A classroom scene with young students sitting at a table, working on arts and crafts projects. A boy wearing glasses and a green shirt is in the foreground, focused on his work.Photo by CDC

Mar. 07 Biweekly Update: Social Services Key Insights

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SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

Unveiling the latest developments in social services

March 07, 2025

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Table of contents

  • Child care
  • Opportunities brought to you by the Federation
  • Reconciliation
  • Community social services
  • Health
  • Drug crisis
  • Homelessness
  • Housing
  • Mental health
  • Good news

Child care

Trudeau announces $37B in child care deals with 11 provinces and territories | CBC News

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced nearly $37 billion in agreements with 11 provinces and territories to extend the federal child care space program until 2031, ensuring its long-term sustainability. Starting in 2026-27, the five-year deals will include a 3% annual funding increase to keep pace with rising costs. While Alberta and Saskatchewan have yet to sign agreements, discussions are ongoing. British Columbia will receive $5.38 billion as part of the funding. Initially launched in 2021 with a $30 billion investment, the program aims to create 250,000 affordable child care spaces at $10 per day by 2025-26. However, challenges such as labour shortages and inflation have slowed progress. Reflecting on his legacy, Trudeau emphasized that child care is a foundational social program akin to health care. Meanwhile, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre promised changes to the system if elected, while Liberal leadership contender Mark Carney committed to maintaining federal transfers.

Opportunities brought to you by the Federation

The Federation is dedicated to supporting our members and strengthening the broader community social services sector. We offer a range of ways to stay informed, build connections, and grow your skills.

Stay informed about the latest in the sector by exploring our calendar of training sessions, webinars, and events designed to help you succeed.
Get connected and expand your professional network through opportunities created specifically for community social services professionals.
Looking for a new career? Explore current job postings and find your next opportunity in the community social services sector.

Visit our website today to discover all the ways we can support you!

Reconciliation

Introducing Residential Schools 101 | University of Manitoba

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) is expanding its educational outreach with free monthly Residential School History and Legacy 101 webinars led by Sandra Bender, the centre’s community engagement and education program coordinator. Over the past seven months, Bender has delivered more than seven dozen presentations, addressing the growing demand for education on the residential school system and its legacy. The webinars are designed to be accessible for those new to the topic while remaining engaging for those with prior knowledge. Alongside NCTR director Kaila Johnston, Bender presents to diverse audiences—including corporate groups, government sectors, universities, schools, and churches—highlighting key issues, Calls to Action, and tangible steps toward reconciliation. A non-Indigenous ally, Bender is committed to ensuring respectful, accurate, and thoughtful discussions in her presentations, emphasizing that understanding the full truth is essential to reconciliation. Sign up for the webinar here.

Community social services

SSSTEP Report Now Public: A Key Resource for the Sector | The Federation

The Social Services Sector Training and Education Plan (SSSTEP) report, developed by the Federation and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, is now publicly available. Funded through the Canada-BC Labour Market Development Agreement’s Sector Labour Market Partnerships Program, the report builds on previous labour market research. It presents expert recommendations to address recruitment and retention challenges in the social services sector. While funding remains a hurdle, SSSTEP serves as a roadmap for advocacy and workforce development. The Federation acknowledges the contributions of researchers Kelly Cubbon and Lucia Lorenzi and the advisory committee. Members are encouraged to review the report and explore ways to implement its recommendations. Read the full report here.

Health

Health spending continues to dominate BC budget | Global News

British Columbia’s 2025 budget prioritizes health care, with over a third of the provincial spending allocated to the Ministry of Health, receiving a $1 billion increase to exceed $35 billion for 2025/2026. The budget includes $4.2 billion in new spending across three years, with $443 million dedicated to addressing the primary care crisis and $870 million for new and renovated hospitals. Half a billion dollars will support addiction treatment and recovery programs. However, some key promises, such as a second Red Fish Healing Centre, are not included. While the budget maintains and boosts core spending, some concerns remain, including the need for better emergency room responses, as well as nurse recruitment and retention, amidst ongoing challenges in the healthcare system.

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Drug crisis

BC pressured to speed up involuntary treatment rollout after attack on VPD officer | Global News

The BC government is under increasing pressure to accelerate the rollout of involuntary mental health treatment following a violent attack on a Vancouver police officer. The suspect, Solaris Onatta Running Dey, who has a history of severe mental illness and past convictions, remains in custody. While Premier David Eby insists funding for involuntary care is included in the latest provincial budget, critics, including BC Conservative leader John Rustad, argue the government is not acting quickly enough. Two treatment sites — one in Surrey for those in custody and another in Maple Ridge for individuals held under the Mental Health Act — are set to open soon, with additional facilities being planned. The government has allocated $500 million over three years for addiction and recovery programs, and further assessments are underway to determine the province’s needs for involuntary care expansion.

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Homelessness

Homelessness program in BC budget not working yet in Vancouver and Abbotsford | Vancouver Sun

Despite the BC government’s $90 million budget increase for the HEART and HEARTH homelessness programs, advocates in Vancouver and Abbotsford say the initiatives have yet to make a significant impact. In Abbotsford, Brittany Maple of the Matsqui-Abbotsford Impact Society notes that new shelter beds have not materialized as expected, with some replacing recently closed ones and others being inaccessible. Similarly, Amanda Burrows of First United says Vancouver has yet to see HEARTH-funded shelter beds and questions how the program will function without sufficient permanent housing. While some temporary housing projects have been implemented in smaller communities, experts argue that the funding is likely inadequate given the rising number of unhoused individuals.

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Housing

Near-unanimous approval on Kamloops council for controversial supportive housing site | iNFOnews

Kamloops City Council approved rezoning a 54-unit supportive housing project in North Kamloops with near-unanimous support, despite past concerns about its programs and clientele. The decision marked a shift from earlier debates, though concerns remain about the site’s impact. Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson was the only opposing vote, citing worries about drug use and a preference for family and senior housing. BC Housing has not yet selected a non-profit operator or confirmed the services to be offered. Local advocates emphasize the urgent need for supportive housing, as many residents remain in shelters for years.

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Mental health

De-centralizing Central Okanagan police affecting mental health response team | Castanet

The decentralization of the Kelowna RCMP detachment is impacting the Integrated Critical Response Team (ICRT), which was previously centralized in Kelowna. The ICRT, a partnership between the RCMP, Interior Health, and the City of Kelowna, pairs an RCMP officer with an Interior Health nurse to respond to mental health-related calls. However, the team mainly operates within Kelowna city limits, leaving areas like West Kelowna and Lake Country to rely on regular Mounties. This shift is part of the broader de-regionalization of policing across the Central Okanagan, where municipalities are taking on more responsibility for their local policing needs. As a result, mutual aid agreements between RCMP detachments are expected to continue, but individual municipalities will handle resources and services such as police holding cells over time.

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Good News

If you have any feel-good, weird, fascinating, or amusing stories you’d like to see included in this section, send them to giovani@fcssbc.ca!

Note

The articles in Federation newsletters are for informational purposes and do not relate to the Federation’s advocacy work. We want our membership to stay informed of news relevant to our sector; the inclusion of a story is not an endorsement.

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