BC Poverty Reduction

Working Together for a Poverty free BC

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BC has the highest poverty rate in Canada and no plan to tackle it directly.

Join others calling for a poverty reduction plan, including over 350 organizations with a collective membership of over 300,000 people throughout the province. Together we can make a difference!

Get Involved:

Where is BC's Poverty Reduction Plan? Join the election campaign!

Our supporters all over the province are voting for #poverty reduction today! Are you? https://t.co/KyZE6fLLJB #bcpoli #bcelxn
A Poverty Reduction Plan for BC: Gov't spending saves money in the long-term: http://t.co/cm0k9gybxP via @thetyee @PHA_BC @SethDKlein
RT @10aDayPlan: Dear BC, flowers are nice, but what we really want for #mothersday is the @10aDayPlan for childcare. Signed, BC's moms, gra…

We All Pay for Poverty

Paying for the negative effects of poverty costs much more than dealing with it directly.

Poverty is not just a hardship for those who experience it. It is costly to us as a province. Our government tells us they can’t afford poverty reduction policies like investing in new social housing, increasing welfare, or providing universal access to child care. But they fail to consider the large amount we spend, year after year, paying for the consequences of poverty.

Poverty is Not Inevitable

BC is one of the last provinces left without a poverty reduction plan.

All but 2 provinces in Canada either have poverty reduction plans or are in the process of adopting them, and many are already seeing success. They’re saving lives and money by tackling the issue of poverty head-on. In most places, it was community pressure that convinced the government to take action so raise your voice with us!

What is the Plan?

A poverty reduction plan is a comprehensive and effective strategy that addresses the root causes of poverty.

We need a long-term solution for the crisis of poverty that we are facing as a province. We need a legislated poverty reduction plan with targets and timelines that includes specific policy actions:

Raise income assistance rates
Raise the minimum wage
Improve food security
Build more social housing
Provide universal child care
Support training and education
Enhance community health care

About the Coalition

We are a coalition that includes community and non-profit groups, faith groups, health organizations, First Nations and Aboriginal organizations, businesses, labour organizations, and social policy groups. We have come together around a campaign aimed at seeing the introduction of a bold and comprehensive poverty reduction plan from the government of British Columbia that would include legislated targets and timelines to significantly reduce poverty and homelessness. We seek to improve the health and wellbeing of all British Columbians. We have 30 Coalition Members and over 350 supporting organizations that have joined the call for a poverty reduction plan.

We Support

... and so can you.