Plight Of Disabled Remains Unchanged

By 250 News

Steve Willment says he remains as determined as ever to be an advocate for change and, although quiet for the moment, he's merely gathering strength...

Willment is a Prince George resident living on income assistance because of a disability.  

Back in January, he met with several members of the NDP caucus, including Opposition Critic Claire Trevena, and local Liberal MLA John Rustad, when Minister Responsible Claude Richmond refused an invitation to discuss the extreme poverty B.C.residents with disabilities are forced to live in. (click here, for previous story)

But Willment says he has yet to hear anything back from Trevena's office and says the only one to mention the disabled has been Finance Minister Carole Taylor who said during the budget delivery there would be no new funds because the money was going into public sector contracts.

The city man does say he plans to ramp up efforts to raise awareness about the plight of the disabled this summer, but is not sharing details at this time.  He says a focus continues to be the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver-Whistler, when the province will be in the international spotlight.

Willment does feel the attention garnered by Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan at the Games in Italy may have done a disservice to many of B.C.'s disabled.  He says it would have been the perfect opportunity for Sullivan to draw attention to some of the severe financial challenges facing many.  And while Willment says it's possible Sullivan may not be aware of those challenges because he's not on a disability pension, the local man says ignorance is no excuse.

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