Message to the new BC cabinet: British Columbians want a poverty reduction plan
Poverty Reduction Coalition News Release
June 9, 2009

(Vancouver) A poll commissioned by the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition and conducted just before the May provincial election by the Mustel Group found that 79% of British Columbians believe a poverty reduction plan with legislated targets and timelines should be a priority for the new provincial government (46% said such a plan is a high priority, and 33% said it was a medium priority).

A growing number of provinces across the country are implementing poverty reduction plans, but so far not BC. A week before BC’s election, a new Poverty Reduction Act with concrete targets was passed by Ontario’s legislature with unanimous all-party support. And Manitoba is the latest province to initiate a plan. It is clear from the BC poll results that British Columbians expect their government to take leadership on this issue.

The BC Poverty Reduction Coalition has called for a comprehensive provincial plan in an open letter to all political parties. Leading up to the May 12th election, the coalition’s call won the endorsement of almost 300 organizations from around the province (see http://bcpovertyreduction.ca for the Open Letter and full list of signatories).

The Coalition is calling on Premier Campbell to introduce a plan, and to designate a lead minister for poverty reduction with a cross-government mandate and secretariat, a common element of all provincial plans.

By any measure, BC has the highest poverty rates in the country. With the majority of British Columbians supporting bold action to reduce poverty, the Coalition wants the government to consider a poverty reduction plan as central in its evolving response to the current economic downturn; fighting poverty makes solid sense as a focal point for an effective economic stimulus package.