Special Report: New B.C. employment program raises alarms about services for the unemployed and the privacy of citizens.
A complete and fundamental transformation of the way employment services are provided to the unemployed in this region and across B.C. is underway, a change which has sparked fear in the hearts of individuals and organizations.
The fear centres around predictions that the unemployed will no longer be as well-served, that many of those people with expertise in providing services to the unemployed could be out of work themselves, and that the privacy of B.C.’s citizens may be compromised.
While the provincial government’s idea of consolidating the range of services available to the unemployed into a ‘one-stop shopping’ format is seen as a good one, that’s where support for the new plan appears to stop, particularly in rural regions.
In October, B.C.’s Ministry of Social Development published a draft request for proposals (RFP) for agencies wishing to provide the proposed Employment Program of British Columbia. The intent is to reduce the more than 400 contracts for services to the unemployed to about 70, so that clients can go to one of 98 new ‘full-service’ provincial Employment Services Centres, or in some cases to a satellite office, to access all the services they qualify for and will need. The final RFP is expected in March, with the new program beginning in April 2012.
One of many concerns about the proposed program is that it favours large organizations or corporations who have the resources and financial backing to launch a bid. The draft RFP is more than 700 pages long, so understanding what it entails and figuring out how to put a bid together is daunting, particularly for smaller agencies.
Providing the program could require renovations of premises, purchase of equipment, training of staff and other start-up expenses, but financial institutions are unlikely to provide loans based on this type of contract.
Social development minister Kevin Krueger said although he empathizes with concerns, much consultation was done, resulting in the draft RFP. He said responding to the bid may be tough for small organizations, but they should be in touch with the larger organizations in their region.
“Government just doesn’t have the luxury in this day and age, paying several different organizations to do the same thing. We want clients to know exactly where to go and we want expert help delivered to them.”
However, concerns remain.
Tim Beachy, CEO of the United Community Services Co-operative which has 115 members across B.C., is well-acquainted with the proposed program. His co-operative has been working with service providers, trying to help them figure out their costs and how much they would ultimately be paid. His advice, at this point, is for organizations to work closely together at the community level to try to turn the new plan into a project for the betterment of the community.
“I think there was a huge amount of fear and trepidation over the summer and through the fall. Many organizations were feeling like the risks were way too high for them...,” he said, noting the government made some changes, which he sees as minor, in December, in response to feedback. “I think a lot of organizations figured they’d now won as much as they could and they’re going to have to live with this. People still say they don’t think they’re going to be able to make it but they’re going to try.”
He terms the program model “highly premised on competition and outbidding each other, driving prices down. I don’t think that will work for the betterment of the communities.”
Beachy said the draft RFP is extremely complex, and a pilot project has not been done to demonstrate how the model will work, putting smaller agencies at a disadvantage.
“Folks in small towns don’t have the funds to go out and hire the planners and economists and financial wizards that the large companies do.”
He said the financial model should be tested over different populations – mixed versus homogenous, rural versus urban, people with multiple barriers such as language and age versus the more easily employable.
In Salmon Arm, a number of contractors provide employment services, including Stepping Stones, the Employment Place, Goshen Consultants, Bowman Employment Services and Community Futures.
Heather Rolin is a partner with Goshen Consultants Inc. She said her organization is committed to providing services to the region in the long term – as it has for more than 20 years – and she is not about to jump to conclusions about the new program. But she would like to see the knowledge of local service providers included in the process.
“They’re the ones who know the clients and know their stories.”
Rolin sees problems with large companies taking over local services.
“A lot of the people that agencies deal with are really vulnerable populations. There’s a real inherent danger of losing specialized services that cater to their needs... When you go big, that’s the problem. It’s easier for them to fall through the cracks.”
Norma Strachan, CEO of Aspect, the Association of Service Providers for Employability Training, which has been heavily involved in researching the RFP and advocating for service providers across B.C., said although government has made improvements to the financial model “there are still monumental concerns about the impact of the changes on clients...”
She said specialized groups such as new immigrants, people with disabilities, and women who have suffered abuse are most at risk of not getting the services they need.
SEE related stories: 'Gag order' slammed, 'Bean counting' prompts concern