Everyone
Image source: angusreid.org (https://angusreid.org/bc-election-may-2024/)
According to the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, “approximately 1.157 million British Columbians identify as having a disability, an increase of 25% from the 2017 survey”. With over 170,200 individuals and families in BC relying on social or disability assistance (BCgreens2024.ca), understanding where political parties stand on issues affecting the disabled and autistic community is essential as we approach election season. Deciding who to vote for can feel overwhelming, so let’s break down what some of the main parties are offering.
It’s important to note that this post is for informational purposes only—we don’t endorse or represent any political party or platform.
The BC Green Party is the only party that has proposed increasing Disability Assistance from $1,483 to $2,400 for a single person. They also plan to remove clawbacks and offer a year of guaranteed assistance for new recipients, allowing people to assess their needs without continuous reporting.
The BC NDP has outlined several policies, including bringing the HandyDART service under government control to improve service and affordability. They also plan to increase Community Living BC homeshare rates, ensure people can keep the new Canada Disability Benefit, and adjust the spousal rule to help more individuals rise out of poverty.
The BC Conservative Party is introducing new policies to support students with diverse needs, including autism, as diagnoses continue to rise. With one in eight BC students identified as having diverse needs, the party aims to create a more supportive education system.
To achieve this, the BC Conservative Party pledges to:
- Restore funding to autism support providers, which was cancelled in 4 communities so Eby could “pilot” a radical plan that parents didn’t ask for. Parents know best what kinds of supports their children require, and unlike Eby’s plan, we will never force families into a one-size-fits-all model.
- Accelerate the development of new independent Inclusive Education Schools which currently cover Autism Spectrum Disorder and other special needs.
- Recruit more support workers to cut down on the 18-24 month assessment wait time under the NDP. (Conservative Party of BC, 2024)
As for the BC United Party, they withdrew from the race in August and are no longer in consideration for this election.
For more information, here are links to the party platforms:
Check out the resource below for helpful information on voting:
Advance voting runs from October 10-13 and 15-16. Election Day is October 19. You can learn more at elections.bc.ca.
