
that
we
did
provide
in
the
briefing
that
was
provided
very
very
recently
to
the
member.
Thank
you
very
much.
Honorable.