Autism workshop
An outreach program for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders is coming to Powell River.
The workshop planned for Tuesday, February 19, and Wednesday, February 20, is part of the ministry of children and family development’s (MCFD) autism outreach program for rural and remote communities. The ongoing program was started in the spring of 2011 and entered its second phase in 2012.
During this second phase, the ministry is providing 24 two-day workshops across the province in an effort to provide local, community-based training for parents and caregivers to incorporate intervention methods in their daily routines.
The goal of the workshop is to help families plan for their child’s specific needs within their own communities and provide information on autism, intervention planning and give them access to local resources. Information at the Powell River session will be tailored to resources and services that can be found here.
Over the two days, participants will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned to their child and family.
The workshops are being presented by one of two experts in the field of autism spectrum disorders. Michaela Jelen is the coordinator for the autism outreach program for children and youth at the ministry and works as an autism policy analyst. Dr. Karen Bopp is an autism policy consultant for MCFD, a researcher and a speech-language pathologist.
MCFD is not charging for the workshop, but eligible participants must register to attend. The workshop will be held during the day from 9 am to 3 pm. Coffee and tea as well as a light snack will be served, but participants are asked to bring their own lunch.
The workshops are open for parents and caregivers only, but families may also invite a member of the child’s intervention team to join as well.
To register for the workshop or to get more information about autism spectrum disorders, readers can visit the ministry’s website.
Throne speech
Premier Christy Clark announced, in the speech from the throne on Tuesday, February 12, plans to tap the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry to create a BC version of Alberta’s Heritage Fund.
Clark announced plans to create the British Columbia Prosperity Fund based on taxes and royalties collected on the upstream natural gas industry and on LNG exports.
Clark plans to use the prosperity fund to reduce the provincial debt and fund government programs.
“We have a transformative opportunity for our province with natural gas and we are moving forward without delay with a strong plan,” Clark said in the throne speech, read by Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon. “By developing this opportunity safely and in partnership with first nations, BC can create tens of thousands of jobs for families throughout the province and generate $1 trillion [gross domestic product (GDP)] in economic activity over the next 30 years.”
Projections for the fund are based on a proposed new LNG tax, in addition to existing royalties. The government is predicting that the fund could completely erase BC’s $56-billion debt by about 2028.
However, the speech included other options for using the fund. “Whether it is eliminating the provincial sales tax or making long-term investments in areas like education or vital infrastructure that strengthen communities, these are the kinds of opportunities the BC Prosperity Fund can provide,” the speech stated.
The plan centres on the development of five proposed LNG plants, three large-scale facilities and two mid-sized ones.
Critics, including the New Democratic Party (NDP), BC’s Official Opposition, were skeptical about the province being able to bank more than $100 billion on an industry that has yet to begin exporting its product.
