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A Voice For The Disabled

By 250 News

Tired of living under the stress of extreme poverty, a city resident has vowed to fight for a change in circumstances for disabled people in B.C..

Steve Willment says he receives $876.00 in income assistance every month to cover all his costs -- from rent, to food, to clothing.  Willment says he wrote a letter to the editor of  "The Free Press" late last year and says the Minister Responsible, Claude Richmond, responded with his own letter to the newspaper.  Willment says that's when he realized the minister had no idea of the harsh realities facing those living on income assistance.

But it was an anonymous gift certificate for dinner at the Coast Inn of the North that spurred him into action -- the unidentified donor urged Willment to find a way to "pay it forward".  He invited Richmond to dinner at the Coast Inn.  The minister declined, but three New Democrat M.L.A.s, including Opposition Critic Claire Trevena, local Liberal M.L.A. John Rustad, and City Councillor Brian Skakun accepted.

The parties gathered for two hours yesterday afternoon.  Willment says, "A lot of information was expressed, emotions were shown, the plight of the disabled was clearly highlighted, primarily (the) monetary problems."  

He says, "I don't believe that the citizens of British Columbia believe that it's acceptable for their most vulnerable citizens to be treated this way and to have to live in degrading (circumstances), without any dignity, it's a terrible situation."

Willment says the M.L.A.s have pledged to discuss his concerns with their respective caucuses, but he is vowing to press on until there's action.  He says he has spoken with many disabled citizens across the province who are thanking him for saying what they often cannot for fear of retribution.

"We are starting to band together and our voices are about to be heard quite loudly within the province of B.C. and it's our goal that every citizen within the province know just how deplorably the disabled have been treated."


Opinion250 columnist Peter Ewart has been chronicling the challenges of a blind mom of two in our city, click here for part one.

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