Florence Girard’s family says B.C.’s care system remains broken, 6 months after inquest into her death

It’s been six months since an inquest into the starvation death of a woman with Down syndrome returned with more than a dozen recommendations to improve the system; however, her family says nothing has changed.

Florence Girard was 54 years old when her body, weighing roughly 50 pounds, was discovered in the Port Coquitlam home of her caretaker. Her death was ruled a homicide, and the cause was deemed starvation and malnutrition.

Her caretaker, Astrid Dahl, was charged and found guilty of failing to provide the necessities of life. However, due to the length of the judicial process, she did not serve any jail time.

Speaking one-on-one with 1130 NewsRadio, Girard’s sister Sharon Bursey admits she’s angry and heartbroken. Bursey is calling for Community Living BC (CLBC), a Crown corporation that oversees home share in B.C., to be permanently shut down.

“Nothing has changed at all … and not one recommendation has been completely [implemented],” said Bursey. “Other people have died since the inquest, and more will die. I honestly wish that CLBC would be dismantled, and it would be taken over by the Ministry of Health. I think everything would slowly get back into good condition. But CLBC, in my opinion, is just torturing people.”

Bursey blames CLBC for her sister’s passing and is calling out the organization’s executives.

“People are making hundreds of thousands of dollars when they can’t support the people who are getting paid to support. It’s ridiculous to me. I just don’t understand how the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. It’s crazy,” she said.

“I would never be a home share provider. I would never. What I’m learning just since the inquest is heartbreaking.”

She specifically names Ross Chilton, CEO of CLBC, whose posted salary for 2023-2024 was $310,864.

“Ross Chilton thinks his wage is fair, and I would like to know if he really believes that. When people are dying, how can he believe that his wage is fair? I think he’s a failure. CLBC is a failure. It would be nice to see in six months that they would have done some work. What was the purpose of the inquest if they don’t do anything recommended, but still think their wages are fair? I think they’re ripping off the province,” she said.

“They’re paying themselves well for a job they’re not doing. I give them a big ‘F.’”

Bursey is calling for better oversight, adding that it could save someone’s life.

“I think about [Florence’s] cackle laugh. She had the cutest cackle. She was just silly. I miss her so much.”

Province claims changes are underway

Among the recommendations, four were made directly to the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. These included:

• Immediately reinstate the Provincial Medical Consultant position at CLBC;
• Immediately increase the capacity of Health Services for Community Living to better provide ongoing health care planning and reduce wait time to access services for health care plans for individuals;
• Increase the capacity of the Advocate for Service Quality to undertake systemic studies of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with special needs;
• Have all deaths, critical injuries, and near misses involving people who receive support from CLBC reported to and investigated by the office for the Advocate for Service Quality to ensure transparency and accountability.

In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio, Minister Sheila Malcolmson says, “It is our highest responsibility to keep vulnerable people safe, and where that hasn’t happened, we learn and take action.”

“Community Living BC has made significant changes since Florence Girard’s terrible death in 2018, and it is my expectation as Minister that CLBC continue strengthening the supports and safeguards for people with developmental disabilities in British Columbia,” Malcomson claimed.

The ministry says it is reviewing CLBC’s home sharing program, and it will have more to say on this matter as it works with the Ministry of Health and the Advocate for Service Quality.

Community Living defends admin budget, executive salaries

In response to Bursey’s criticism of the organization’s funding, CLBC tells 1130 NewsRadio that it spends less than seven per cent of its budget on salaries, “which funds salaries for the approximately 750 CLBC staff members, as well as office space, etc.”

“This year, and in general, the vast majority of our funding — 93.7 per cent of CLBC’s budget — is going to fund services and supports for more than 29,000 people with developmental disabilities and their families,” the Crown corporation stated.

In mid-June, CLBC published a response to the Coroner’s Inquest, including its next steps. Those included:

• Implementing a new information management system, designed to improve access to information, reporting, and service coordination;
• Increasing the compensation rate for home sharing coordinators by over 10 per cent;
• Beginning to work with sector partners on assessing caseload rates and whether funding adjustments are required;
• Launching a pilot program for risk-based, unannounced visits to home share providers that will be expanded province-wide;
• Working with the sector to continue to assess further home sharing provider training needs, in addition to the range of resources currently available.

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“On June 2, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction announced a review to assess safety in home-sharing arrangements, and how the program is functioning since changes made after Florence’s death in 2018,” CLBC said.

“In parallel, CLBC will be working closely with self-advocates, families, service providers, and agencies to explore how the home sharing model can be further improved.”

It says feedback about the program it has received will help shape the future of home shares in B.C.