British Columbia needs a plan to act on poverty. Currently the province has no poverty reduction plan in place.

Why does BC need a plan?

• Despite being one of the wealthiest provinces in the country, British Columbia has the highest poverty rate in Canada
• 13% of the province’s population, that’s over half a million British Columbians, live in poverty
• BC’s child poverty rate, at 16%, has been the highest in Canada five years in a row
• In March 2010, over 90,000 people in BC used food banks, 30% were children
• Most poor people are working - more than half of BC’s poor children live in families where at least one parent has a full-time job.

There is a growing call across the province for the provincial government to commit to a comprehensive poverty reduction plan. A plan that includes legislated targets and timelines is the best way to significantly reduce and ultimately end poverty and homelessness.

The concern regarding BC’s unacceptably high levels of poverty has brought together organizations from across the province to form the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition. The Coalition has come together to call on the provincial government to adopt a legislated poverty reduction plan.

Take Action

Contact the MLA in your constituency

• Use this link to find your MLA and contact them: do they support a poverty reduction plan with legislated targets and timelines?

Sign the petition

• Sign the Call for a BC Poverty Reduction Plan petition

Learn more about poverty reduction initiatives in BC

• Visit the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition website.

Support a National Poverty Reduction Strategy

• Sign on to Dignity For All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Campaign