A D-plus? That grade is just not going to cut it when it comes to feeding the hungry, says the head of the association representing B.C. food banks.
Dan Huang-Taylor said hoped the province would have received a better grade than what it did from the poverty-tracking 2024 Poverty Report Card by Food Banks Canada.
B次元官网网址淚 would say that the grade itself is very concerning as it was last year and we were optimistic that we would see B.C. improving on that,B次元官网网址� the executive director of Food Banks BC, said. B次元官网网址淚t (the final grade) was disappointed but also unexpected because this is what we are seeing at the front lines of food banks, more people needing services, which only tells that the situation of many British Columbians has gotten worse.B次元官网网址�
The provincial poverty rate of 11.6 per cent is B次元官网网址渟ubstantially higherB次元官网网址� than the national average of 9.9 per cent, according to the report. More British Columbians are also experiencing some form of food insecurity in the face of rising costs for shelter coupled with inadequate assistance rates.
Huang-Taylor said B.C.B次元官网网址檚 poverty rates partly reflect economic factors completely out of its control.
B次元官网网址淏ut we are also certainly looking at government policies that are currently inadequate to meet the needs of people, particularly those who are most impacted by poverty B次元官网网址� people on fixed incomes, racialized communities and Indigenous peoples.B次元官网网址�
Huang-Taylor said solutions must involve all societal partners: all levels of government; non-profits; and corporations, adding that his organization looks forward to the upcoming release of B.C. poverty reduction strategy.
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B次元官网网址淲e are encouraged by whatB次元官网网址檚 happening in B.C. with housing,B次元官网网址� Huang-Taylor said, adding more needs to be done to adequately house hundreds of thousands of people.
The Poverty Report Card gives B.C. a B for government efforts to address some poverty issues, especially when it comes to housing.
B次元官网网址�(B.C.) has developed an ambitious and aggressive housing plan that is widely regarded as among the best in Canada,B次元官网网址� it says.
Speaking at a housing event Thursday (May 24) in Metro Vancouver, Premier David Eby acknowledged the report.
B次元官网网址淭he issues facing many British Columbians around affordability are serious and ongoing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭odayB次元官网网址檚 announcement is just one example of how we are responding to one of the biggest drivers of affordability for people, which is the cost of housing.B次元官网网址�
RELATED: B.C. offering one-time rental benefit for some low-income families, seniors
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Eby also pointed to other initiatives, including the expansion of the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program and the Rental Assistance Program; the creation of breakfast programs for school children; and the creation of subsidized, in some cases, free childcare spaces.
Eby also pointed to the one-time B.C. Hydro rebate of $100 in this yearB次元官网网址檚 budget and the just-announced ICBC rebate of $110, coupled with a freeze on auto insurance rates, as steps to make life more affordable.
B次元官网网址淲e know got a lot of work to do to respond to this,B次元官网网址� he said.
Eby questioned the commitment of B.C. United and Conservative Party of B.C.
Under the B.C. NDP, B.C. now has the highest minimum wage, while maintaining top credit rating and one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios, Eby added. Since coming to power, the B.C. NDP has raised social assistance three times.
B次元官网网址淲e increased disability assistance, we doubled the senior supplementB次元官网网址 could go on,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut all of these pieces were available under the previous administration and they didnB次元官网网址檛 do it.B次元官网网址�
Eby also warned that a future centre-of-right government would roll back these programs.
