A Lower Mainland social services group is lobbying municipal governments to support the creation of a Social policy framework in B.C.
Caroline Bonesky, CEO of Family Services of Greater Vancouver, appeared before Burnaby city council as a delegation on Monday to ask for its support of a Social policy framework resolution, to be put forward at the 2014 UBCM Convention in Whistler this fall.
The resolution, crafted by the City of Duncan, calls on the B.C. Liberals to develop a framework by setting goals, priorities and values that will guide public policy to meet current and future social needs.
“Social policy is an opportunity for the government of British Columbia to clearly articulate their responsibility and their roles on driving the agenda on how we meet some of increasing social challenges,” said Bonesky. “This isn’t about asking for more money – this is asking to spend the money that we do have wisely.”
Last year, the Alberta government approved a Social policy framework, and similar initiatives were launched by the governments of Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
The framework would aim to address a variety of issues and social challenges, including income disparity, poor health, unemployment for people on disabilities, homelessness, domestic violence and addictions. It would also set targets for business, education, community services and other fields throughout the province.
“Some of the key pieces in there are about the increasing complex social challenges, as well as the number of people who play in this sphere,” said Bonesky.
“We all work in very small parts of this…but we’re not co-ordinated. Somebody could have an initiative about seniors and health, but they’re not talking to anybody else about how that would impact them or not.”
Mayor Derek Corrigan said Alberta’s framework is a strong example for what B.C. could do with its own social policy.
“It’s quite amazing to look at what Alberta has done,” he said. “The issues we’re facing are almost identical.”
He added that the resolution is “perfectly consistent” with the city’s strategic plan for social policy, and that council would likely vote on a motion to support the resolution at the next council meeting, slated for May 26.
