Food Banks Canada reacts to 2014 budget

Here is a note from Shawn Pegg, director of policy and research at Food Banks Canada, regarding this year’s federal government budget. Yesterday, the federal government unveiled a relatively low-key budget with few of the type of new, large scale measures that are often expected from these exercises. Over the past year, Food Banks Canada … Read more

Food for thought on Family Day

With Family Day happening just a couple of days ago, here’s a timely op-ed piece in the Vancouver Sun about a call for action to reduce family poverty. When MP James Moore asked a Vancouver reporter whether governments have an obligation to ensure kids don’t go to school hungry, his comments were rightly criticized by … Read more

Richmond Rental Connect upcoming workshops schedule

In addition to our upcoming March workshop for Building Successful Tenant-Landlord Relations, here is the schedule for the next few months. The below dates, with the exception of November, will be held at the Richmond Caring Place (7000 Minoru Blvd.) from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 345/50. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., please email info@richmondrentalconnect.ca … Read more

Why the Residential Tenancy Branch in B.C. is failing us

Here is a great post about the shortcomings of the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) by Kendra Milne. She talks about the lack of enforcement of the RTB when it comes to legal disputes between tenants and landlords. Have a look below. Safe and secure housing is a … Read more

Volunteer for the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count

The Metro Vancouver Homeless Count, a research study held every three years to gain information from people who are homeless that will help with planning, funding and service provision, is having a callout for volunteers. For Richmond, 35 to 40 people are needed on Wednesday, March 12 for two to two-and-a-half hour shifts from 6 … Read more

Local 40 members ratify new contract

After a long battle, Local 40 members working in 47 hotels, pubs and liquor stores in B.C — including the low-wage workers at the local Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel — ratified their new collective agreement with 93 per cent voting in favour. Read the whole story here.