Did you know that poverty costs the Province of British Columbia $9.2 billion annually? That is just one in a long line of reasons why it’s time the government stepped up to tackle this ever-growing issue. Below, UBC professor John Millar talks about this at greater length in his guest column in the Province newspaper. Canadians might … Read more
A number of planned affordable housing units at the Oval Village development on 6888 River Rd. and 6900 Pearson Way have been saved, due to a City of Richmond decision to utilize excess gaming revenue to temporarily fund overrun costs of the “KFC site” social housing complex. See below: City councillors and Mayor Malcolm Brodie have chosen … Read more
Shared by our friends at First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition: We wanted to bring to your attention an Op-ed by Adrienne on behalf of First Call that was published in the Vancouver Sun about the province’s “community poverty reduction strategies.” You can read it here and I have also pasted the full … Read more
The Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) have recently released a report detailing their position on the current state of poverty and inequity, and its relationship with government and big business. A very interesting read.
Here is a message from the Richmond Food Security Society regarding Bill 24, the Agricultural land Commission Amendment Act. Act Now to Protect B.C.’s Farmlands! Ask Premier Clark to Reconsider Bill 24 The Agricultural Land Commission and Reserve was created in 1973 to protect B.C.’s dwindling supply of agricultural land. In the ensuing 40 years, it … Read more
This morning, Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall brought forward the motion that the BC government launch a poverty reduction plan with Bill M212: Poverty Reduction and Economic Inclusion Act: “Poverty lives in British Columbia. It is not something that only happens elsewhere — in Africa, Asia or Latin America. It is an issue here in our communities, … Read more
A note from our friends at the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition regarding child support clawback for single mothers on welfare: BC’s government currently has a policy of taking off child support dollar for dollar from single parents’ income assistance benefit. By taking that money away, the provincial government is depriving children living in lone-parent … Read more