Select Standing Committee Submissions: Have Your Say About the Next BC Budget…
Every year, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services holds a public consultation on the next provincial budget. It is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to share their thoughts, ideas, and priorities regarding provincial services and funding decisions. The committee reviews everything they receive and then makes recommendations to the Legislative Assembly before the next budget.
Each year, The Federation makes a written submission and presents to the committee in person (or over Zoom). This year we are doing the same. And we are also encouraging Federation members to join us and amplify our message and recommendations.
You can fill out a survey and/or make a written submission. Either way, these consultations are an excellent opportunity for us to inform next year’s provincial budget and draw attention to the issues we are facing and the changes we want to see happen for and in BC’s community social services sector.
Our Recommendations
This year, the committee is asking for submissions to be limited to three recommendations. The Federation will be prioritizing the following.
- Continue to demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation and decolonization of social services by working to address funding inequities that exist for Indigenous, off-reserve service providers.
- Continue to demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation and decolonization by making new investments in services and supports for children in care—an area that hasn’t seen the same transformative investments as other MCFD services.
- Continue to invest in the strength and sustainability of BC’s social services sector by addressing the rising costs that organizations are facing and building a response to these pressures into base contract dollars.
Have Your Say
You can participate by providing written comments or by filling out the online survey between May 30th and June 24th. Consider using the same recommendations as above. Check out past submissions that The Federation has made and use the same language, arguments, or key messages.
Our job is to represent your interests, advocate on your behalf, and work to create a stronger and more sustainable community social services sector. But it can be just important for you, our members, to support and advocate for each other.
There have been many signs that this government is listening and paying attention to our sector and I believe that we must do our best to take advantage of opportunities like this.
So if you would like to have a conversation about how to prepare or what to say (or if you have questions about this process), please contact me or Rebecca. We would be more than happy to talk to you or pass on a draft copy of our submission prior to the consultation window.
Rick FitzZaland, Executive Director
rick@fcssbc.ca
Rebecca Ataya, Associate Executive Director
rebecca@fcssbc.ca