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MARCH 9, 2016
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‘Giving with one hand, taking with the other’ Advocates warn elimination of $45/year bus pass will impact disabled Tyler OLSEN
QUEENS OF SHEBA
Abbotsford News
For 11 years, Andrea Wetteland says her BC Bus Pass has been her “lifeline,” allowing her to get around town without thinking how much transportation is eating into her fixed disability income from the province. This year, however, Wetteland is faced with what she says is an unwelcome dilemma – whether to use the majority of the first increase to disability assistance in nine years to augment her already tight budget, or to use it on that vital lifeline, which connects her with programs, friends and visits with her children. When Finance Minister and Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong brought in the province’s 2016 budget, it came with what seemed like good news for disability advocates, who had long called for disability assistance rates to be raised to keep up with inflation. The 2016 budget aimed to address that by boosting the disability benefit by $77 per month. But as the government gave more, it also eliminated a special $45/year bus pass for the disabled. Now, those who wish to take the bus can pay $52 per month, along with a $45 yearly administrative fee. Currently, 35,000 people around the province use the bus pass. Those who choose to buy a pass will be left with an additional $25 per month over the previous disability allowance, for a year-over-year increase of just under three per cent. It’s a move the province says is meant Continued on A5
Heart and Joan Jett performed at the Abbotsford Centre on Monday. Check out abbynews.com for more.
DIGNITY VILLAGE A3 A proposal for permanent shelter for the homeless sees renewed focus
MURDER CHARGE A3 A teen is now accused of first-degree murder in the Feb. 24th death of a Yarrow woman
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85¢ TYLER OLSEN Abbotsford News
Andrea Wetteland, who has fragile X syndrome, says she counts on the bus to get around, but isn’t sure if she’ll renew her BC Bus Pass after the provincial government ended a $45-per-year pass for those with disabilities.
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