Public Eye Online

Safety first?

2010-03-17T02:38:12Z

The ministry of children and family development is supposed to protect British Columbia's most vulnerable children. But safety outcomes for those children are no longer being used to measure the ministry's success in its primary planning document. Here's the background: in February 2006, the Campbell administration was under intense criticism over its failure to protect Sherry Charlie, a toddler who was receiving services from the ministry and was beaten to death by her great uncle. In an apparent attempt to address some of that criticism, the ministry began publicizing the rate of recurrence of child abuse and neglect its service plan - an annual report on the department's aims and how it intends to get there.

]]> It also established targets to reduce that rate, which was to be used as the principle means of determining if the government was being successful in its efforts to ensure "vulnerable children and youth are healthy and safe."

The government has consistently missed those targets. If everything had went as planned, that rate was supposed to have been reduced to 13 percent by fiscal 2009/10. But it's actually increased from 16.9 percent in 2004/05 to 20.4 percent as of December 2009.

A ministry spokesperson pointed out the total number of families where there's abuse and the total number where there's re-abuse has actually dropped.

Although it's unclear if that's because of government action (as the ministry has said) or a decline in the number of children being born in British Columbia - a fact frequently cited by the Campbell administration to justify school closures.

Regardless, the ministry has now dumped that performance measure from its service plan. In an interview, children and family development's political boss Mary Polak explained the plan's measures have been changes so that they "more directly align with what we're doing with practice change and Strong, Safe and Supported."

That's the ministry's massive and poorly understood effort to overhaul the way children are protected in this province. But none of those new measures deal with child safety outcomes.

Speaking with Public Eye, New Democrat children and family development critic Maurine Karagianis accused the government of attempting "to bury the facts once more and continue to try and put a rosier glow on British Columbia's real situation regarding kids in care and kids in jeopardy."

"I don't think it's responsible," continued the Esquimalt-Royal Roads legislator. "I don't think it's accountable. And I think it's major deceit to do away with that performance measure."

Minister Polak dismissed such criticism, noting British Columbians can still find out about the rate in a separate document posted online, among several other measurements not included in the service plan.

But fact it's no longer in that plan means the ministry has abandoned setting public targets for reducing the recurrence of child abuse and neglect. And, eight years after the tragic death of a two-year-old triggered a now four-year-old independent review of British Columbia's child protection system, one has to wonder what that says about the direction that department is headed in.

The following is a complete copy of the government's past and present reporting on the rate of child neglect and/or abuse in British Columbia.

***

Rate of recurrence of child neglect and/or abuse by family

2006/07 - 2008/09 Service Plan

2004/05 Baseline - 16.9%
2005/06 Target - Forecast 16.6%
2006/07 Target - 0.6% less than 2005/06 actual
2007/08 Target - 0.7% less than 2006/07 actual
2008/09 Target - To be determined in 2006/07

2007/08 - 2009/10 Service Plan

2005/06 Actual - 18.1%
2006/07 Target - 17.5%
2007/08 Target - 1% less than 2006/07 actual
2008/09 Target - 1.5% less than 2007/08 actual
2009/10 Target - 2% less than 2008/09 actual

2008/09-2010/11 Service Plan

2006/07 Actual - 20.9%
2007/08 Target - 19.9%
2008/09 Target - 19.4%
2009/10 Target - 18.9%
2010/11 Target - 18.4%

2009/10-2011/12 Service Plan

2007/08 Actual - 18.0%
2008/09 Forecast - 17.0%
2009/10 Target - 18.0%
2010/11 Target - 18.0%
2011/12 Target - 18.5%

2009/10-2011/12 Service Plan Update

2007/08 Actual - 20.1%
2008/09 Actual - 20.9%
2009/10 Target - 18.9%
2011/12 Target - 18.4%

Public Reporting of Performance Measures March 2010

2005/06 - 18.1%
2006/07 - 20.8%
2007/08 - 20.1%
2008/09 - 20.8%
2009/10 (Dec. 2009) - 20.4%

Spring break

2010-03-15T15:15:16Z

Public Eye will be taking a bit of a breather this week to dig into some stories that require further investigation and take care of the business-side of the Website. As a result, until next week, our postings will be somewhat sporadic. But, in the meantime, please consider making a $10 monthly contribution by clicking on the bar below. You'll be helping keep an investigative eye on Victoria. And, as a token of our appreciation, you'll receive a subscription to our monthly email newsletter - the Brown Envelope - where we'll give you the story behind the stories we've been working on. (Please note, federal tax laws require us to include the goods and services tax as part of your contribution. You can stop supporting Public Eye at any time by following this link.)

Flowing streams, Zamboni machines and...

2010-03-14T23:39:20Z

Charlie Brown once included crackling fires on a list of three things people like to stare at. Which is one reason the media spend so much time and effort covering the province's forest fires. But with Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell worried the coming fire season could be just as catastrophic as the last, I can't help but wish British Columbians paid just as much attention to what the Campbell administration is or isn't doing to prevent those blazes.

]]> For example, last week I found out the government only has a rough, six-year-old estimate of what it would cost to clear or thin all of the wooded areas in British Columbia that, if left alone, could increase the chances or severity of a wildfire. Minister Bell has said the money needed to prepare a more accurate estimate would be better spent on actually doing that fuel treatment work. And he might be right. But, to my way of thinking, that doesn't seem like a prudent policy.

Unfortunately, policies aren't nearly as sexy as the wildfire porn that gets broadcast on the nightly news. Which means, in the coming years, we may have a lot more crackling fires to stare out over dinner.

Ink deal

2010-03-14T14:20:58Z

Sunday morning, on Public Eye Radio, we'll discuss cutbacks to British Columbia's legal services with Mulligan Tam Pearson Law Corp. partner Mike Mulligan. The Tyee's David Beers weighs in on the sale of Canada's most influential chain of newspapers. And our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Eleanor Gregory, The Tyee's Andrew Macleod and Allan Warnke - debate the week that was in provincial and federal politics. You can listen to Public Eye Radio outside of Victoria by logging into CFAX 1070 between 8:00 and 10:00. If you have a question for one of our guests, you can email us or leave a comment below.

Weekly Wrap Up - March 12, 2010

2010-03-12T21:09:47Z

This week, Public Eye exclusively revealed:

* illegal gaming on First Nations reserves "continues unabated and is highly visible," according to a 2008 internal government report obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request

* why Children and Family Development Minister Mary Polak supports her deputy's claim to having "never refused" to meet with the government's independent child protection watchdog. This, despite the fact the deputy recently rebuffed the watchdog's request for a briefing;

* the ministry of forests and range only has a rough, six-year-old estimate of what it would cost to clear or thin all of the wooded areas in British Columbia that, if left alone, could increase the chances or severity of a wildfire;

* the provincial New Democrats still have "$2 million in debt from the election" - although the party already "managed to pay off over $500,000" of that bill; and

* the Industry Training Authority "ambiguous" service plans goals.

So, if you aren't already a supporter, please consider making a confidential $10 monthly contribution by clicking on the bar below. You'll be helping sustain our investigative work, digging up the news that matters to you. And, as a token of our appreciation, you'll receive a subscription to our monthly email newsletter - the Brown Envelope - where we'll give you the story behind the stories we've been working on. (Please note, federal tax laws require us to include the goods and services tax as part of your contribution. You can stop supporting Public Eye at any time by following this link.)

Everyone makes mistakes

2010-03-12T18:34:46Z

Yesterday, we reported Industry Training Authority chief executive officer Kevin Evans accidentally sent out an email in which he described the agency's goals as being "ambiguous" rather than ambitious. But, in a comment posted on Public Eye, Mr. Evans reported many stakeholders took that spelling mistake with a grain of salt. An example of the responses he's received: "I love your typo, and I am pleased to see that the ITA is capable of the sort of error I routinely make. But it is not as bad as an error at BCIT some years ago that went to press with the Director of Public Relations being identified as the Director of Pubic Relations."

Aide exits via information superhighway

2010-03-12T18:06:28Z

In 2005, then ministerial aide Jay Schlosar came to the attention of Public Eye readers when we reported he was the sexiest man at the legislature - that, and the fact he was moving into the West Annex. Now, five years later, Mr. Schlosar - the premier's deputy chief of staff for policy coordination and issues management - is moving out. He's taken a job as the executive lead of Internet strategy in the ministry of citizens' services.

An ambiguous ambition

2010-03-11T20:40:56Z

More often than not, the provincial government's service plans feature ambiguous rather than ambitious goals and performance measures. But would any public office holder actually admit that? Well, in an email to stakeholders, Industry Training Authority chief executive officer Kevin Evans wrote his agency's plan provides "a crisp picture of the ITA's priorities for the coming year as established by the ITA's Board of Directors. It sets ambiguous (sic) goals by which our success over the coming year will be judged." Of course, we're sure he actually meant to write ambitious. But his spell checker seems to have gotten the better of him! The following is a complete copy of that email.

]]> Subject: Industry Training Authority's 2010 - 2013 Service Plan

Good Morning,

I am pleased to let you know that the Industry Training Authority's 2010/11 - 2012/13 Service Plan was released last week alongside the provincial budget. The plan provides you with a crisp picture of the ITA's priorities for the coming year as established by the ITA's Board of Directors. It sets ambiguous goals by which our success over the coming year will be judged.

I encourage you to review the ITA Service Plan, which can be found on our website at http://www.itabc.ca/Page61.aspx

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Regards,
Kevin Evans
CEO

Action figure?

2010-03-11T00:10:16Z

Earlier, we reported the ministry of forests and range only has a rough, six-year-old estimate of what it would cost to clear or thin all of the wooded areas in British Columbia that, if left alone, could increase the chances or severity of a wildfire. So why doesn't the ministry have a better idea of that price tag? We put that question to Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell on his way into caucus and this is what he had to say.

Risky business

2010-03-10T23:59:08Z

In 2004, the government estimated it would cost more than $250 million to clear or thin the 684,727 hectares of wooded area in British Columbia that, if left alone, could dramatically increase the chances or severity of a wildfire. But the ministry of forests and range cautioned the actual area requiring fuel treatments is much lower, while the cost per hectare of those treatments is much higher. That rough estimate, which was obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request, represents the ministry's sole attempt since the 2003 firestorm to put a price on what is the costliest part of the province's wildfire prevention activities. But the ministry said today it never intended there would be a need to treat all of that high-risk area.

]]> Instead, local governments were charged with narrowing that number down via plans that identified the amount of fuel treatment required to protect their communities. As we reported last year though, dozens of communities have yet to prepare such protection plans. And the ministry has acknowledged the average cost of fuel treatments is around $5,000 per hectare - much higher than the $500 to $2,000 range used in its rough estimate. To-date, the government has said around 38,000 hectares of at-risk area has been treated.

The following is a complete copy of that document.

Ministry of forests and range fuel treatment estimate

Heed speeds past questions

2010-03-10T21:57:14Z

Today, in a government caucus news release, Solicitor General Kash Heed spanked provincial New Democrat John Horgan's support for photo radar. That system was scrapped by the Campbell administration following the 2001 election over the objections of police chiefs. So does that mean the solicitor general, West Vancouver's former chief constable, disagrees with the chiefs' past position on speed cameras? Well, that seemed to be a question Mr. Heed just wasn't willing to answer. The following is a complete copy of that news release.

]]> BC Liberal Government Caucus
NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2010

NDP WANTS TO RESURRECT FAILED PHOTO RADAR PLAN

VICTORIA - The NDP's plan to bring back photo radar means less police on the streets and a weakening of public safety, says Solicitor General Kash Heed.

"The NDP's photo radar policy of the 1990's was a total failure. It was a cash grab that took 80 police officers out of their cars and sat them in the front seat of photo radar vans rather than proactively targeting problem drivers," says Heed. "Only the NDP would want to resurrect a plan to use police as tax collectors rather than having them on the street fighting crime and targeting problem drivers."

Speaking on CFAX today, NDP MLA John Horgan conceded British Columbians saw photo radar - introduced by the NDP - as a tax grab, but was unrepentant about bringing it back. "I'm a supporter of photo radar. I have been since it was introduced," he said.

The BC Liberals eliminated the photo radar program and have put increased resources into road safety; measures the NDP has consistently opposed and voted against.

* We have hired 1,100 new police officers since 2001.

* We have redeployed officers to the Integrated Road Safety Unit. These are wheels on the ground with trained officers dedicated to focus exclusively on traffic-related road safety issues. They operate in major municipal regions in BC. In smaller centres, the RCMP has added members to detachments and funds overtime to carry out road safety programs.

And the strategy is working. There was a 15 per cent reduction in all police-reported motor vehicle fatalities in B.C. and a 12 per cent reduction in serious motor vehicle injuries in 2008 when compared to 2007.

"Road safety is a priority for this government and that is why we have allocated over $75 million a year to various initiatives such as the Integrated Road Safety Unit. We believe that intelligence led units, targeting problem roadways is a much more effective deterrent than a van sitting on the side of the road," says Heed. "Sadly, the NDP's only plan for public safety continues to be resurrecting one of their favourite cash grabs - photo radar."

Visit www.governmentcaucus.bc.ca

-30-

Illegal gaming on reserves "unabated"

2010-03-10T17:39:30Z

Illegal gaming on First Nations reserves "continues unabated and is highly visible," according to a 2008 internal government report obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request. But the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the minister responsible for gaming have both said such crimes are neither prevalent nor a problem - in part, because of the availability of legal gaming business options for aboriginal communities.

]]> The report was prepared for the ministry of public safety and solicitor general by policy consultant Cathy Tait to review the effectiveness of the province's now-defunct anti-illegal gaming team.

It states some First Nations "maintain they have a legal right to conduct commercial gaming activities" - a view not shared by the team or, it appears, the province.

Meeting minutes for the team's consultative board show, on November 30, 2005, the head of British Columbia's gaming policy and enforcement branch summarized the government's position this way: "gaming is within exclusive provincial jurisdiction and there has been no court decision that has recognized and (sic) Aboriginal right to gaming."

But cracking down on illegal aboriginal gaming has "proven to be difficult," Ms. Tait's review states.

In October 2005, police took down a common gaming house on the Adams Lake Indian Band reserve - seizing and destroying eight video gaming machines.

But charges weren't sought "due to the sensitivities regarding this issue."

RCMP spokesperson Rob Vermeulen said that's because "prosecuting could have derailed high-level (government) talks that were going on. Larger issues than illegal gaming were at stake" - although he didn't specifically know what they were.

Sgt. Vermeulen also said the police have been taking a "social regulatory" approach toward illegal gaming on reserves - educating band elders and members "as to what could and couldn't be done as opposed to prosecution."

That means written notices are sent to bands where such crimes are taking place, with the matter being resolved at a political-level if those activities continue.

Despite those efforts, according to Ms. Tait's review, integrated illegal gaming enforcement team staff reported "First Nations gaming continues unabated and is highly visible."

"Take downs without charges are unlikely to be a successful long term strategy to address this concern," the report concludes.

But neither the RCMP or Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman see illegal gaming on reserves as being prevalent or a problem.

Sgt. Vermeulen said, between 2005 and 2008, out of the 328 reported or alleged occurrences of such crimes in British Columbia only 14 were associated with First Nations peoples.

The province's integrated illegal gaming enforcement team - which tabulated those statistics - has since been shutdown, its April 1, 2009 closure being publicly criticized by the unit's former commander Fred Pinnock.

Sgt. Vermeulen acknowledged illegal gaming on First Nations reserves "may still be continuing."

But the RCMP's aboriginal policing service unit has "seen nothing to indicate that illegal gaming on First Nations reserves is a major issue," stated Sgt. Vermeulen adding, "there's also legal options for First Nations gaming enterprise."

And it's those legal options that remain the best way of stopping illegal gaming on reserves, according to Minister Coleman.

"We just opened up a gaming centre in Squamish," he said in a separate interview. "We have the Casino of the Rockies that is on a First Nations reserve over in Cranbrook. We also have another one on the Burrard that is being worked out."

Although, it bears mentioning that, just two months ago, the province's aboriginal relations and reconciliation minister took a somewhat different view of that activity.

Speaking on Shaw TV's Voice of BC, George Abbott said he hadn't heard, "much about interest in First Nations becoming gambling entrepreneurs."

"That was an issue a few years ago as a number of the tribes in the U.S. took on gaming facilities, but it hasn't been something that's really been at all raised, never mind front-and-centre, in recent months."

The following is a complete copy of the relevant section of Ms. Tait's effectiveness review.

Integrated illegal gaming enforcement team effectiveness review page 40

The ministry of hair splitting

2010-03-09T22:08:37Z

Last week, the ministry of children and family development's top bureaucrat told MLAs she's "never refused" to meet with the government's independent child protection watchdog, despite having recently rebuffed the watchdog's request for a briefing. But the bureaucrat's political boss, Mary Polak, didn't find any fault with Lesley du Toit's contention because, according to her, there's a difference between a meeting and briefing.

]]> Ms. du Toit made the statement just three months after notifying the watchdog she wouldn't be giving her "any further briefings" on a massive effort to overhaul the way children are protected in British Columbia.

The minister of children and family development has seen that correspondence, including children and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond's request for such a briefing.

Nevertheless, when interviewed on Monday about Ms. du Toit's contention, the minister stated, "I'm not aware of a meeting request that the representative has made that she's declined."

But wouldn't Ms. du Toit's refusal to give any further briefings to Ms. Turpel-Lafond count as a refusal to meet?

"No, that's a refusal to give a further briefing," alleged the minister. "And I'm sure you know, Sean, the difference between just having a meeting and actually preparing and presenting a briefing on substantive ministry work. Those are two very different things."

"A briefing is where you prepare materials, you prepare content, you prepare an agenda such that you're going to be able to instruct the person you're briefing with regard to that information, you prepare question and answer materials for them - there's all manner of work that goes into a briefing," she explained.

"It's a completely different setting then having a meeting where you might dialogue about a range of topics. So I have no doubt that anyone who's ever experienced a briefing would know the difference between a briefing and a meeting."

Er, yeah...

And, since the minister opened the door, here's our view: a briefing is always a meeting, while a meeting might not necessarily be a briefing.

But we'll be happy to meet with the minister and brief her about that view whenever she likes - although we doubt it will require much preparation.

Psych test

2010-03-08T18:02:05Z

This is interesting: last week, the government quietly announced it will soon be surveying the experiences of the province's mental health and addictions services patients. According to a bid document posted on the government's procurement Website on March 1, the survey aims to "measure the level of satisfaction" with those services, enhance their performance and increase public accountability. The document states this is the first time the government steering committee responsible for patient satisfaction has conducted such a poll. The following is a complete copy of that request for proposal.

]]> Health authorities mental health experience of care survey request for proposal

Papers please?

2010-03-08T17:14:45Z

In October, Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon told CKNW he personally thinks anyone who is working with "government dollars or contracts" should undergo a criminal record check. The minister made that statement after it was revealed the Fraser Health Authority put someone who had been convicted of defrauding a non-profit society in charge of a $9 million budget. So will that personal conviction become policy now that the former bureaucrat is one of the three individuals who are facing charges in connection with an alleged scheme to personally benefit from the province's troubled eHealth project? Not so much it seems, judging by what Minister Falcon had to say on Thursday.