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Independent Living fears service cuts RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
A Vernon agency fears a new government policy will strip the disabled of their independence. Independent Living Vernon has been told that instead of automatically receiving core funding from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, it will compete with other groups for the same pot of cash and there is no guarantee of support. “People need to know the disabled and families will be impacted,” said Laura Hockman, ILV executive director. ILV receives $53,500 annually from Ottawa or 25 per cent of its total budget. Under the new rules, it will face a 35 per cent cut this year, 30 per cent in 2014 and 35 per cent in 2015. Changes to how the non-profit operates have already been made. Part of the office has been rented out to another group and staff hours have gone from 3.5 full-time equivalents to two or 2.5. “We will have to start saying no to people. We won’t have the staff to do it all,” said Hockman as she chokes back tears. “To have to say no to people will kill me because we’ve always said, ‘Yes, yes, yes.” ILV began in 1993 and it provides a community access program, designated parking signs, employment planning, crisis intervention, information and peer support. There is phone and Internet access, and the centre is also the first place a person often turns when they are newly diagnosed with a disability or are having difficulties navigating bureaucracy. “For a lot of people, this is a lifeline until they can access other services,” said Julie Armitage, who works with the developmentally disabled and has directed people to ILV. Volunteers will soon be using the com-
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Laura Hockman (back left), with Independent Living Vernon, family resource developer Julie Armitage and clients Katie Moore and Maggie Litster are concerned about the future of the agency. puters and printers to help the disabled file tax returns. There are about 8,000 contacts with individuals a year and among the regulars is Katie Moore. “It’s a very important service. You get to know what’s out there,” she said. The agency’s other sources of revenue include gaming, fundraising and small contracts, but Ottawa’s funding is critical. “We will, in a very limited way, be able to continue but it will be a struggle without it,” said Hockman. While ILV can apply for funds under the
new rules, Hockman says the guidelines have been expanded to include hospital foundations and private companies. “For a small organization like ours, the capacity to apply is limited,” she said. HRSDC says changes are being introduced but insists national funding remains constant at $11 million. “Key changes include: improving the transparency of funding by moving towards competitive processes, introducing a leveraging requirement from non-federal government sources, and an increased focus on tangible outcomes,” states a department
e-mail. “However, the objectives of the program will remain the same, namely, to address barriers faced by Canadians with disabilities to full inclusion and participation in society. Therefore, organizations with strong and established connections to Canadians with disabilities will be well-positioned when competing for funding in the future.” Colin Mayes, Okanagan-Shuswap MP, doesn’t believe ILV should be concerned. “If they have a solid program, they should have no problem being at the top of the pile,” he said of ILV applying to Ottawa.
Automobile thefts plunge dramatically in Vernon ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
The provincial government, RCMP and ICBC are trumpeting Auto Crime Enforcement Month by announcing significant reductions in auto crime in B.C. in 2012. Since 2003, auto theft reported to ICBC has dropped by 73 per cent in B.C. and in 2012, there’s been a seven per cent decrease in auto theft compared to the previous year. However, in the last four months of 2012, there was a slight increase in theft from vehicles in B.C. compared to previous years. In Vernon, there were 70 per cent fewer ICBC-reported
vehicle thefts and 81 per cent fewer break-ins in 2012 compared to 2003. In 2012, there were 18 per cent fewer vehicle thefts and 35 per cent fewer break-ins compared to 2011. Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk feels one of the main contributing factors to the reductions in crime has been the success of the bait car program, where thieves steal specifically modified vehicles and get caught. “Individuals are being caught because of the equipment inside (the bait car),” said Molendyk. “The bait car program has especially helped us apprehend some prolific offenders who steal vehicles or steal from vehicles. It’s one of the significant contributions to the reduction of theft from vehicles
and theft of vehicles.” Vernon-North Okanagan statistics show there were 835 theft from vehicles reported to the local detachments in 2012, up slightly from 809 in 2011. Of those 835 thefts, 529 occurred in the City of Vernon. There were 242 theft of vehicles reported to police in 2012 in the region, which encompasses Lumby through to Falkland and Enderby. That’s down considerably from 328 reports in 2011. Of the 242 vehicles reported to police as stolen (and vehicles can include bicycles and ATVs), 130 were in the City of Vernon.
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