Support our provincial day of action!

MOMS needs you!

If you can spare just one hour to stand out in the cold on October 28, you can join parents around the province and help us send a strong message to Victoria: Families expect Premier Campbell to honour his promises to BC's children with special needs!

In 2005, BC Premier Gordon Campbell promised to build the best system of supports for children with special needs in Canada. Despite huge provincial surpluses, he failed to fix major gaps and waitlists for critical children’s services. Now he’s cutting services, like autism programs established after Militant Moms first took to the streets in protest across BC - almost eight years ago to the day.

Premier Campbell and Children’s Minister Mary Polak have forgotten their promises to BC’s children. Families have appealed to MLAs, written letters and Op-Eds, met with officials and held local rallies. Campbell and Polak aren’t listening. So it’s time for moms and dads to get ‘militant’ again and to support our provincial day of action on Wednesday October 28.

WHY:

• Eliminating Early Intensive Intervention programs in 7 BC communities.
• Denying therapy to children with autism and other diagnoses (e.g. Down Syndrome) who can’t pay thousands of dollars each year out of pocket.
• Eliminating provincial staff who deliver key services for Infant Development , Aboriginal IDP and Supported Child Care.
• $32 million cuts to provincial staff who manage & deliver kids’ programs; $3.6 million cuts to front-line services; cuts to children in care, childcare, FASD prevention, even Special Olympics.
• No assessment of risks and impacts of these cuts and no consultation with families.
• Denial of special education in public schools - forcing families to pay privately or kids go without.
• Despite promised changes, youths with special needs still being denied vital supports on the basis of IQ.

We CAN afford better:

• The premier's revised budget includes $14 billion for new capital projects, while Minister Polak claims no choice in cutting vital kids' programs.
• Children's Ministry continues to waste millions on never-ending restructuring.
• Alberta still funds up to $60,000 in therapy for all children under 18 despite a larger deficit than BC’s.
• British Columbians don’t want the budget balanced on the backs of vulnerable children.
• These foolish cuts will destroy lives and cost far more in the long run.

THE ACTION:

What: Small groups gather at high-traffic locations throughout the province with signs and banners - just like the MLAs do at election time and later deliver hundred of balloons to MLA offices, including Campbell's Point Grey office, to remind them of the fragile young lives hurt by his broken promises.

When: 7:30 – 8:30 am (morning rush hour) on Wednesday Oct. 28 (or as specified by local groups)

Where: Vancouver, North Van, Victoria, Kamloops, Kelowna and other communities – anywhere that a local group of families wants to join us & do their own thing).

Who: This is a family-led initiative, but anyone is welcome to join in support

No-Nos: (No traffic disruption, no kids near traffic, no disorderly conduct, keep it non-partisan, law abiding, respectful & focussed on children’s issues vs. things like Olympics or HST. Safety first, please!)

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:

• Join groups already planned for North Van, Vancouver/Richmond, Victoria, Kelowna & Kamloops
• Help organise or participate in a simultaneous action in another community

Action Kit: To make this as easy as possible for busy families, MOMS is providing a complete “action kit” including:

• Provincial coordination: Local team leaders will coordinate local actions, so most participants just need to drop by a “wine & sign” or “stich & bitch” to help prepare signs & banners and then stand out in the cold for an hour on Wednesday, October 28. Cyndi Gerlach will keep track of who’s doing what, help local moms and dads link up for local actions, answer questions and coordinate with group leaders as required.
• Media releases: (to come - see our Promotional Flyer & Op Ed meanwhile)
• Promotional Flyer
• Slogan ideas for signs
• Sign/banner making tips

Feel free to adapt above materials to reflect local priorities.

If you can participate, please e-mail Cyndi at [email protected].

Please respond ASAP, as time is very short! Also, pass this on and invite other families, friends, neighbours, concerned citizens, professionals and service providers to join in!

Thank you all!

Militant Moms on the Move