Read the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities’ letter to MPs and Senators asking them to support Senator Art Eggleton’s Bill S-216 which would amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. The Bill will prevent Canadians who need Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits from being denied income supports when companies with uninsured plans become insolvent. (more…)
On July 7, 2010, the British Columbia Supreme Court approved a settlement of a class action for people who lived at Woodlands. The settlement provides compensation of between $3,000 and $150,000 to each former resident who establishes that he or she was subjected to sexual, physical, or psychological misconduct or injury while living at Woodlands on or after August 1, 1974. Money is also available for counseling for these injuries.
Class Members who validly opted out of the class action on or before December 22, 2008, are not part of the settlement.
Please Contact: Klein Lyons http://www.kleinlyons.com
Suite 1100-1333 West Broadway Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 4C1 Phone: 604-874-7171 or email: info@kleinlyons.com
On October 7, 2009, the Honourable Mike de Jong introduced Bill 13 in the provincial Legislature. This Bill contains amendments to the Adult Guardianship and Planning Statutes Amendments Act (also known as Bill 29) which was passed in October 2007 but is not yet in effect. Bill 13 allows the Planning Statutes amendments to be brought into effect separately from the Adult Guardianship Act amendments.
Proclamation of the Planning Statutes amendments has been held up because they are currently dependent on the Adult Guardianship Act amendments which have been delayed due to cost restraints. Bill 13 will allow the Planning Statutes amendments to proceed independently.
“We are very pleased that government has listened to the community and found a way for the personal planning amendments to move forward”, says Joanne Taylor, Executive Director of the Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry. “Nidus led a broad group of community organizations who met with former Attorney General Wally Oppal prior to the last election to ask for a solution to the delay. Our subsequent brief to the new Attorney General was heard and we applaud Minister de Jong for making this a priority.”
The bringing into effect of amendments to the Representation Agreement Act, Power of Attorney Act and the Health Care Consent and Care Facility Admission Act will enable British Columbians to engage in meaningful and effective planning for future care in the event they need help managing their affairs. This was the goal of Charting the Course Ahead, a proposal written by Nidus and submitted to government in October 2006, which paved the way for the personal planning amendments.
“The passage of Bill 13 and proclamation of the planning amendments will bring certainty and provide accessibility to Representation Agreements, the product of a grass-roots law reform effort that began over 20 years ago. Representation Agreements are a crucial legal tool for adults who want to plan for their future and most importantly for adults who need support with decision-making today.”
Thank you to the many citizens and community groups who have been committed to ensuring that all British Columbians have access to safe and effective legal tools that preserve their dignity and identity and provide support for their wishes and preferences in times of need.
Nidus would like to acknowledge, in particular, the Alzheimer Society of BC, BC Association of Community Living, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC and Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network. And thank you to our current project funders: the Law Foundation of BC, the Vancouver Foundation, the Notary Foundation, the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Victoria Foundation.
Keep in touch with Nidus to find out how the personal planning amendments apply to you and your constituency and when they will come into effect.
Nidus is a non-profit, charitable organization. Visit them at http://www.nidus.ca.
Contact Nidus at 604-408-7414 or info@nidus.ca
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Since 1977, Disability Alliance BC has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. Our mission is to promote a more inclusive and equitable society for people with all disabilities through direct services, community partnerships, systemic advocacy, research, and publications.
We acknowledge and have deep gratitude to work together on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Selíl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations of the Coast Salish people. We honour the many territorial keepers of the lands.
DABC is a proud member of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)and BC Poverty Reduction Coalition.
DABC is proud to be certified as a Living Wage Employer by Living Wage for Families BC! We are glad to be able to support our staff to feel valued in their roles and provide them with the opportunity to thrive in their communities.
