Over the last few weeks, we have asked the three major political parties to tell us where they stand on committing to a poverty reduction plan for BC. We’ve done this by directly contacting them and through all of your efforts—writing letters to the party leaders, contacting your MLA candidates, and asking questions at all-candidates debates.

We’ve called on them to commit to legislated targets and timelines, and to specific actions on seven policy areas. We have gotten official and informal responses from all of three parties about how their platforms respond to our call for a poverty reduction plan. We’ve analysed their responses and election platforms, also taking into consideration their responses in the media.

A table summarizing the parties’ positions is below. And for a detailed analysis of each party’s position, download a pdf here.

The BC Liberal Party does not commit to a poverty reduction plan with clear targets and timelines. The Premier has written, “the Province of British Columbia has made promising steps to address the challenges associated with poverty and we are working on additional measures to put together a comprehensive plan to continue moving forward.” The closest the Liberal platform comes to suggesting a real target is in the area of homelessness, in titling the one-page policy section on housing, “Ending homelessness with new solutions.” The section describes various initiatives to date (outlined below). But this goal of ending homelessness is not linked to clear timelines.

The BC New Democratic Party platform does commit to “Developing a poverty reduction plan with targets and timelines that build on our initiatives that will raise the minimum wage, support jobs and skills training, increase affordable housing, improve child protection and change income assistance.” This is good news. However, the NDP plan does not specify what the poverty reduction targets and timelines should be (presumably this would be determined after the election), nor does it say if such targets and timelines would be legislated (which is key to accountability). The NDP commitment with respect to homelessness is more concrete. Their plan commits to “Ending the crisis in homelessness in 5 years.”

The Green Party has included poverty reduction as a priority in their platform, British Columbia’s Green Book: “The Green Party understands that immediate action is needed to ensure every British Columbian has a meaningful opportunity to share in the wealth of this province.” The key goals of their plan include ensuring British Columbians can all meet their basic needs, and “reversing the trend towards greater disparity between rich and poor.” Additionally, in the area of housing and homelessness, the Green Party has committed to “safe and affordable homes” for everyone living in BC. As the Green Party is not contesting government, they have not costed out their policies.

Liberal	NDP	Green
OUR CALL: Commit to a comprehensive poverty reduction plan with legislated targets and timelines (including: a 30% reduction in poverty in 4 years and a 75% reduction in 10 years, for both the overall population and population groups where poverty is concentrated; ending street homelessness in 2 years, and all homelessness in 8 years; and ensuring all British Columbians have an income of at least 75% of the LICO within 2 years)
The Liberals have not committed to a poverty reduction plan with clear targets and timelines. The Premier has written, “the Province of British Columbia has made promising steps to address the challenges associated with poverty and we are working on additional measures to put together a comprehensive plan to continue moving forward.”	The NDP has committed to “developing a poverty reduction plan with targets and timelines that build on our initiatives that will raise the minimum wage, support jobs and skills training, increase affordable housing, improve child protection and change income assistance.”	In the Green Platform, “Key Goals: Ensure we can all meet our basic needs,” and “reverse the trend towards greater disparity between rich and poor.”
OUR CALL: To meet our proposed targets, action is needed in seven policy areas, with special attention 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).
1. Provide adequate and accessible income support for the non-employed.
“An income assistance program that supports people with disabilities and those who are unable to work,” but no clear commitment to increase welfare rates.	“Linking Income Assistance rates to inflation and reviewing overall rates as part of the process to develop a poverty reduction plan.”	“The Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI) will replace all existing income assistance programs. The rate will be based on the cost of living and other factors.”
2. Improve the earnings and working conditions of those in the low-wage workforce.
No minimum wage increase.	Increasing the minimum wage to $10 and linking it to inflation.	The GLI.
3. Improve food security for low-income individuals and families.
“Promotion of healthy living, nutrition and fitness through ActNowBC,” and a new Agriculture plan to “market BC-grown farm products.”	“Establishing a strong Buy BC and food security program, building on the growing trend to buy food products that are locally produced, healthy, and linked to BC’s long-term food security needs.”	“Ensure that BC enjoys high quality, healthy, and plentiful local food supply systems,” “Stimulating local production to improve regional food security.”
4. Address homelessness and adopt a comprehensive affordable housing and supportive housing plan.
“Further investing more than $172 million in housing projects on six sites in Vancouver, with another six sites ready to go when the city gives them appropriate approvals…” “We are also investing $130 million to build an additional 478 new housing units on 11 sites in seven additional communities.”	“Ending the crisis in homelessness in 5 years. The NDP will set firm targets for social housing, and report progress to the Legislature annually. First year commitments are for 2,400 social housing units, with 1,200 units in each of the next 4 years. During this time, short-term shelters will be supported to offset the housing shortage.”	“Ensuring all British Columbians can live in safe and affordable homes.” A provincial strategy that works with specific needs of different municipalities, while advocating federally for a national housing plan.
5. Provide universal publicly-funded child care.
“Increase funding for early childhood development, childcare and supports to children with special needs.”	“Creating targets and timelines to build an affordable, accessible, quality child care system.”	“Protect children by securing universal, safe, and affordable child care.”
6. Enhanced support for training and education for low-income people.
“Increasing access to post-secondary education” and “investing in trades and training.”	“Investing in accessible and affordable post-secondary and apprenticeship opportunities for British Columbians.” with a five-point affordability plan, implemented over four years.	Immediate reduction of tuition fees by 20% and an increase in funding to post-secondary institutions; and the provision of training upgrades for laid-off workers.
7. Enhance community mental health and home support services, and expand integrated approaches to prevention and health promotion services.
“Increase access to home-support services, in-home nursing, and rehabilitative care to help seniors live more active, healthy, and independent lives.” “Increased investments in chronic disease and addiction prevention, mental health, and AIDS prevention and treatment programs.”	Expanding the number of residential care beds and increasing funding for home support programs. Building more supportive housing and enhancing outreach services for people suffering from mental illness and addictions. “Immediate support for 100 new detox spaces, 100 new addiction treatment spaces, and 100 new long term mental health treatment beds.”	Expand home support and home care programs; and increase funding for non-institutionalized mental health patients to provide adequate housing, community-based support, and ongoing outpatient and inpatient care by mental health practitioners.
NOTE: The parties were not asked how they would fund any new commitments to poverty reduction and thus it is not possible from their responses to assess the tradeoffs involved in their commitments.