Strategic Context
Provincial economy and local labour markets
According to B.C.’s independent Economic Forecast Council, the B.C. economy grew 3.1 per cent in 2007, lower than the 3.4 per cent expected at the start of the year. British Columbia’s economic growth is expected to moderate somewhat, with 2.8 per cent growth in 2008, followed by growth of 3.0 per cent in 2009 and average growth of 2.9 per cent for the 2010 through 2012 period.
The robust provincial economy, strong labour markets and ministry policies and programs that support employment and independence have resulted in historically low numbers of employable British Columbians receiving temporary income assistance. For these clients, employment provides the immediate benefit of a higher household income, while providing better outcomes for families and individuals in the longer term by breaking the inter-generational pattern of welfare-dependency.
Since the provincial economy is the largest single determinant of the Ministry’s caseload and expenditures, economic fluctuations or unexpected shocks (e.g., mountain pine beetle, fire storms, trade disputes) that pose risks to the provincial economy and regional labour markets may also impact ministry operations as well as its fiscal and service targets. Natural population growth and migration into the province may also increase demand for the Ministry’s programs and services.
The Ministry closely monitors these and other risks to align ministry assistance and employment programs to the changing needs of clients and their communities and local labour markets. The Ministry also monitors the caseload against forecasts to identify variances from the budget and to allocate resources to areas in need.
Demographic shifts and changes in the caseload
In 2006/07, the Ministry’s disability caseload represented 59 per cent of the overall caseload, up from 28 per cent in 2001/02. It is expected to grow to 64 per cent of the total caseload by 2010/11.
The number of Persons with Disabilities clients and other clients who face more serious barriers to employment and inclusion has steadily increased in recent years. This trend is expected to continue in the future due to an increasing proportion of the population more prone to illness as it ages, longer life expectancies for individuals experiencing significant health issues and the impact of serious conditions (such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis-C, and drug and alcohol dependencies).
Persons with Disabilities clients have also left disability assistance for employment in record numbers in recent years. The shift towards strengthened client independence is due to the strong labour market, increases in the accessibility and availability of assistive technology, and Ministry programs and supports that enhance client’s capacity to work.
Persons with disabilities still have high levels of unemployment and low levels of labour market participation — only 44 per cent of all adults with disabilities in B.C. aged 19-64 are working. Many persons with disabilities who are not currently working have the motivation, education and abilities to contribute meaningfully to the province’s workforce. They represent a valuable pool of talent available to employers across the province who are struggling to hire staff.
The Ministry is leading Government’s Disability Strategy, which will continue to develop the best system of support for persons with disabilities to assist them to participate in employment opportunities, both paid and voluntary, and promote greater accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities in communities across British Columbia.
Complex social problems and integrated partnerships and solutions
Many of the complex social problems affecting B.C.’s most vulnerable citizens, including homelessness, mental health and addictions, are common to jurisdictions across North America. These problems have significant costs for individuals and communities.
Complex social problems can not be addressed effectively when organizations operate in isolation. They require a co-ordinated approach with participation and commitment from all levels of government, ministries and stakeholder groups. That is why the Ministry is continuing to pursue strategic partnerships to develop integrated services and solutions that are citizen-centred.
In recent years, partnerships have led to better outcomes for many vulnerable individuals and society as a whole. The Ministry will continue to build on the success of collaborative projects, including the homelessness outreach projects, and will monitor activities toward achieving key deliverables and report on results as they are available.
Catastrophic events and emergency management
The potential for catastrophic events to occur in future years, such as an earthquake, tsunami or influenza pandemic, poses significant risks to ministry clients and to the continued delivery of mission critical services and programs that assist them. The Ministry has developed expertise in emergency management and business continuity, and continues to build on the lessons learned from previous emergency incidents like the Spring 2007 flooding event.
Organizational capacity and new technologies
The Ministry, along with the broader B.C. Public Service, is undergoing a significant transformation driven largely by an aging population that is bringing about a rapid rate of retirements and an increasingly competitive marketplace for skilled employees. Within this context, the Ministry is working to develop its staff capacity while adopting emerging technologies that will provide the opportunity for increased flexibility in the Ministry’s service delivery model to offer more choice for clients accessing ministry programs and services.
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