ICYMI: February Edition
ICYMI: What we did in February
During February we focused on strengthening access to justice, beginning with #A2JWeek2022 and continuing with a 3 week long campaign:
We increased understanding of the importance of mental health access to justice by creating informational posts across our social media platforms.
We shared a concrete plan that can improve access to justice right now by launching of our Strengthening Access to Justice web page and the Community Vision for Independent Legal Advice Services.
We provided lawyers and legal advocates with tools to help them provide legal service related to mental health law by launching Legal Research and Resource Guide, and presenting a webinar on "Representing Clients Impacted by Coercive Mental Health and Substance Use Health Laws".
To learn more about what happened during the Access to Justice campaign click here.
To go to our socials to see the past Access to Justice posts, click the icons below.
ICYMI: Other News
The BC government released the 2022/23 provincial budget on February 22nd
The provincial budget sets out the funding commitments for provincial services for the coming year. The 2022/23 budget includes funding for complex care housing for people who face significant barriers to accessing housing. While we don’t know the details of the housing model yet, we will be advocating a human rights-based approach and evaluation that includes people with lived and living experience. The budget also includes funding for 15 new First Nations primary health care centres that will support both western and Indigenous health and wellness practices; permanent housing supports for youth who age out of care; and rent supplements for people experiencing homelessness.
The budget looks like it might include an increase to funding for mental health and substance use services, but it’s hard to tell from the information we have so far.
For a general overview of the budget click here.
The Release of "Taanishi Kiiya? Miiyayow Métis Saantii Pi Miyooayaan Didaan BC: Métis Public Health Surveillance Program—Baseline Report, 2021" by Métis Nation BC (MNBC) and the Provincial Health Officer.
“For too long, the health and well-being of our Métis citizens and communities have gone unnoticed, and a lack of concrete data has hindered our Nation’s ability to better serve their needs,” said Paulette Flamond, MNBC Minister of Health. “The Métis Public Health Surveillance Program is a constructive first step in creating a baseline of the strengths and challenges of our Métis people, so our government can begin developing programs and services that address those needs. This vision aligns with our Nation and Cabinet’s Strategic Plan to build a healthy and vibrant Métis Nation British Columbia.”
For more information click here.
BC First Nations Justice Council (FNJC) reached an agreement with the provincial and federal governments to support Indigenous Justice Centres in BC.
While this didn’t occur in February, we wanted to include it anyways due to its importance.
In January 2022, the BC First Nations Justice Council reached a historic agreement with the provincial and federal governments to support Indigenous Justice Centres in BC, which provide culturally appropriate legal services. On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, the first four Indigenous Justice Centres were officially opened.