Council Supports Efforts to Save Programs for Disabled at CNC

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. -   There will be letters in the mail to the local MLAs, the College of New Caledonia and the Minister of Advanced Education.  Prince George City Council has approved the sending of the letters although the tone of the letters will be changed. 

" I would like to see some changes, and hope we can be  advocates for that change"said Councilor Debora Munoz.

Councilor Murry Krause said while it is difficult to make comments on the actions of another Board, he has heard from MLA Pat Bell who says efforts are underway to correct the  problem  "We really have to get the message out that these are really important programs that we have to stand behind."

Councillor Don Zurowski says he supports the purpose but he cannot support the motion "Us putting pressure on the College is not the  solution, us encouraging the Province to  provide more  funding is a solution."  To that, an amendment  has been made to the initial  request,  the tone of the letters will be changed,  instead of expressing concern,  the letters will ask "how can we help?"

The initial letters came from the Prince George Accessibility Advisory Committee and expressed concern over the elimination of the JET, TARGET and Open Doors programs for the disabled at the College of New Caledonia. 

Committee Chair Joe Basnet outlined how the loss of the programs will impact the community and its image “Without these programs, or some variation thereof, Prince George will be taking a massive step backwards in terms of inclusiveness.  If we do not advocate for the continuation of these programs, we accept the marginalization of people with disabilities."

Councilor Glenn Scott says he's tired of tap dancing, "why don't we go straight for the jugular and say what  needs to be said?  When a fight becomes a fight, I don't back away, we've got to show some leadership. I don't know why we are tap dancing around the mulberry bush."  He was the only Councilor to oppose the  more carefully crafted version of the letters.

The new version of the letter encourages all to look at "whatever means possible to find the funding to reinstate the programs."

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us