Burnaby’s first and favourite information source
Delivery 604-942-3081 • Friday, June 20, 2014
Viola player takes on Bard’s Tempest
All in the family for soccer stars
PAGE 13
PAGE 35
Your source for local sports, news, weather and entertainment! >> www.burnabynow.com DISABILITY ADVOCATE SAYS
More needs to be done
Advocate:
Burnaby’s Ken Kramer, who ran for the Liberals in the last provincial election, welcomes the government’s new plan to make B.C. more accessible for people with disabilities, but he wants real action to make that happen.
Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
B.C. Premier Christy Clark unveiled an accessibility strategy Monday, but a Burnaby disability advocate who ran for the Liberals wants to see action. Ken Kramer, who ran in BurnabyLougheed in the last provincial election, has spent roughly three decades advocating for people with disabilities. “From a disability advocate standpoint, clearly we always want more,” Kramer told the NOW, following the plan’s launch in Vancouver on Monday. “From a disability-community perspective, we want to see definite results. We’re moving in the right direction, but I think that clearly there are areas this report is lacking on completely, the one really big omission is around home supports.” Kramer is a lawyer and has muscular dystrophy and has a home support worker to help him with day-to-day living, something people with disabilities need to participate in the workforce. “If I can’t get up in the morning, and I can’t get dressed, and I can’t get to work … a job isn’t going to do me much,” he said. “It’s great there are jobs out there for folks with disabilities, but for someone to be able to work that has a disability, there
For the full report, scan with Layar
File photo/ burnaby now
separate disability assistance from income assistance. “I think there are definitely some positive things in the report, and an example of that is this recognition that people who are receiving disability benefits under the provincial module have always been lumped in with the income assistance approach. A lot of people who are receiving those benefits feel that can be really demeaning. They are not there by choice; they are
has to be a foundation around them for them to be able to work.” The government’s 10-year strategy, which was based on public consultation with the disability community, promises funding to help make the province more accessible by 2024. The report outlined 12 key areas of focus, and Kramer lauded the inclusion of transportation, housing and income support. In particular, Kramer was pleased with the government’s plan to
there because they truly can’t work for an income,” he said. “I think this is only the beginning,” Kramer added, “and the citizens of this province are going to look at this cautiously, but there is some optimism that there is focus on these issue. Really, the proof will be in the pudding.” The 17-page report, titled Accessibility 2024, is available at www.gov.bc.ca/sdsi. twitter.com/JenniferMoreau
Council opponent turns down in camera meeting Jacob Zinn staff reporter
Burnaby First Coalition supporter Rick McGowan wanted to ask the City of Burnaby about its long-awaited collective agreement with CUPE Local 23. After some back and forth, the city obliged – on the condition that his com-
meeting. According to a BFC press release, he was also asked to submit his presentation prior to the meeting. “First, staff told me council prefers that I appear as a ‘private citizen’ rather than as a member of an organized political party,” said McGowan in a statement. “Now they want me to meet them in secret and submit
ments be made behind closed doors. McGowan, a former Burnaby council candidate for the Green Party of B.C., says his recent request to appear as a delegation at the June 23 council meeting has been accepted, but rather than being held during the public portion, McGowan was told he’d have to appear before Mayor Derek Corrigan and his councillors at a closed
BRIAN VIDAS .com
604.671.5259 BRIAN VIDAS PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
CENTRE REALTY
Two can dine for $18.99 *
*Offer includes two chicken breast meals, or two double leg meals, or one of each. Each meal comes with one regular side. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers and has no cash value. Valid at only Nando’s Kingsway until July 31st, 2014.
my presentation beforehand. Our request for transparency seems to be a challenge.” McGowan was looking to discuss the city and the union’s collective agreement, which outlines union terms for city employees from the start of 2012 to the end of 2015. McGowan says he hit a number of road blocks in trying to obtain a copy of Questions Page 3
COFFEE WITH RICHARD! Saturday, June 28 9:00 - 10:30 am Caffe Artigiano 4359 Hastings, Burnaby
I hope to see you there!
Richard T. Lee MLA Burnaby North
604.775.0778
Richard.Lee.MLA@leg.bc.ca www.richardleemla.bc.ca