'Disturbing on a couple of levels': B.C. ministry withholds funding from family caring for Indigenous granddaughter
CTV
Knowingly withholding money from a family raising an Indigenous child with mental and physical challenges landed the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development in hot water.
Knowingly withholding money from a family raising an Indigenous child with mental and physical challenges has landed the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) in hot water.
A report released at the end of May by the B.C. Office of the Ombudsperson has found that the Ministry of Children and Family Services acted “unjustly” by failing to forward federal disability benefits to two grandparents caring for their granddaughter.
The B.C. ombudsperson is an independent voice that investigates complaints from the public against government programs and services. Its report explains in detail the lives of “The Taylors,” who filed a complaint to the office after the funding they were supposed to receive, never arrived.
It explains that even though the family was eligible for the federal Child Disability Benefit (CDB), the more than $7,000 they were supposed to receive ($242 per month since 2019) was instead deposited into “general provincial revenues.” This happened, according to the ombudsperson, because the family was already being supported by the province, even though that funding was unrelated to their granddaughter's disability.
The family had been successful in applying for the Disability Tax Credit, which made them eligible for monthly support payments from the federal government. However, since the provincial ministry was “maintaining” their granddaughter's case, the ministry received the funding first and instead of passing it onto the family, it deposited it into its general revenue accounts.
What's more, ombudsperson Jay Chalke states the ministry knew of this problem, yet failed to pursue a solution and get the money to the family.
To make matters worse, it wasn't just happening to the Taylors.
