Vancouver commits to become a Living Wage employer! Thanks for your support in making this happen!
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- Published on Friday, 17 July 2015 07:15
- Written by editor
This is SO BIG that we can barely contain our excitement! Last week, the City of Vancouver committed to becoming a Living Wage employer! This is a huge victory made possible thanks to the support of people like you, and the tireless work of the Living Wage for Families Campaign and its partners. We're proud to work with such great groups! Congratulations to all!
In this edition of our newsletter, we're also sharing some updates:
- The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has done some excellent work (thanks Iglika Ivanova!) and found that BC can afford a Child Care Plan!
- In a recent letter sent to the provincial government, the BC Association of Social Workers renews their call for a Poverty Reduction Plan for BC
- The Poverty Reduction Action Committee has a new name (but we won't tell you what it is unless you read on!) Come and chat with the group at their info table this weekend at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and check in with Check Your Head's new director at the next meeting on July 29th.
And as you head off to enjoy your summer, don't forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to stay connected.
See ya in the next one,
Trish and Gil
Vancouver commits to become Living Wage employer!
Last Wednesday brought a significant victory for the Living Wage campaign that was a long time in the making. That day, the City of Vancouver unanimously approved a motion to become a Living Wage employer. This means that all direct staff and contractors working for the city will be paid a fair wage, allowing them to live without fear of poverty.
This victory is an effort of thousands of people like you, who signed petitions, attended events and rallies, spoke with your representatives, and offered support to the campaign.
A fair wage is one of the pillars of a Poverty Reduction Plan, so we are thrilled to see the City of Vancouver taking this bold step, and congratulate everyone who helped make it happen! The City of Vancouver will now be the second municipality in Canada after New Westminster (go BC!), and the largest employer, to pay a living wage. It was exciting to be in the council meeting watching it all unfold and seeing the unanimous vote! History in the making!
Please visit the Living Wage for Families website for more information, and take a moment to send an email to Vancouver’s Mayor and Council with your congratulations and support.
The photos illustrating this newsletter were taken at a rally held on July 8 in front of Vancouver City Hall to show support for the motion. Thanks to Poverty Free Action Team members Rob, Ira and Jessica for taking these!
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives recently released the report Solving BC's Affordability Crisis in Child Care to find out if BC can afford the $10 A Day Child Care Plan developed by members, Child Care Advocates of BC and Early Childhood Educators of BC - and the answer is a resounding yes!
Drawing on research from Quebec, which has had a provincial child care plan since 1997, economist Iglika Ivanova found that this plan not only makes fees affordable for families, but also makes money for the government. After a thorough review of the data, the report argues that in BC the plan would largely pay for itself through the considerable boost to provincial and federal government revenues from more women participating in the workforce!
Now that the research proves it, it’s our turn to push our government to implement it! Head on over to the $10 a Day campaign’s website and sign the petition, and then send an email to Premier Clark asking her to implement a comprehensive Poverty Reduction Plan, which includes this universal child care program.
BC Association of Social Workers renews call on Provincial Government to commit to a Poverty Reduction Plan
On Monday, the BC Association of Social Workers published a statement in response to the report Growing Up in B.C. - 2015, published recently by the Representative of Children and Youth. Among the findings, the report documented that:
- One third of children are not ready to enter school;
- 60% of children in care are not graduating;
- Aboriginal children continue to be over represented in the child welfare system.
In their statement, long-time supporter BC Association of Social Workers renewed their call for the government to establish a Provincial Poverty Reduction Plan. This call follows a previous letter sent to Premier Christy Clark, in which the Association's president expressed that "a more significant effort is required if any progress is to be made." Have a look at their website for more.
Thanks also to the Kootenay Lake School Board for their recent call on the government for a poverty reduction plan.
We'd like to thank the BCASW and the KLSB for their strong stance on the issue of poverty and encourage you to join them in renewing your call as an individual or as an organization.
Say hello to the Poverty Free Action Team!
The group has changed its name, but not its amazingness! Everyone has been working extra hard recently, working on busting the next myth, as part of their Poverty Myth Busters Campaign, and creating new materials and games for their info table.
The group's next meeting is in a couple of weeks, and will include an awesome presentation by the new director of Check Your Head, Anastasia Gaisenok! So come along if you can!
Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 6:30-8:30 PM
Place: 1400-207 W Hastings, Vancouver (Corner with Cambie Street)
Snacks provided. Other supports to attend available upon request.
You also have an extra-special chance THIS weekend to come and meet some of the group and see their new materials at Vancouver's Folk Music Festival! Come and try your hand at the spinning wheel! Hope to see you there!
The BC Poverty Reduction Coalition acknowledges and honours the fact that
our communities lie on unceded Indigenous lands. Copyright © 2015 BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed a BC Poverty Reduction petition, subscribed to our mailing list at bcpovertyreduction.ca, or took part in a workshop with the Coalition.
Our mailing address is:
BC Poverty Reduction Coalition1400 - 207 West Hastings StreetVancouver, British Columbia V6B 1H7 Canada
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