New Beginnings and Opportunities

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Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
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NationBuilder r1 BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

Dear friends,

As summer draws to a close, and teachers and students are heading back to school,... British Columbia and the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition are also going through a big transition. With the throne speech and budget announced in the last couple weeks, it's become clear that BC will no longer be the last province in Canada without a poverty reduction plan. This would not have happened without groups and individuals like you raising your voices about the urgent need to tackle the root causes of poverty in our communities.

But our work isn't done; we know that with all poverty reduction plans, the devil is in the details. With this in mind, we would like to share with you a range of new opportunities to push for the poverty reduction plan that British Columbia desperately needs.

Thank you,
Trish and Omar

Community Action Network

There's still time for Metro Vancouver residents to register for the Community Action Network (CAN) Leadership Training Program starting early October 2017. The program will run for six weeks with one workshop per week. There will be an information session tomorrow, 1:00pm-2:30pm at the Theatre in the Carnegie Community Centre (401 Main Street) For more information on CAN please check out the new website: http://www.actionnetwork.ca.

Don't live in Metro Vancouver? We are currently developing the curriculum, which we hope to replicate across the province. If you'd like to be part of the province-wide Community Action Network outreach team, please email Viveca Ellis, the program coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Recent Advocacy

Members of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition recently met with Shane Simpson, the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. We told him that we will continue to advocate for a fully-funded poverty reduction plan that has clear targets and timelines and is robustly cross-ministerial. We shared with him the seven seven policy action areas outlined in our Open Letter calling for a poverty reduction plan and the policy recommendations within the seven action areas unanimously recommended by our members.

Monday's BC Budget Update reaffirmed that BC will finally have a poverty reduction strategy. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives explained that it "injects much-needed investment in a number of important policy areas that will quickly start to make a positive difference in the lives of families and communities around the province." However, the budget update did not include new funds to begin implementing the $10aDay Plan. Click here to send party leaders a message and tell them that they need to focus on creating affordable, accessible and quality childcare. The fight for a $15/hour minimum wage also isn't over. We now have an opportunity to push the Fair Wages Commission to recommend the implementation of a $15/hour minimum wage now.

The BC Poverty Reduction Coalition also contributed to three submissions to the federal government about its development of a Poverty Reduction Strategy. You can read our full submission here. We also made a joint submission with First Call BC sharing the information that we gathered at our community consultation in Vancouver, and were a member of the Canadian Coalition Against LGBTQ+ Poverty who also made a joint submission.

Surrey Youth Activist Strategy Session

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We're partnering with Raise the Rates BC to host a strategy session for youth living in Surrey who want to take action against poverty. Youth, teachers, parents and community members are welcome to join us Thursday September 29th, 4-6 PM in the Dr. Ambedkar Room at the Surrey City Centre Library. Click here to RSVP.

Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities

October 17th, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty will be the 5th anniversary of Dignity for All's Chew on This! campaign. Poverty activists and people passionate about human rights across Canada will be handing out Chew on This! lunch bags and materials and engaging passersby on food insecurity and the need for a national anti-poverty plan. If you would like to organize a local Chew on This! event, click this link and fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

Keep an eye out for Raise the Rates' Welfare Food Challenge which will take place starting November 1st, 2017. This year, despite a $100 raise to welfare rates, people living on welfare will still only have $19/week to eat. That is clearly not enough! If you would like to participate in the Welfare Food Challenge, contact Raise the Rates Organizer Kell Gerlings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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