VICTORIA— An Auditor General report shows that disability assistance is being mismanaged, with supports that are difficult to access and often don’t meet the basic food and shelter needs of people with disabilities, say New Democrats.

“New Democrats have been calling for common-sense, compassionate reforms such as ending the claw back of child support for children of single parents clients of disability assistance,” said New Democrat social development critic Michelle Mungall.

“This Auditor General’s report underscores the need for this and other measures to help lift families on disability assistance out of dire poverty.”

The report released Thursday by B.C. Auditor General Russ Jones said, “It makes sense that the disability assistance system should be simple and accessible; it is not…. This creates a risk that clients are not getting the services that they need.”

Mungall noted the report also clearly shows that government needs to pass the New Democrat’s Poverty Reduction and Economic Inclusion Act that sets the framework for a province-wide poverty reduction strategy.

“It’s clear the B.C. Liberals are not applying standards, benchmarks and goals to disability assistance and other social programs,” said Mungall. “It’s not enough for Premier Clark to say she doesn’t want families living in poverty. She needs to take action now.”