On February 5, 2009, more than 200 organizations and community leaders joined together to call on all BC political parties to commit to a comprehensive poverty reduction plan, with legislated targets and timelines. As our numbers of continue to grow we continue to press for action from our provincial government.

This groundswell of concern about BC’s unacceptably high levels of poverty and homelessness comes from many different communities in BC. It comes from all regions of the province, and from faith leaders, health organizations, doctors, businesses, First Nations and Aboriginal groups, labour unions, immigrant and refugee organizations, community service agencies, municipal councils, women’s groups, and many more.

We all agree that the time is now for a legislated poverty reduction plan. And we hope you’ll join the call.

Open letter to all British Columbia Political Parties:

It is time for British Columbia’s provincial government to launch a comprehensive poverty reduction plan – a detailed and accountable strategy with concrete and legislated targets and timelines to dramatically reduce homelessness and poverty in our province. Six Canadian provinces either have such plans or are in the process of developing them, but so far, not BC.

By any measure, BC has the highest rate of poverty in Canada. BC has recorded the highest child poverty rate for six years running. Despite years of strong economic growth and record low unemployment, almost half a million British Columbians – 11 per cent of the total population – live in poverty, and homelessness continues to rise. As we struggle through a global economic downturn, poverty risks getting worse unless action is taken.

We all pay for poverty. Study after study links poverty with poorer health, higher justice system costs, more demands on social and community services, more stress on family members, and diminished school success. Effective poverty reduction will require the efforts of all segments of society (all levels of government, the private sector, non-profits, and citizens generally), but the provincial government must take the lead.

The policies needed to make a dramatic difference are known, and other jurisdictions that are setting clear targets and timelines are getting results. A comprehensive approach needs to boost the incomes of those living in poverty, but also build the social infrastructure, public services and assets that are vital to providing a path out of poverty.

We, the undersigned, urge the provincial government to adopt and legislate poverty reduction targets and timelines, and commit to implementing a comprehensive action plan.

We recommend the following targets and timelines:

• Using Statistics Canada’s low-income cut off after tax (LICO-AT), reduce BC’s poverty rate from 13 per cent to 9 per cent in four years, and to 3 per cent in ten years (meaning, effectively, a one third reduction within the mandate of the next government, and a 75 per cent reduction within a decade).
• Ensure the poverty rate (using the LICO-AT) for children, lone-mother households, single senior women, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and recent immigrants likewise declines by 30 per cent in four years, and by 75 per cent in ten years, in recognition that poverty is concentrated in these populations.
• Within two years, ensure that every British Columbian has an income that reaches at least 75 per cent of the poverty line (using the LICO-AT).
• Within two years, ensure no one has to sleep outside, and end all homelessness within eight years (ensuring all homeless people have good quality, appropriate housing).

In order to achieve these targets, we call upon the province to commit to specific policy measures and concrete actions in each of the following policy action areas. Special attention should be focused on the needs of those most likely to be living in poverty (single mother households, single senior women, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities and mental illness, and recent immigrants and refugees).

Policy Action Areas:

1. Provide adequate and accessible income support for the non-employed.
2. Improve the earnings and working conditions of those in the low-wage workforce.
3. Improve food security for low-income individuals and families.
4. Address homelessness and adopt a comprehensive affordable housing and supportive housing plan.
5. Provide universal publicly-funded child care.
6. Enhanced support for training and education for low-income people.
7. Enhance community mental health and home support services, and expand integrated approaches to prevention and health promotion services.

There is nothing inevitable about poverty and homelessness in a society as wealthy as ours. If we commit to a bold plan, a dramatic reduction in poverty and homelessness within a few short years is a perfectly achievable goal.

Signed,

Add your organization to the list of signatories.

Individuals can sign the petition here.

Above: Representatives from just a few of the 200 signatory organizations, at the February 5 news conference releasing the open letter. Photo: Goh Iromoto.

Any election advertising on this website is authorized by the BC Poverty Reduction Committee, 604-801-5121, Registration #EAS-2009-0006.