Two reports released earlier this month show that the current
“boom” is not benefiting large number of people in BC, as
increasing numbers of people are experiencing worsening poverty.
The B.C. Progress Board report, which came down Tuesday, showed British
Columbia is falling behind the rest of Canada on issues like poverty,
crime and other social conditions. This despite a public accounts
report Wednesday that showed the province’s budget surplus had
ballooned to $4.1 billion.
“We have a crisis in homelessness in this province, and one in
four children lives in poverty," says NDP Leader Carole James.
“With surpluses generated by high commodity prices and low
interest rates, the Campbell government could be repairing some of the
damage they’ve done to the social fabric of this province.”
The Progress Board report showed that British Columbia ranks ninth
among 10 Canadian provinces for social indicators. This province is
second worst in the number of people living below the Low Income Cutoff.
The B.C. Progress Report’s 2007 Interim Report compares
B.C.’s social condition to other provinces based on five
categories: low-income cut off, personal property crime, income
assistance levels, low birth weight, and long-term unemployment.
B.C.’s overall ranking was ninth in Canada, with the second worst
poverty and crime rate in the country.
When questioned about the report Wednesday, Finance Minister Carole Taylor admitted she had not read it.
During the July 11 Public Accounts press conference, Finance Minister
Carole Taylor revealed that she had not bothered to read the B.C.
Progress Board’s report that ranked B.C. ninth in Canada on the
social condition of our population.
She also said that she didn’t know what benchmarks the Progress
Board used to measure B.C.’s lagging performance. Those
measurements include the poverty and crime rates, birth weight, and
long-term unemployment.
Some highlights of the reports:
B.C. Progress Board Interim Report, July 2007
• The B.C. Progress Board’s 2007 Interim
Report shows that B.C.’s overall ranking in social condition is
ninth in Canada.
• In 2005, B.C. ranked second last in Canada in
terms of the proportion of families living below the low income cutoff
(LICO).
• In 2005, B.C. had the highest rates of total drug offences and property offences in Canada.
• Only 47 per cent of Aboriginal students complete high school in B.C.
B.C. Progress Board Social Condition in British Columbia, December 2006
• The report states that the most troubling
social indicator is the proportion of British Columbians living below
the Stats Can low income threshold (i.e. the poverty line.) On this
measure, B.C. is the worst in the country.
• More than one in 10 British Columbians live below the poverty line for extended periods of time.
• A large proportion of those living below the poverty line are the ‘working poor.’
Sightline Institute, Seattle Cascadia Scorecard, 2007
• Economic security for lower and middle-income residents in B.C. remains lower than it was in 1990.
• In 2005, B.C. had a poverty rate of 17.6% and a child poverty rate of 20.9%.
Dietitians of Canada, B.C. Region & the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C. The Cost of Eating in B.C., November 2006
• Thousands of British Columbians with low
incomes do not have enough money to secure safe and adequate shelter or
food.
BC Stats Infoline, August 2006
• In 2006, B.C. had the biggest income gap between rich and poor out of all the provinces.
• The 2006 B.C. Stats report also noted,
“despite Alberta’s rich having the highest average income
in Canada, after transfers and taxes, of $134,400 compared to
B.C.’s rich at $119,900, there is less inequity in Alberta as the
benefits of Alberta’s strong economy have been spread more
broadly.”
Stats Can National Council of Welfare Report, 2006
• B.C. has the highest poverty rate among seniors
• B.C. has the highest poverty rate in Canada.
• B.C. has the greatest numbers of families living in poverty in Canada.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) Bucking the National Trend, June 2006
• One-half of single mothers live in poverty in B.C. today
• During 2001-2004, average government transfers to single mothers in B.C. declined by $2,300.
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology Kirby Report: Out of the Shadows at Last, May 2006
• The report found that BC had no coordinated, comprehensive mental health plan
• Senator Kirby said he was "shocked by how
fragmented our system of mental health care is, and saddened by the
effect of that fragmentation on persons living with mental
illness”
• There is not enough housing for the mentally ill in B.C.
Canadian Association of Foodbanks HungerCount, 2006
• The number of children assisted by food banks
in B.C. increased by 10 per cent from March 2005 to March 2006.
Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) 2005 Homeless Count
• The number of homeless counted region-wide doubled between 2002 and 2005.
• This count included 40 families with children.
• The number of homeless seniors (55 and older) grew significantly.