Letter to Provincial Government from R. Faucher, Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion

Dear Honorable Mary Polack, Minister Children and Family Development, Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development, and Premier Gordon Campbell,

The Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion has operated an Infant Development Program for the past twenty years. We still know some of the families we met back then and have been honoured to watch the babies grow into young adults who sometimes remain close to our organization, and who sometimes grow up and away from us. Either way we're proud of them, and proud of the ways in which the Infant Development Program helped them on their way. We believe that the IDP Provincial Office is central to the success of our program, and the others around the province. The Office created a community out of what could have been a disconnected service delivery system. The office ensures that providing great quality service is always foremost in the consultants' minds . Throughout the Province, while regional difference is respected a common drive for excellence is ever present. The Office not only demands excellence it supports the provincial consultants to achieve excellence through education, resource sharing and professional supervision.

I know that times are tough, economically. I know that efficiencies have to be found, and we at BACI are doing our part. We don't protest every cut - but we do stand up against this one. We know you never get a second chance at a first chance and the Infant Development Program is what has given many children and their families the opportunity to make the most of that 'first chance'. The Provincial office has been central to the effort.

Yours truly,

Richard Faucher
Executive Director
Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion
2702 Norland Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5B 3A6