Families First Agenda for British Columbia

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Families First Agenda

for British Columbia

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M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E M I E R E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y FA M I LY A F F O R D A B I L I T Y S U P P O R T I N G V U L N E R A B L E FA M I L I E S S A F E C O M M U N I T I E S , S T R O N G FA M I L I E S I N T R O D U C T I O N T H E T H R E E P I L L A R S O F T H E FA M I L I E S F I R S T A G E N D A FA M I LY A F F O R D A B I L I T Y S U P P O R T I N G B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A’ S C H I L D R E N S U P P O R T I N G B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A’ S S T U D E N T S S U P P O R T I N G B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A’ S S E N I O R S S U P P O R T I N G V U L N E R A B L E FA M I L I E S H E L P I N G V U L N E R A B L E C H I L D R E N G E T A G O O D S TA R T A D D R E S S I N G M E N TA L I L L N E S S A N D A D D I C T I O N I M P R O V I N G H O U S I N G F O R LO W - I N C O M E FA M I L I E S A N D B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A N S E X P E R I E N C I N G H O M E L E S S N E S S H E L P I N G FA M I L I E S R I S E O U T O F P O V E R T Y S U P P O R T I N G S E N I O R S AT R I S K S A F E C O M M U N I T I E S , S T R O N G FA M I L I E S P O L I C I N G A N D C O M M U N I T Y S A F E T Y P R O T E C T I N G FA M I L I E S R O A D S A F E T Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 5 6 6 9 9 11 16 17 20 23 23 26 27 28 32 37 37 40 41

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Families are as diverse

as our great province,

and they are bound

together by love and by an

unshakeable commitment

to supporting each

other. Families make our

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Message from the Premier

On March 14, 2011, I was sworn in as your Premier with a key objective: to put families first.

Our government has made significant progress on putting families first, and we will do more. We know that every family wants to have the opportunity to grow, prosper and live in a safe community. Our government is acting to ensure families have the best ability to succeed with our focus on maintaining British Columbia’s economic strength. A good-paying, stable and secure job is one of the most important elements of a healthy, happy and strong family. That is why I remain focussed on growing our economy, to grow these opportunities for families in British Columbia.

We are acting with our Families First Agenda to support vulnerable families, to make our communities safer and to make life more affordable for families. The policies laid out in this plan are designed to help families in B.C. continue to progress and thrive. The challenges that B.C. families face are linked to the issues we face together as a society: keeping the cost of government affordable; an aging population; affordable housing and services; protecting vulnerable families and children; and ensuring safe streets and communities. We are addressing these issues with fresh ideas and steadfast determination. Like the B.C. Jobs Plan, we have built this plan on our commitment to a balanced budget and prudent fiscal management.

The Families First Agenda is the next step in our work to support families. It highlights what we have accomplished to strengthen B.C. families, and shows the actions we are taking to build on these initiatives as we move forward. It also identifies important areas where we are looking for more feedback from British Columbians, to ensure that good ideas are translated into further actions that meet the needs of citizens. That is our approach to open government — we are here to listen, to act on that input, and we will report back with a summary of these consultations over the course of the fall. The ideas generated from this engagement will inform future budget priorities. Jobs, Families and Open Government are our government’s three priorities. This Families First Agenda, built on the foundation of our Jobs Plan and with

opportunities for British Columbians to provide input, reflects all three of those priorities.

I invite you to join us in implementing and expanding this agenda, with your ideas and your commitment to a better British Columbia.

T H E H O N O U R A B L E C H R I S T Y C L A R K

P R E M I E R O F B R I T I S H CO LU M B I A

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Our priorities as a

government must reflect

those of our citizens, and

family is at the centre of

each of our lives, no matter

how you define your family.

We all need a circle of

support to help us succeed.

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Executive Summary

Jobs, Families and Open Government. Those are the three priorities of our government. This agenda lays out what we have done, what we are doing and areas where we intend to do more for families. It is an agenda that demonstrates our commitment to put Families First.

The Families First Agenda for British Columbia is built on the foundation of Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan and our commitment to fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget by 2013/14. On that foundation the Families First Agenda has three pillars:

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Family Affordability

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Supporting Vulnerable Families

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Safe Communities, Strong Families FA M I LY A F F O R D A B I L I T Y

Being a fiscally responsible government is essential to ensuring B.C. thrives. Our government’s work to keep taxes low and government spending under control has brought substantial benefits to B.C. families. Since 2001, government has reduced provincial personal income taxes for most taxpayers by 37 per cent or more and taken steps so that an additional 325,000 people no longer pay any B.C. income tax. In total, more than one million modest-income British Columbians pay no provincial income tax at all. With the Families First Agenda, our government is:

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Introducing a student loan repayment assistance program (RAP). RAP will provide better supports for people on low income having trouble repaying students loans because of reduced income. It is expected to assist approximately 20,000 borrowers annually.

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Launching a “one student/ one loan approach” in B.C. This approach makes it easier to apply for and pay off student loans, with one set of rules and forms, and a single point of contact for the loan.

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Implementing an Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Policy Framework and Action Plan. This strategy aims to close the educational gap for aboriginal learners.

Our government has done a lot to make life affordable in B.C., and we know that raising a family is an exciting and, often, an expensive challenge. That is why we are continuing to look at every possible means to help make life more affordable for British Columbians. With input from citizens, we will continue to find new and innovative ways to make life more affordable for B.C. families. We are also seeking ideas about our StrongStart program, input on the best approaches to early childhood development and child care, the best ways to save for education and training, and how to help keep families, including seniors, active and healthy.

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FA M I L I E S F I R S T AG E N DA F O R B R I T I S H CO LU M B I A [ 6 ]

S U P P O R T I N G V U L N E R A B L E FA M I L I E S

Our duty to protect and care for B.C.’s most vulnerable citizens is one that our government takes very seriously. We are committed to implementing supports that help all British Columbians share in the benefits as our economy continues to grow. With our Families First Agenda, we are introducing balanced reforms to income assistance policies.

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“Families First” policy changes will better harmonize our programs and policies for families on income assistance with other jurisdictions across Canada. These changes include increasing the school start-up supplement, providing dental benefits for children of families on hardship assistance, matching the family bonus top-up rate to the federal amount and exempting lump-sum family bonus payments less family bonus top-up amounts provided to the family.

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A monthly earnings exemption for expected-to-work clients will help them develop job skills, take advantage of short-term or temporary work opportunities, and better provide for their families while receiving assistance.

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To help families avoid the cycle of income assistance dependence, we have expanded the application and intensity of work search requirements.

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Modest asset increases and elimination of separate limits on cash assets will help families transition more easily from income assistance back to self-sufficiency.

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Changes to assistance for individuals with disabilities will help them lead more independent lives and give their families more opportunities to provide financial support and stability though increases to trust fund limits.

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For those who are able to work, earning exemptions have been increased to $800 for individuals receiving disability assistance and $1,600 for couples who are both receiving disability assistance, with the flexibility to calculate earnings on an annual basis.

To help vulnerable families, our government is actively seeking feedback from British Columbians, soliciting best ideas about how to help those living with mental illness and addictions, how to plan for the future when a family member is diagnosed with dementia, and how to best plan for end of life.

S A F E C O M M U N I T I E S , S T R O N G FA M I L I E S

Ensuring that families are protected and feel safe at home and in their

communities is an important part of putting families first in British Columbia. Our government is committed to measures that ensure safe communities and protect our sense of community. We have taken on crime and criminals through several targeted initiatives such as our guns and gangs program and our approach to anti-human trafficking training, and we have seen tremendous success.

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With our Families First Agenda, we are going further:

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Extending the Guns and Gangs Prevention Strategy with a commitment of $66 million over three years.

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Expanding the number of Justice Access Centres in the province, which provide front-end justice information and services such as dispute resolution and legal advice to help solve family and civil justice problems faster and more effectively.

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Plans to propose a new Community Safety Act that will provide government the authority to respond to unlawful activities that impact neighbours.

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Moving forward with rapid implementation of the new Family Law Act.

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Expanding the number of child-protection mediators, who work with the families to establish the best interests of children when families break up.

Our government is providing protection to families and vulnerable British Columbians by implementing more measures to prevent crime and violence. We will continue to look at ways to make the justice system more effective and accessible, and are seeking input on what community safety means to British Columbians, what would help citizens to feel safer in their communities, and ideas to improve policing in the province.

Significant progress has been made on measures to support B.C. families. Despite economic, social and fiscal pressures around the globe, we are focused on ensuring our province thrives, and that British Columbians have the jobs and opportunities they need to succeed.

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Investing in the health

and well-being of families

is essential to the future

growth and success of

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Introduction

In times of global economic uncertainty, our government must do even more to help families make ends meet, help the most vulnerable among us, and keep our communities safe.

We have introduced focused measures to support families, grounded in our commitment to fiscal responsibility. We have made targeted investments to keep family life affordable and support those most in need. We are making changes to existing programs as necessary, to ensure we meet the needs of British Columbians and make a difference in their lives, while also maintaining our commitment to a balanced budget.

And we will do more.

We will consult with British Columbians on key elements of the Families First Agenda. The ideas generated will inform the decision-making process for our budget next year and for future changes to programs and services as resources become available.

T H E T H R E E P I L L A R S O F T H E FA M I L I E S F I R S T A G E N D A Our government’s Families First Agenda is built on three pillars:

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Family Affordability

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Supporting Vulnerable Families

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Safe Communities, Strong Families

In this Families First Agenda for British Columbia, we expand on each of these pillars, highlight the results of our work so far, and explain what our government is and will be doing to build on these achievements. We are also reaching out to British Columbians to discuss the issues that matter most to them and get advice on how to help families get ahead.

By inviting British Columbians to participate in government decision-making, we ensure we are operating with higher levels of efficiency, accountability and transparency. Our commitment to open government is a commitment to listening to people and acting on their input. That’s why we are using all the tools at our disposal to reach out to B.C. families.

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Since 2001, B.C. has

reduced provincial personal

income taxes for most

taxpayers by 37 per cent or

more, and an additional

325,000 people no longer

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Family Affordability

Since 2001, B.C. has reduced provincial personal income taxes for most taxpayers by 37 per cent or more, and an additional 325,000 people no longer pay any B.C. income tax. In total, more than one million British Columbians pay no provincial income tax, from a total of more than three million

British Columbians who file tax returns.

Our government has implemented measures so that individuals can earn at least $19,000 before paying any provincial personal income tax at all, and B.C. currently has the lowest provincial personal income taxes in Canada for individuals earning up to $120,000 a year. When all taxes are considered, British Columbians have among the lowest tax burdens in the country. (See graphic on page 12.) Our government’s focus on keeping taxes low and government spending under control is reinforced by the actions identified in this pillar of the Families First Agenda. Raising a family is an exciting challenge. But for some families, it can be difficult to tend to things that others take for granted — like packing a healthy lunch each day. We are continuing to look at every possible means to help make life more affordable for British Columbians.

P E R S O N A L I N C O M E TA X R E D U C T I O N S S I N C E 2 0 0 1 Total Decrease 2001 vs 2012 Taxes 2001 Taxes 2012 SENIOR COUPLE ($40,000) $828 $0 -$828 (-100%) FAMILY OF 4 ($70,000) $4,339 $2,181 -$2,158 (-50%) SINGLE INDIVIDUAL ($20,000) $765 $41 _(-95%)-$724 SINGLE INDIVIDUAL ($50,000) $3,575 $2,139 -$1,436 (-40%)

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British Columbia families generally have one of the lowest overall provincial tax burdens in Canada, including income taxes, consumption taxes, property taxes, health care premiums and payroll taxes.

S O U R C E: M I N I S T RY O F F I N A N C E, B U D G E T 2012

TA X E S I N B . C . – H O W W E M E A S U R E U P

2012 COMPARISON OF PROVINCIAL TAXES BY PROVINCE

AB BC SK PEI NL MB NB ON NS QC $13,501 $13,076 $12,765 $12,720 $12,368 $9,755 $9,614 $12,262 $7,482 $17,796

Health Care Premiums: $1,536 Sales Tax: $1,602 Net Carbon Tax: $177 Net Property Tax: $2,996 Provincial Income Tax: $3,085

2012 BREAKDOWN OF TOTAL BC TAX: $9,614

Total Pro vincial T ax Fuel Tax: $218 TWO-INCOME FAMILY OF 4 $90,000 INCOME

Health Care Premiums: $1,536 Sales Tax: $1,262

Net Carbon Tax: $156 Net Property Tax: $2,026 Provincial Income Tax: $1,190

Total Pro

vincial T

ax

Fuel Tax: $218

AB SK BC NB ON NL MB PEI NS QC $3,949 $8,278 $8,146 $8,033 $7,944 $7,918 $6,388 $5,157 $7,726 $9,584 TWO-INCOME FAMILY OF 4 $60,000 INCOME

BC AB NB SK NL ON PEI NS MB QC $7,663 $14,053 $13,947 $12,351 $12,258 $12,230 $10,770 $7,713 $10,906 $19,430 SINGLE INDIVIDUAL $80,000 INCOME Sales Tax: $1,368 Net Carbon Tax: $139 Net Property Tax: $1,206 Provincial Income Tax: $3,964

Total Pro

vincial T

ax

Health Care Premiums: $768 Fuel Tax: $218

Sales Tax: $749

Net Carbon Tax: -$100 Net Property Tax: $1,751

Fuel Tax: $145

Total Pro

vincial T

ax

Health Care Premiums: $0 Provincial Income Tax: $0

AB BC MB ON SK NL PEI NS NB QC $2,363 $4,129 $4,048 $4,004 $3,371 $3,187 $2,662 $2,545 $3,141 $4,443 SENIOR COUPLE EQUAL PENSIONS $30,000 INCOME

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Over the past decade, our government has relieved the overall tax burden for many families. For example, a senior couple with income of $40,000 has seen their tax burden reduced to zero. A single individual with income of $20,000 now pays 95 per cent less. A family of four earning $70,000 now pays 50 per cent less income tax than they did in 2001.

In recent weeks, our government has made bold decisions to support affordability. We directed the British Columbia Utilities Commission to reduce BC Hydro’s rate increases over three years by 50 per cent. And we are ending AirCare requirements for passenger cars and trucks as of December 31, 2014.

To help low- and modest-income British Columbians with their costs, we provide the B.C. Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit of up to $115.50 for adults and $34.50 for children. These credits are paid quarterly each January, April, July and October. For example, this means that a low- or modest-income family of four can receive up to $300 per year in cash to help cover living expenses. We’ve also introduced two new credits for families with children. With the new, non-refundable children’s fitness and arts credits, families can claim up to $500 in eligible fitness expenses and an additional $500 in eligible arts expenses per child. This is an investment in the health and well-being of B.C. families, and supports the development of new skills and interests that can last a lifetime.

The Home Owner Grant Program is a property tax assistance program offered by our government that helps reduce the residential property tax British Columbians pay each year on their principal residences. The grant provides a maximum reduction in residential property taxes of $570. An additional grant of $275 — for a total of $845 — is available if the homeowner is 65 or over, permanently disabled, or an eligible veteran. The Northern and Rural Area Homeowner Benefit, which took effect in 2011, increases the home owner grant by up to $200 for home owners living outside of the Capital, Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional districts.

Property Tax Deferment is a low-interest loan program that assists qualifying B.C. homeowners in paying the annual property taxes on their principal residences. Our government provides property tax deferral options for qualified individuals, including persons with a disability. The deferment programs are low-interest loan programs that allow qualifying residents to defer all or part of their property taxes until they sell or transfer ownership of their home, or it becomes part of an estate. Application forms are available when property tax notices are issued each spring. Our government has also implemented a number of supports that are targeted to the special circumstances of living in various regions of British Columbia.

In the case of health care, many citizens pay insurance premiums to the Medical Services Plan (MSP). However, there are built-in protections for lower-income British Columbians to help ensure the program is income-sensitive.

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As of December 31, 2011, there were nearly one million B.C. residents subsidized by the MSP premium assistance programs. More than 800,000 individuals and families pay no MSP premiums at all, with the balance receiving partial subsidies. MSP Premium Assistance was enhanced in January 2010, to ensure that MSP rates in 2012 remain lower than they were in 2009 for those who receive premium assistance.

In addition to keeping British Columbia a low-tax jurisdiction and providing support to keep insurance premiums affordable, our government also provides targeted tax relief in important areas that make a difference in the lives of citizens and in the provincial economy.

The B.C. First-Time New Home Buyers’ Bonus is a new temporary measure designed to provide relief during the transition period back to the Provincial Sales Tax (PST), for families and individuals who are purchasing their first home and will assist the residential construction industry by encouraging purchases of newly constructed homes. The bonus is calculated as five per cent of the purchase price of the home up to a maximum bonus of $10,000. The bonus is phased-out for individuals and families with income over $150,000.

To assist B.C. families and the residential construction industry during the transition to PST, the B.C. Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) New Housing Rebate threshold has increased from $525,000 to $850,000 for eligible new housing, where the HST is payable on or after April 1, 2012 and before April 1, 2013. The maximum rebate available to purchasers has increased from $26,250 to $42,500.

And for workers and communities in B.C. that depend on the residential recreational development industry as B.C. transitions from HST back to PST, our government is providing a grant of up to $42,500 to those buying new residential housing for use as a secondary or recreational residence. This applies in qualifying areas of the province outside the Capital Regional District and the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

An important part of affordability is convenience, and our government wants to make life as convenient as possible for families across the province.

Our government is proud to have implemented all-day kindergarten in September 2011, extending the benefits of the $327 million program to 37,176 kindergarten students across British Columbia. To support this

expansion, we increased annual funding by $129 million and invested an additional $144 million in capital funding for 713 new kindergarten classrooms. B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A I S

S AV I N G FA M I L I E S T I M E

W H E N T H E Y N E E D G O V E R N M E N T S E R V I C E S . IN YOUR COMMUNITY servicebc.gov.bc.ca ONLINE gov.bc.ca

WHEN YOU NEED IT

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We are working to co-locate services and community resources, and we are providing support for initiatives including balanced school calendars with earlier/ later starts, before- and after-school care, and use of school facilities within and outside of school hours.

Our government believes there will always be more we can do to help keep life affordable for British Columbians, and we are looking for feedback from British Columbians on what will help them in their daily lives. We know that there are things we haven’t even thought of yet — ideas for targeted and affordable actions to support affordability — and we want to unlock that knowledge and insight from people around the province.

As we work to help keep family life affordable in British Columbia, our government is seeking input from British Columbians on what measures government can take to keep personal taxes as low as possible by keeping the cost of government down.

Q U E S T I O N S F O R I N P U T F R O M B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A N S :

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Are there areas where government spends money that you think could be spent more effectively or reduced to keep life affordable for British Columbians?

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In 2012/13 the Province is projecting to spend almost $44 billion; of which approximately 41 per cent is allocated to health care; 14 per cent is allocated to elementary and secondary education; 12 per cent is allocated to post-secondary education and 9 per cent is allocated to social services (i.e. social assistance and child welfare). Do you think government has allocated the right level of resources to each of these priority areas?

S U P P O R T I N G B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A’ S C H I L D R E N

Our government is committed to children in this province, and we have followed research showing that early interventions are the best way to ensure kids get the best possible start in life. Research shows that a high-quality, play-based kindergarten program has long-term benefits for children’s academic and social skills and helps them to succeed in school and in life.

So our government is proud to have finished implementing all-day kindergarten in September 2011, with an annual investment of $129 million. We also invested $144 million in capital funding for 713 new kindergarten classrooms, and in September 2011 there were a total of 37,176 students enrolled in kindergarten in British Columbia

A D VA N C I N G S U P P O R T S I N E A R LY C H I L D H O O D

Our government invests more than $1 billion every year on early learning and childhood development initiatives, services and supports. We remain steadfast in our commitment to children’s early years.

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Strengthening supports for children is a key element of our government’s commitment to families. By providing children and their families with support, we can help ensure that they have every opportunity to build the future of their dreams. The B.C. Healthy Kids Program helps low-income families with the costs of basic dental care and prescription eyewear for their children. Eligible clients include dependent children under 19 years of age who receive MSP premium assistance from our government. These supports include:

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Automatic registration once a family is approved for premium assistance by MSP;

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Access to preventable and restorative dental care;

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Up to $1,400 of basic dental services every two years; and

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Prescription eye glasses once a year.

Our StrongStart B.C. early learning programs also provide school-based early

learning services for adults and their young children, led by qualified early childhood educators. Our government has received positive feedback on the quality and impact of StrongStart, and we want to know if we can make it even better.

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Have you attended a StrongStart centre? If so, do you have suggestions on how we might improve this program?

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If you have attended a StrongStart centre, are there improvements you would recommend to the facility or resources?

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Are you able to access a StrongStart centre near where you live?

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Is there sufficient capacity at the StrongStart centre you attend?

Quality child-care spaces are essential to providing children a head start and a nurturing environment while parents are at work. In addition to introducing all-day kindergarten, our government has increased the number of child-care spaces in British Columbia by nearly 40 per cent since 2003/04, with more than 100,000 licensed child care spaces receiving ongoing government funding.

A key element of our families-focused agenda is improving supports for children and their parents.

We want to build on our recent child-care forum by reaching out to British Columbians across the province to hear about what measures may be available to help make life more affordable for families with young children.

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What improvements would you suggest to make our early childhood development programs better meet your needs?

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What could we do better to provide you with the information you need on early childhood development programs?

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What could we do to better provide you with information you need on child-care options and availability?

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What ideas do you have to improve the range and choice for parents caring for young children that would better meet the needs of your family?

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What barriers could governments remove to make child care more accessible?

S U P P O R T I N G B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A’ S S T U D E N T S

Supporting students is of utmost importance to help B.C. families and communities thrive. As the next generation of innovators and skilled workers, our students are our future.

This year, our government’s budget for education is $5.3 billion — a 29-per-cent increase since 2000/2001, even during a period of time when student enrolment has dropped by more than 63,000 students. Since 2001, our government has spent more than $2.1 billion to complete 93 new and replacement schools, 150 additions, 27 renovations and 22 site acquisitions. And we have spent more than $790 million on school seismic upgrades in 37 B.C. school districts.

Our government also supports students with efforts like the school fruit and veggie program. This program provides B.C.-grown fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to children in all grades and was recently expanded with an additional $1-million investment.

In 2012/13, we are investing approximately $866 million in public and

independent schools, specifically to support students with special needs. Over the next three years, an additional $195 million is being invested through the Learning Improvement Fund to support public school students.

We are working to re-shape how we undertake education for students with special needs and are considering a range of ideas, driven by the input of key individuals and findings from other jurisdictions. These include consideration of the “early intervention” practices model, which provides a window at the beginning of schooling when students with special needs may enrol for a period of time to focus on preparing for a successful entry into school.

This year, our

government’s budget for education is $5.3 billion – a 29-per-cent increase since 2000/2001 even during a period of time when student enrolment has dropped by more than 63,000 students. Since 2001, our government has spent more than $2.1 billion to complete 93 new and replacement schools, 150 additions, 27 renovations and 22 site acquisitions. And we have spent more than $790 million on school seismic upgrades in 37 B.C. school districts.

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In 2011, we introduced the new Teachers Act as the basis for a teacher regulation system that will be more accountable and transparent, and increase public confidence and protection of children. A new Teachers’ Council is establishing standards for the conduct, competence and education of applicants and certificate holders, as well as for approving

teacher-education programs.

We have also opened up a significant consultation and engagement effort with British Columbians to modernize our education system in ways that put students at the centre of learning. Our education system is a good one — one of the best in the world — and we are harnessing great ideas from the brightest British Columbians to make our system more adaptable, nimble and modern. Our goal is to improve our education system by ensuring it better reflects a current, research-based understanding of the conditions for effective learning, and for improving student and teacher engagement. Accessing, understanding and linking student achievements to the quality of teaching will be an important part of this work. We invite everyone to join the conversation underway right now (www.bcedplan.ca). Our commitment to K-12 is a reflection of our support for the successful transition of British Columbia students to post-secondary education. Our government is investing more than $1.9 billion to support post-secondary education this year. Thanks to taxpayers’ investments, students in British Columbia pay just one-third of the actual costs of their education. Tuition in B.C. is the fourth-lowest in Canada and increases are capped at two per cent annually. Over the past 10 years, we’ve boosted funding to operate our universities by 56 per cent and our colleges and institutes by 25 per cent. Core Adult Basic Education has been maintained as tuition-free by our government.

Our government wants to ensure that Aboriginal people have better opportunities to access the post-secondary education and training they need to take advantage of economic opportunities that exist in the province. In collaboration with Aboriginal and post-secondary partners, we have developed an Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Policy Framework and Action Plan. Our government also offers the Aboriginal Training for Employment Program, providing training and employment opportunities to non-EI-eligible and Aboriginal people that need training for skilled work.

Through the Community Adult Literacy Program, we are building literacy capacity in B.C. communities by supporting family, adult and Aboriginal literacy programs. Last year, we provided over $2 million for programming to support almost 8,000 learners in over 50 communities across all regions of the province. Programs are offered by community organizations in partnership with public post-secondary institutions. Our government also maintains a number of programs that are focused on providing supports to students and their families in undertaking post-secondary education. These include disability support programs and increased weekly maximum student loan limits for students with dependent children.

B.C. has a ‘one student/ one loan’ approach that supports students by extending lead-time for defaults, shortening the amortization period and matching federal repayment assistance.

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B.C. has a ‘one student/one loan’ approach that supports students by extending lead-time for defaults, shortening the amortization period and matching federal repayment assistance.

English as a Second Language (ESL) programs provide language instruction at basic, intermediate and advanced levels to people whose first language is not English. ESL courses are available tuition-free at 17 public post-secondary institutions throughout British Columbia for new immigrants, including permanent residents and Canadian citizens. As students work hard to reach their education goals, our government will continue to work on initiatives to support their aspirations.

That’s why government is expanding our outreach initiatives for students to ensure they have the information they need to make informed choices about post-secondary studies. We are also reviewing our approach to student financial assistance, and we want to hear your ideas about how we can best target the resources we have to support both access to post-secondary education and successful outcomes for students.

On July 1, we will introduce a student loan repayment assistance program for low-income families and those with significant family obligations.

While the cost of post-secondary education in B.C. is the fourth-lowest in Canada, we need to ensure it remains accessible, so that every British Columbian can pursue their educational goals.

Right now, our government has a program to set aside $1,000 for every child born since January 2007 for post-secondary education — the Children’s Education Fund. We are looking for ideas on whether, going forward, this investment is the best available vehicle to support British Columbia’s future students, or whether there are other approaches we should be considering.

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In your view, is the Children’s Education Fund the best use of money to support post-secondary education for your child?

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Would you rather see the money invested in a RESP for your child?

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Would you rather the funding went toward student loan forgiveness?

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How could our government make it easier to save for education and training?

S U P P O R T I N G B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A’ S S E N I O R S

Senior citizens offer us a wealth of wisdom and experience, sharing lessons from the past, while helping to chart a path for the future of our province. Yet with age comes vulnerability. That’s why our government is committed to doing all we can to protect our senior citizens.

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We know that seniors do better when they can remain in their own homes. However, safety and accessibility are of utmost importance.

The B.C. Seniors’ Home Renovation Tax Credit is a new, refundable personal income tax credit to assist with the cost of permanent home renovations that provide individuals aged 65 and over with increased independence, allowing them the flexibility to remain in their own homes longer.

The maximum credit is $1,000 annually, calculated as 10 per cent of eligible expenditures. The credit is available to individuals who incur eligible expenditures on or after April 1, 2012. The credit can be claimed by seniors, whether they own their home or rent, and by individuals who share a home with a senior relative.

Property Tax Deferment is a low-interest loan program that assists qualifying homeowners in British Columbia in paying the annual property taxes on their principal residences. Our government provides property tax deferral options for qualified individuals, including homeowners over age 55. These deferment programs are low-interest loan programs that allow qualifying residents to defer all or part of their property taxes until they sell or transfer ownership of their home, or it becomes part of an estate. Application forms are available when property tax notices are issued in the spring.

The Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program helps make rent affordable for B.C. seniors with low to moderate incomes. SAFER provides monthly cash payments to subsidize rent for eligible B.C. residents who are age 60 or over, assisting them in securing and maintaining housing.

BC Housing provides SAFER subsidies to more than 15,000 senior households renting apartments in the private market, including singles, couples and people sharing a unit.

We are introducing further supports for aging in-home and out-of-home care options for seniors aged 75 or older. This will include an expansion of the Community Action for Seniors’ Independence Program to provide additional non-medical home supports for older adults.

Investing in the health and well-being of families is essential to the future growth and success of British Columbia. Our government continues to provide record levels of funding to the health care system, and by 2013/14, the health budget will have increased by more than 100 per cent since 2000/01, to over $16 billion per year.

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Investing in the health and well-being of families is essential to the future growth and success of British Columbia. Our government continues to provide record levels of funding to the health care system, and by 2013/14, the health budget will have increased by more than 100 per cent since 2000/01, to over $16 billion per year.

We have initiated a dialogue on health care (www.thinkhealthbc.ca) to raise awareness of the four key areas where our government is making changes to the health care system:

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Keeping you and your family healthy;

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Enhancing community services;

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Improving hospital experiences, and

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Improving efficiency.

For B.C.’s seniors, engaging in healthy lifestyles can prevent, minimize or even reverse frailty and poor physical and mental health in old age.

We are taking action to encourage and influence healthy, active aging because older adults are a valuable resource. Seniors make important contributions to their families, their communities, the economy and the province.

The Ministry of Health, through the Seniors’ Healthy Living Secretariat, supports older British Columbians in leading active, independent lives by providing tools that support healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco reduction, alcohol awareness, social connection and fall prevention — all available online (SeniorsBC.ca/activeaging).

The Ministry of Health also manages the friendly B.C. program. In an age-friendly community, seniors are able to enjoy good health and active social participation. Age-friendly communities provide welcoming public spaces, accessible transportation, affordable housing options, employment and volunteer opportunities, as well as information and services that fit the needs of seniors.

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What other tools and resources would be useful to encourage B.C. seniors to stay healthy and active?

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What role can communities play in supporting healthy, active aging?

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Are there financial tools or programs that our government could put in place to make housing more affordable for seniors?

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Our duty to protect

and care for B.C.’s most

vulnerable citizens is one

that our government

takes very seriously.

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Supporting

Vulnerable Families

Our duty to protect and care for B.C.’s most vulnerable citizens is one that our government takes very seriously. It has driven our work to reduce poverty across B.C., by providing low-income families with enhanced supports. We have helped these families weather the recent recession by increasing opportunities to improve their economic well-being.

There are still too many British Columbians who are not sharing in the prosperity we are privileged to enjoy in this province. To strengthen these families we are continuing to find innovative ways to fight poverty; support those with mental health issues and additions; and address other problems that put B.C. families in a vulnerable position. These initiatives reflect our commitment to ensuring all British Columbians can benefit from our province’s growing economy.

H E L P I N G V U L N E R A B L E C H I L D R E N G E T A G O O D S TA R T The earlier interventions are made to support vulnerable children, the better their chances of maturing into successful citizens who can help our province thrive. Providing such supports early in life also helps break the cycle of generational poverty.

We have increased resources for parents to support health literacy and promote evidence-based self-care, through programs including:

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Baby’s Best Chance – a resource website filled with up-to-date and practical information, useful tools and resources for women, expectant parents, and families with babies and toddlers up to three years of age.

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Toddler’s First Steps – a reference guide that provides parents and caregivers of children between the ages of six months and three years with the most up-to-date parenting tips and child health and wellness information.

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Child Health Passport – a passport-sized booklet for parents to use to record important health information about their child, including height and weight, illnesses, accidents, allergies, hospitalizations, and vaccinations.

The Healthy Families BC: Healthy Start program helps parents learn about the best supports for their children’s overall health and how to give them a healthy start on life. This initiative includes a Targeted Home Visitation program where young, low-income, first-time mothers receive visits during their pregnancy from a Public Health Nurse. These young women also receive intensive follow-up visits at their home until the child is two years of age.

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The Aboriginal Early Childhood Development Initiative focuses on supporting comprehensive, integrated and culturally sustainable community-based programs in Aboriginal communities.

Other programs provided by our government take a focused approach to specific areas of need. For example, the FRIENDS program helps reduce the risk of anxiety disorders by equipping children with tools to help them manage difficult situations, now and later in life.

We are also fighting to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) by promoting healthy practices during pregnancy, through public education and awareness campaigns. Our Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Strategic Plan will address problems with FASD in British Columbia, help map the work of those involved in the prevention and intervention of FASD, and provide support for those living with FASD.

Our government is also committed to reducing the number of children in care in British Columbia. Since 2001, our government’s work to address the circumstances that lead to kids being placed in care has led to a reduction of more than 2,000 children and youth in care — approximately a 20-per-cent decline. Our success is in part due to new care options such as the Extended Family Program (EFP). The EFP provides support to children, families and caregivers in situations where it is determined that the best way to meet the needs of the child is for them to live with a relative or close family friend, when their parents are temporarily unable to care for them.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development has made a number of shifts in practice to ensure better outcomes for vulnerable children, youth and families. As part of our government’s commitment to collaboration, more families are being involved in family group conferencing, family case planning conferences, family development responses and mediation to address child welfare issues. In 2010/11, more than 5,500 families received support through these collaborative processes — compared to 3,700 families that used these processes in 2009/10.

Our government is also providing increased support for adoptions. In collaboration with the adoption community, we are developing better approaches, including an online application process for adoptive families, improved practices to prepare children in care and recruited families for adoption placements, an improved adoption recruitment and promotion initiative, and measures to address backlogs.

A key priority of our government is the prevention of bullying in schools, on our playgrounds, online, and in the workplace. Bullying is simply not acceptable, for a wide variety of self-evident reasons.

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Our government is implementing a new strategy to eliminate bullying in schools called ERASE Bullying. This provincewide, 10-point plan focuses on prevention and intervention and will deliver specialized training to over 15,000 educators and community partners. ERASE Bullying will lay the basis for consistent policies and practices in all 60 school districts. It is backed by strong community partnerships to help prevent, identify and stop harmful behaviours.

ERASE (Expect Respect and a Safe Education) Bullying has several key components:

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An anonymous online reporting tool for students, which will be available from mobile devices.

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Enhanced website run by the Ministry of Education, including multimedia resources aimed at parents.

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A five-year, multi-level training regime to train 15,000 educators and staff.

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A designated safe schools co-ordinator in each school district, who will monitor the web reporting site, have direct communication with the Ministry of Education, and co-ordinate multi-level threat assessment training for their district.

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Designation of one of the six provincial professional development days to focus on anti-bullying.

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Provincial guidelines for safe schools and a template for district level protocols.

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Enhanced codes of conduct for school.

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Development of a protocol between district and community partners.

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Creation of a provincial advisory committee.

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Embedding anti-bullying and threat risk assessment training as part of pre-service training.

We have a strong legislative framework to prevent bullying in British Columbia. Our government is ensuring that our new policies are action-oriented, proactive and meaningful, and that they support the cultural shift to a society with zero tolerance for bullying behaviours. ERASE Bullying will complement established programs. Roots of Empathy is another anti-bullying classroom program for elementary school students to promote respectful, kind behaviour, while addressing the causes and impacts of aggressive behaviours such as bullying, harassment, violence and intimidation. The program seeks to eliminate bullying in all classrooms across the province.

Seeds of Empathy is a program for children aged three – five years that is delivered in child-care centres or pre-school settings to foster the development of empathy, prevent aggression and support the acquisition of early literacy/numeracy skills and attitudes. This program helps children get a head start on healthy socialization, making them better prepared to benefit from collaborating with classmates when they enter school.

ERASE Bullying is a 10-point plan focusing on prevention and intervention, delivering specialized training to over 15,000 educators and community partners.

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A D D R E S S I N G M E N TA L I L L N E S S A N D A D D I C T I O N Providing top-quality mental-health services is an important priority for our government. In 2011/12, the Ministry of Health is projected to spend approximately $1.3 billion on mental health and substance use — an increase of 58 per cent since 2000/2001. And our Ten-Year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in B.C. is a road map to further improving mental health, reducing problematic substance use and addressing mental illness for all British Columbians through prevention, early intervention, treatment, harm reduction and sustainability. We have also committed significant funding to building or expanding mental health facilities in communities around British Columbia. Mental illness can affect an entire family. As part of our efforts to ensure we are providing supports to those affected by mental illness and as part of our response to the report, Honouring Kaitlynne, Max and Cordon, by the Representative on Children and Youth, government is consulting with families to identify and implement new, more effective approaches to address mental illness.

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How can those supporting a family member living with mental illness or addictions be better assisted?

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For parents who are living with a mental illness, can they be better supported in effective parenting?

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Are there mechanisms available for early detection and intervention?

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Can there be improved outreach to rural and remote areas?

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Are there better ways to utilize non-governmental agency services?

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Are there better ideas for supportive housing for those with severe mental illness combined with addictions?

Additionally, WorkSafe BC is developing Occupational Health and Safety Policy to help eliminate bullying and harassment, along with an online toolkit. This is part of changes we are making to the Workers Compensation Act that include expanding the definition of violence and expansion of workers’ compensation to include diagnosed mental disorders caused by significant work-related stressors, including bullying and harassment.

I M P R O V I N G H O U S I N G F O R LO W - I N C O M E FA M I L I E S A N D B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A N S E X P E R I E N C I N G H O M E L E S S N E S S Finding affordable housing is one of the key issues facing families today — not having the right kind of shelter can weaken families and prevent people from achieving their goals. That’s why we have been working to help low-income families and British Columbians experiencing homelessness to find housing that works for them.

Providing top-quality mental-health services is an important priority of our government. In 2011/12, the Ministry of Health is projected to spend approximately $1.3 billion on mental health and substance use – an increase of 58 per cent since 2000/2001.

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Housing Matters B.C. addresses a full range of housing needs — from

homelessness to homeownership — with a focus on helping those in greatest need, including the homeless, people struggling with mental illness or addictions, women leaving abusive relationships, low-income families, seniors, and people living with disabilities. These citizens are provided with priority access to provincial housing programs.

This year, more than 95,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.

British Columbia’s housing programs encompass a wide range of needs. There are subsidized rental units, as well as rent supplements that help keep private-market rentals affordable for low-income working families and seniors. Emergency shelters, outreach and supportive housing help the homeless get off the street, as well as stabilize and rebuild their lives.

At the same time, transitional housing helped 16,000 women start a new life last year after leaving an abusive relationship. There are also assisted-living and accessible apartments that help seniors and people living with disabilities remain independent, as well as housing that meets the cultural needs of Aboriginal people.

British Columbia’s housing programs are wide ranging. They are helping ensure there are affordable housing options for low-income working families and seniors. More can always be done and new ideas are always needed. We want to hear from families across B.C. on new ideas to increase affordable housing accessibility. We know that such openness leads to innovation. Our government is very proud of the work that was undertaken through the Homelessness Intervention Project (HIP). HIP took an approach that considered each person compassionately as an individual, and then connected him or her with the services they needed most. This project took a “housing first” approach, but also ensured that people had the skills and resources to remain in housing and to lead healthier, more independent lives. More than 3,914 people were housed through this project and the majority remain stably housed. The results of this innovative pilot are informing much of the work currently under way by our government.

H E L P I N G FA M I L I E S R I S E O U T O F P O V E R T Y

Despite British Columbia’s prosperity, many families still live in poverty. It is essential that we help these families improve their economic situation, to ensure they can join in B.C.’s prosperity and help our province flourish even further. One example of how we are applying learning from the Homelessness

Intervention Project is the Community Poverty Reduction Strategy, a partnership with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). The strategy was announced in April, 2012 and is rooted in the understanding that communities and families across British Columbia can have specific needs depending on where they live.

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The Community Poverty Reduction Strategy will start in seven communities across B.C. The first communities, as recommend by the UBCM, are Surrey, New Westminster, Port Hardy, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Stewart, and Prince George. These regional pilots will establish measurable targets for each community to help lift local families out of poverty, and will inform the program as government considers expanding it to more B.C. communities. What we learn from the Community Poverty Reduction Strategy will also inform our work on provincewide programs and initiatives to support vulnerable children and address poverty.

We will also build upon our successes with the Community Action Initiative for empowering communities to identify solutions to help target poverty and homelessness. The Community Action Initiative was created in 2008 and, since 2010, has been providing grants to British Columbia community groups to address mental health and substances-use issues through innovative, cross-sectoral partnerships. This work includes significant involvement by Aboriginal interests, with 25 to 30 per cent of all granting funds provided by the Initiative targeted to projects led by Aboriginal mandated organizations.

Our government is also making important changes to provincial

employment programs. Through the new Employment Program of BC, launched in April 2012, unemployed British Columbians will receive the services and supports they need to find and keep a job. This employment program is available through 85 WorkBC Employment Services Centres and 114 satellite offices across the province. Each centre provides a full suite of employment programs, ensuring quick and easy access through a single door, including specialized populations and people living in rural and remote areas. No British Columbians will be left behind with the new Employment Program of B.C.

This effort is supported by initiatives that provide more strategic and

targeted supports. For example, we are continuing with our work, as promised in our October 2011 Speech from the Throne, to develop an off-reserve Aboriginal action plan to fight poverty in First Nations. We are working in partnership with First Nations, the federal government and municipal governments on this initiative. Our Youth Transition Initiatives encourage employment and provide training targeted at youth who are at risk of experiencing poor outcomes. Our recently-launched Family and Youth Partnership pilot project will also benefit up to 300 young families and youth in government care by helping them find employment and build healthier futures.

Over the past year, our government has worked hard to develop new initiatives to support families who are struggling to overcome the challenges before them. In order to better protect consumers and families living in poverty, we will propose legislative changes to regulate businesses that provide debt-consolidation services and regulate advance fees paid. This will help ensure that low-income families with household debt are not negatively impacting their credit rating.

On June 18, 2012, Statistics Canada released statistics on the low income cut-off (LICO) after-tax rates for 2010. The statistics show that the number of children living below the LICO in B.C. decreased from 11.8 per cent in 2009 to 10.5 per cent — the second-lowest percentage since 1981. Since 2003, B.C.’s child poverty rate has dropped by 45 per cent.

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British Columbia has a solid income and disability assistance system that provides temporary help to those who can work, and longer-term support to those who, through disability or other barriers, have a more difficult time working or who cannot work.

Although we believe our income-assistance system is one of the best in Canada, we also know that there is always room for improvement. We have listened to concerns from clients, families and advocates. We agree that many of those concerns are valid, and we have made changes to our income-assistance policies to address many of the concerns we have heard about.

We believe that people who can work want to be self-sufficient and contribute to their communities. This policy reform will provide the supports people need to get back into the workforce, while helping to improve financial outcomes for vulnerable individuals and families.

We are also implementing “Families First” policy changes to harmonize our programs and policies for families on income assistance here in B.C. with other jurisdictions across Canada:

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We are increasing the school start-up supplement to help families manage the extra costs associated with a child’s schooling. Families will now receive $100 for every child aged five-11, and $175 for every child 12 and over.

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Families on hardship assistance will also receive the school start-up supplement for each of their children.

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The same dental benefits will be provided for children of families on hardship assistance as are provided to income-assistance families, so parents can take children as young as six months old in for regular dental check-ups.

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By exempting the Child Tax Benefit and Universal Child Care Benefit for hardship-assistance recipients, as we do for income-assistance families, we can help families on hardship access all available benefits.

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Matching the family bonus top-up rate to the federal amount by increasing the maximum top-up for the family bonus to $176.50, and continuing to match future increases, for families on income assistance means more money in families’ pockets every month.

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For families who are expecting a lump-sum Family Bonus refund, we will temporarily provide a transition top-up while they wait for their refund, then exempt the lump-sum Family Bonus refund once it’s received, less the transition top-up in the month they receive their lump-sum payment. All families will be better off in this arrangement than before.

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Exempting income tax refunds means that individuals and families on income assistance will be able to keep their full income tax refund.

British Columbia has a solid income and disability assistance system that provides temporary help to those who can work, and longer-term support to those who, through disability or other barriers, have a more difficult time working or who cannot work.

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For parents without status who are fleeing an abusive relationship, but are prohibited from leaving the country with their children, we will be providing assistance that will ensure the well-being of these parents and their children are protected. We are also making other changes to our income assistance system designed to assist people maximize tax credits and support them in their efforts to find work, be self-sufficient and contribute to their communities.

There are millions of dollars in unclaimed federal tax benefits for British

Columbians because people don’t file their taxes. That’s why we are introducing mandatory income tax filing and relieving the claw back on income tax

benefits, to ensure families are getting all the tax credits that have been provided for them. Exemptions will be in place to ensure that clients are not forced to file in circumstances that would put them at risk from a violent partner or any other circumstance:

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For individuals on disability assistance, this will help to ensure they are accessing all the federal benefits, including Registered Disabilities Savings Plan (RDSPs), for which they are eligible.

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A Community Benefit Fund is being established to help people living with disabilities to access RDSPs and file their taxes.

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For all families on income or disability assistance, filing taxes will ensure they are getting all the tax credits and refunds that are available to them without clawbacks.

For people who are able to work, income assistance is intended to be a temporary measure to help people who find themselves, for whatever reason, temporarily out of work.

We are instituting a modest $200 monthly earnings exemption for the families of all expected-to-work clients. This exemption gives employable individuals a better opportunity to develop their job skills, take advantage of short-term or temporary work opportunities of up to $200 monthly, and better provide for their families while receiving assistance. To help families avoid the cycle of income-assistance dependency, we are expanding the application and intensity of work search requirements:

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For new applicants, we are extending the work search to five weeks to strengthen income assistance applicants’ efforts to find employment.

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Removing time limits and replacing them with more support for employment-planning efforts for those on income assistance to ensure they’re maximizing their work search efforts.

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Requiring immediate needs client participation in a three-week work search while they are receiving hardship assistance.

We believe that people who can work want to be self-sufficient and contribute to their communities. This policy reform will provide the supports people need to get back into the workforce, while helping to improve financial outcomes for vulnerable individuals and families.

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Enhancing the employment planning regime to better support return to work so people can transition off income assistance more easily.

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All the exemptions for work search requirements will continue to be in place to ensure these efforts help those able to work, while protecting those who require relief from this requirement, including those fleeing an abusive situation and other vulnerable circumstances. As part of these reforms, we are also making modest asset increases and

eliminating a separate limit on cash assets. For families who want to regain their independence, these changes will make for an easier transition from income assistance back to self-sufficiency:

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A single person can now retain assets up to $2,000.

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Couples or families will able to keep up to $4,000 in assets.

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For single disability assistance clients, their asset limit is increasing to $5,000.

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For couples and families receiving disability assistance, they can retain up to $10,000 in assets.

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Expected-to-work clients will be able to keep a car valued up to $10,000.

Our government is also initiating changes to our assistance for individuals with disabilities, helping them lead more independent lives and giving their families more opportunities to provide financial support and stability.

We are also enhancing earnings exemptions for individuals receiving disability assistance, so that those who are able to work are supported and encouraged to find employment without compromising their benefits:

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Individuals can earn up to $800 per month and still receive their full benefits.

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A couple that are both collecting disability assistance can earn up to $1,600 per month without impacting their benefits.

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To address the range of circumstances persons with disabilities may face, including when people have episodic conditions, we are adding an option to declare earnings on an annual basis rather than monthly, so an individual can maximize their earnings during times when they are feeling healthy and able to work, to a total yearly exemption of $9,600.

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We are waiving the waiting period for claiming earnings exemptions for former disability-assistance clients who find they have to reapply for assistance.

Families First Agenda for British Columbia