Nov. 30, 2020 Newsletter

Policy Watch What you need to know…

Health Minister That was the question at the Niki Sharma. Get familiar with has appointed a task force to centre of a useful webinar put on that name, because this brand-new implement the 24 by the Pacific Legal Education and BC politician is being shaped to be recommendations in Mary Ellen Outreach Society this month in the main contact for government for Turpel-Lafond’s unsettling partnership with Vantage Point. anyone in the non-profit sector. report into widespread racism Click here for the full recording Sharma is a BC lawyer who was against Indigenous people in of the lunch-and-learn webinar, elected for the first time in BC’s health care system. along with information sheets, November as the MLA for More than 2,800 Indigenous notes and a PowerPoint to help -Hastings. She’s now BC’s people and 5,000 health care your board understand the first Parliamentary Secretary for workers responded to the difference between policy and Community Development and Non- survey that was part of that bylaw, and how to know what Profits. Her mandate letter from report, released today. belongs where. Premier makes it clear “Extensive profiling” and *** that she’s expected to be the point stereotyping of Indigenous The Dec. 7 deadline is person on all things non-profit. people was evident even in approaching fast for one-time health care workers’ survey “Over the course of our funding through WorkBC for non- responses. Among Indigenous mandate,” notes Horgan’s letter to profits to provide 12 weeks of pre- respondents, 84 per cent Sharma, “I expect you will make employment training and $1,200 a reported experiencing progress on the following items: month in stipends to people discrimination in health care, designated either as Persons with Work to ensure charitable including Indigenous health care organizations and the non-profit Persistent Multiple Barriers or workers themselves. Persons with Disabilities. sector are engaged and supported “I have been asked to look The Work Experience through the COVID-19 pandemic and after my 'drunk relatives' in the recovery; and support charitable Opportunities Grant provides up to ER or have had Indigenous $25,000 for organizations to run organizations and the non-profit patients reassigned to me on 12-week training sessions for up to sector by acting as the advocate and the wards when I was a five people. Participants will then key point of contact within resident,” noted one Indigenous be eligible for further WorkBC government.” doctor. supports. Point person or not, any smart Dix made an “unequivocal non-profit knows better than to put apology” to those who have Let’s connect! Look for our eggs in one basket. So make a experienced racism in health Board Voice on these plan to connect not only with Sharma care, and promised action. social media platforms: "Racism has made B.C.'s health- but all the key cabinet ministers for care system an unsafe place for the social services sector. Click here many Indigenous peoples to for the bios of the many new faces in access services and the care cabinet, a striking number of whom Queries, questions, they need.” have work backgrounds in social concerns, ideas: care. We’ve also posted relevant *** Jody Paterson, ED ministries’ mandate letters. To bylaw or not to bylaw? [email protected]