‘This is really a lifeline': Metro Vancouver charity rallies for renewed provincial funding
A Metro Vancouver charity that supports vulnerable Chinese seniors living independently held a rally Tuesday outside the provincial cabinet offices in Vancouver, urging the government to restore funding critical to its operations.
'We are not asking for charity, we are asking for respect for the senior,' said Percy Wong, executive director of the Gaia Community Care and Wellness Society.
Gaia received $350,000 in provincial funding across 2023 and 2024, which Wong says accounted for about 40 per cent of its budget. That funding ended in March.
Wong was joined by B.C. Conservative MLAs advocating for renewed support.
'The message is really simple. All they ask is for the NDP government to restore the funding,' said Teresa Wat, B.C. Conservative MLA for Richmond-North.
'It's absolutely critically important that this program is restored back to the funding and expanded as we go into the future,' added Brennan Day, B.C. Conservative MLA for Courtenay-Comox. 'We're going to be seeing far more seniors age into care over the next decade, and the province is woefully behind in this area.'
A recent report estimates B.C. will need nearly 16,000 new long-term care beds by 2036.
Wong argues Gaia helps reduce that burden by enabling seniors to remain at home.
'There's a shortage, a huge shortage, of long-term care homes,' he said. 'We're trying to help the government to save the seniors and save the money of the government.'
Gaia's services include housekeeping, counselling, and group classes—such as teaching seniors how to fall safely. Representatives say the charity is largely volunteer-driven, with costs covering staffing and room rentals.
The province says the funding was part of a one-time pilot project in 2023 and 2024.
'The aging in place services for low-income Chinese seniors, that are culturally and linguistically appropriate, have been an important service to the community,' said Housing Minister Christine Boyle in a written statement.
'B.C., like many jurisdictions, is working to address significant fiscal pressures. In the face of that we're committed to making sure every dollar we spend has the greatest impact on the lives of British Columbians.'
Boyle added that future support for Gaia hasn't been ruled out, but no timeline or commitment was provided.
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