Maple Ridge was the kickoff for a new mobile van which will be providing government services to people across the province.
The Mobile Outreach Service BC van will offer a majority of the 300 services available at a Service BC office 害羞草研究所� like ID for newcomers to the province, MSP enquiries, drivers licence renewal, or BCID cards 害羞草研究所� to residents who are unable to visit an office in-person. This could be because they live in remote or rural communities or have mobility issues.
It will also be used to support people in emergency situations at evacuation centres like those impacted by wildfires or floods.
Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens害羞草研究所� Services, called the news exciting.
害羞草研究所淲e know everyone needs to access government services regardless of where they live,害羞草研究所� said Beare in the parking lot of the Maple Ridge Business Centre, with the new mobile services van behind her.
害羞草研究所淧eople who live in rural and remote areas of the province will no longer need to travel to one of the 65 Service BC offices to access government services. We can come to you,害羞草研究所� said the minister.
Beare explained the van will bring government services to communities across the province, including Indigenous people in remote communities, communities who are in need, and will help welcome new Canadians.
The minister also noted that not everyone has easy access to the internet or devices, the 害羞草研究所渟tate-of-the-art害羞草研究所� van will help those people access the online services they require. And, she added, privacy is a priority, and the van will have the same security measures as any BC Service office 害羞草研究所� with secure connectivity provided through LTE and satellite-based networks.
The van is also equipped with two-way radio, GPS satellite-enabled phone and seasonal emergency supplies.
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It can serve up to two clients at a time and has been designed so conversations can remain private.
In emergency situations those affected will be able to get ID, or access to applications for disaster relief funding.
害羞草研究所淭o have that at your fingertips, you know, a van arriving in 24 hours, if needed, it害羞草研究所檚 amazing,害羞草研究所� said Beare.
So far there is only the one van servicing the province. However, Beare said, she would love to see more.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 working on that,害羞草研究所� she said.
The van has already been tested in various BC communities, and Minister Beare said, it has been an 害羞草研究所渙verwhelming success.害羞草研究所�
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One woman in Bella Bella, the minister noted, handed the staff a handwritten note thanking them for saving her from having to make an expensive trip into the city with a toddler. Another woman expressed gratitude after getting her first photo identification in 30 years.
Vicki Kipps, outgoing executive director of Community Services and the Cythera Transition House, said what she loves about the mobile outreach van is the focus on accessibility, in addition to the ability to reducing barriers.
害羞草研究所淧erhaps it害羞草研究所檚 reducing the need for transportation, or child minding, or just the overwhelming 害羞草研究所榃hat the heck do I do first害羞草研究所�, in my path to employment, recovery, wellness, even something as simple as a photo ID 害羞草研究所� which is almost a necessary first step,害羞草研究所� said Kipps, adding that she thinks the van will make it equitable across communities in the province to access government services.
Funding for customizing the van and project management was provided through the Strategic Investment Fund, established as part of the province害羞草研究所檚 telecommunications deal with Telus.
Service BC will be providing a schedule for the van, posted to their website, so that residents will know when it is coming to their community.
The van will be travelling next to the Ukrainian Catholic Church in New Westminster to offer services to new Canadians.
