DEFININ

G OUR F

UTURE:

PUBLIC

POLIC

Y AND D

ESIRED

DIRECTI

ONS

P R E S E N T A T I O N T O T H E C E N T R E F O R I N C L U S I O N A N D C I T I Z E N S H I P W O R K S H O P O N F U T U R E T R E N D S V A N C O U V E R P U B L I C L I B R A R YF E B R U A R Y 2 5 T H 2 0 1 3M I C H A E L J . P R I N C E

MY REMARKS TODAY

Discuss what public policy is and why it is important in addressing barriers and in advancing citizenship and inclusion

Recognize five core elements of policy that we need to focus on in defining our future

Note some features of the public policy and political context in BC

Suggest some policy opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the disability community

2

WHAT IS PUBLIC POLICY?

Courses of action or inactions by public authorities

Made by governments: federal, provincial, municipal, Aboriginal

And made by public sector agencies in education, health, housing, social services

Existing policies may act as enablers or barriers

The absence of policy can also have positive or negative consequences

3

THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC POLICY Determines programs and services that affect

the material living conditions of individuals, families, groups

Contributes to the formation of identities of people as dependent or deserving or not

Shapes relationships between people in terms of inclusion/exclusion, or respect/stigma

Structures clientele as a potential basis for political awareness, debate, and action

4

CORE ELEMENTS OF POLICY

People: citizens, officials, neighbourhoods, communities

Purposes: a position, goals, objectives, intentions, promises, claims, hopes, expectations , commitments

Procedures: ways and means of designing, delivering programs and laws

Products: income benefits, services, supports, rights and responsibilities, words and symbols

Power: roles of authority, ideas of legitimacy, and relations of advocacy and influence

5

PUBLIC POLICY AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS

Deficit reduction agendas for province and federal government:

General funding for school districts frozen for three years

Income assistance rates for people with disabilities not raised for several years nor are they indexed to cost of living

No real increase in supports for children and youth with special needs and their families

Continued absence of provincial legislation on the inclusion rights of all persons with disabilities

No independent provincial advocate for adults with developmental disabilities

Environmental and indigenous issues at forefront of public agenda

6

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TRENDS

A growing population in the province

An ever diversifying population

An aging population too, including of caregivers and workers, increasing pressures on Community Living too

Labour shortages in various sectors of the mainstream workforce over next several years

Growing economic inequalities

Persistent poverty, limited employment opportunities, financial insecurity

7

POLICY OPPORTUNITIES

Working with the BC Representative for Children and Youth on her extended mandate

May 2013: BC general election –

Raising awareness about the UN Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities ratified in 2010

Renewing focus on employment programs for adults with disabilities

Modernizing income support benefits and system

Embedding community living in a comprehensive economic and social inclusion strategy for the province

8

YOUR COMMENTS, IDEAS....

Thank you!

Michael J. Prince

Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy

University of Victoria

mprince@uvic.ca

9