Changes to employment service provision in British Columbia have once again left Kimberley without service despite promises to the contrary, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

“We’ve known the changes were coming for months and I was concerned that the BC Liberal government would repeat the pattern that they have followed for the last 11 years, and that’s to pull government services out of Kimberley,” said Macdonald in a news release issued earlier this week.

“Kimberley lost its hospital, its courthouse and its government agent, and now it is losing its employment centre.”

Employment services have traditionally been funded by the federal government but a new agreement has been reached for the province to provide employment services. The negotiations to establish the new model have been underway for years.

“When we questioned the Minister about what the new model would look like the response was categorical: there would be no reduction of service in rural communities,” continued Macdonald.

When asked specifically on October 5, 2011 about the future of employment services in Kimberley, Minister of Social Development Stephanie Cadieux made the following statement: “Through this new model, no unemployed British Columbian will be left behind, including clients in smaller or remote communities.”

Alpine Employment Resource Centre is closing its doors because the new model will no longer provide onsite employment services in Kimberley.  Kimberley residents will now be required to travel to Cranbrook for service.

“The loss of employment services in Kimberley is absolutely unacceptable.  The minister promised that no British Columbian would be left behind and that promise must also apply to Kimberley,” Macdonald stated.

He also provided a ‘backgrounder’ on the issue.

In September 2010, the minister responsible stated in a letter: ‘The province encourages service providers to propose the best way to deliver services to all clients in their communities, including rural and remote areas.’

In December 2010, the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) for Employment & Labour Market Services Division stated in a letter: ‘The ministry is committed to ensuring British Columbians across the province have fair access to employment services.  Through this new model, more clients will have access to more services than currently exist in many small communities.’

In February 2011, the ADM again states in a letter: ‘Under the new…Program, the contract service providers will be responsible for ensuring that all communities within the catchment areas have access to the full suite of employment services.’

In October 2011, the Deputy Minister stated: ‘Regardless of where clients reside in the province, they will continue to have access to employment services in their communities.  Through the new model, more clients will have access to more services than currently exist in many small communities.’

Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett was asked last week by email to comment on this matter but as of press time had not done so.

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