Conservative MLAs Call for Immediate Government Action to Fix a Broken Children and Youth Disability Support System

Three Conservative MLAs joined forces this morning to call for urgent government action to support children and youth with disabilities in British Columbia.

A newly released report, Too Many Left Behind: Ensuring Children and Youth with Disabilities Thrive, paints a bleak picture of an underfunded, disconnected, and bureaucratic system that is failing thousands of children and their families.

The report, prepared by the Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) of BC, reveals that over 120,000 children and youth with disabilities face systemic barriers to accessing proper care. Disturbingly, 51% of children with disabilities are not receiving the services they need. Despite years of government reports and commitments, real change has yet to materialize.

"For too long, families have had to fight tooth and nail just to get their children basic supports," said Penticton–Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee, Conservative critic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development. "Parents have told the Representative for Children and Youth repeatedly that their child is not the cause of their struggles – it’s the broken system that holds them back."
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Key Findings and Concerns: 

• Children with Disabilities Over-represented in Care – On average, 41% of children in government care have disabilities or support needs, far higher than the 20% rate in the general population. 
• Lack of Access to Services – Over half of children with disabilities are not receiving services, leaving families exhausted, financially strained, and unsupported. 
• Historic Inaction – Government has been aware of these issues for over 20 years, yet families continue to face the same barriers. 
• Bureaucratic Hurdles –  Many support services require a formal diagnosis, forcing families into lengthy and costly assessment processes just to qualify for help. 

Families are at a Breaking Point  The crisis is pushing some families to place their children in government care simply to access necessary medical and disability supports. This systemic failure contradicts the province’s promise to improve services following the 2022 release of the Don’t Look Away report.

"Government pledged 'fundamental change' and accepted all the Representative’s recommendations. But where is this historic acceptance?" asked Reann Gasper, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission and critic for Child Care, Children and Youth with Disabilities. "The system is just as broken today, if not worse."

Immediate Actions Demanded 

The Conservative Official Opposition joins calls by advocates and organizations like the BC Disability Collaborative, for the BC government to implement the 50 recommendations outlined across 12 RCY reports, which focus on: 

1. A Cross-Ministerial Approach – Services should be coordinated between the Health, Education, and Child and Family Development ministries. 
2. Equitable and Accessible Disability Services – No child should be denied support due to lack of diagnosis. 
3. Adequate Funding and Oversight – Increase funding for respite care, autism assessments, and essential medical supports. 

Heather Maahs, MLA for Chilliwack North and critic for Children & Family Development – Indigenous Self-Government in Child & Family Services concluded, “Despite government statements acknowledging that ‘too many children aren’t getting the services they need,’ progress remains stalled. The time for reports and empty promises is over. British Columbia’s children and youth with disabilities deserve action, not delays.”