Community Living B.C. has released numbers on how many people with special needs are waiting for help from the government.
Local MLA Harry Bloy ordered the provincial agency to release the waitlist numbers before he was removed from his post as social development minister, a role that oversees services for people with developmental disabilities.
According to the agency, there are 13,696 people already getting government help, but 2,089 of them have requested additional services and are waiting for them. There are also another 751 people waiting for help, who do not receive any services.
Services CLBC provides include employment training, residential support and behavioural or psychological help.
Advocacy groups and parents have been criticizing CLBC, which they say is cutting services to deal with under funding from the provincial government. The B.C. government maintains it is increasing funding, but critics say it's not enough to keep up with demand.
