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It's Not Over

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Published on Tuesday, 19 March 2019 13:54
Written by editor
NationBuilder r1 BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

Congratulations! Yesterday, after a decade of advocacy, the provincial government has finally launched its first ever poverty reduction plan for... BC: TogetherBC. The strategy tracks a comprehensive framework linking previous investments and those featured in this year's budget, and we look forward to building on this to fill the gaps so that nobody is left behind.

Click here to email the Minister and ask him to take the next steps!

The recently announced Child Opportunity Benefit, which will come into effect in Fall 2020, alongside a continued commitment to building a quality, affordable child care system in BC, will make a significant difference for children and families in poverty.

Eliminating or limiting some of the cruelest elements of the income assistance system is also a welcome step. These policy changes include:

  • Ending early CPP so people are no longer forced to access their pension at age 60
  • Reducing the 5 week work search requirement back to 3 weeks
  • Changing the definition of spouse to apply to couples living together for 1 year, instead of 3 months
  • Removing the limit of housing deposits that people can access to make it easier to move if necessary, and implementing a new pet deposit
  • Ensuring homeless people can access the same support supplements as those with a fixed address
  • Higher asset limits and allowing people to keep their vehicles
  • Streamlining application process for returning clients to provide safety net for those attempting to transition off income assistance
  • Expanding access to Persons with Persistent and Multiple Barriers Program, including allowing access for people with addictions

However, TogetherBC has significant gaps that need to be filled moving forward.

The report acknowledges that there are priorities identified in the province-wide consultation process that it does not address including “better access to good food for families, enhanced investments in affordable transportation, and improved income security, including assistance rates.” Increasing social assistance rates far beyond the recent $50 announcement is critical, and tied to that, BC must re-implement vacancy control to ensure those increases are going to the people we want to benefit. We also need much deeper action to address housing, child care, education, employment, health, transportation, access to justice and food security. This includes actions recommended by the #AllOnBoard campaign such as free transit for children and youth and a sliding scale transit pass for all based on income.

Send an email to the Minister today and tell him there's still more work to do!

TogetherBC outlines many reasons to reduce poverty in B.C. “Because it’s the right thing to do. Because we care about our neighbours. Because we care about the kind of world we want to leave behind for our children. And there are costs to inaction…costs that stretch across the system – from health care to policing to social services.”

Like the What We Heard Report released last year providing an overview of the consultations, TogetherBC shows that the government is well aware of what needs to be done. They have encouraging language including:

  • an acknowledgement of the importance of cross-ministry responsibilities and investments.
  • a focus on reconciliation and a stated commitment to “addressing the ongoing symptoms of colonialism.”
  • a gender-based plus analysis as a lens (GBA+), which ensures policy and practice will be evaluated by its impact on sex and gender, and also other factors including race, disability, and income
  • looking not only at reducing poverty but also preventing poverty

Together, let's continue to advocate for the necessary measures to ensure that the plan follows through on these principles with concrete action over the next 5 years.

Thanks again for your work in achieving the measures we have so far in BC’s first ever poverty reduction plan! None of this would be possible without you. Onward!

BC Poverty Reduction Coalition · Canada
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