Dozens of people rallied for an increase to British Columbia’s welfare rates this morning.
A group of anti-poverty activists with Raise the Rates Coalition made their way from the Carnegie Centre at Hastings on the Downtown Eastside, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the country, to some of the more posh establishments in the downtown area, including the Vancouver Club and Fairmont Pacific Rim, which harbours the most expensive condo in Canada.
The activists say the welfare rates have not gone up since April 2007.
The rates remain at $610 a month for an able-bodied single person. The rate goes up to $906 a month for a single person with disability.
“This is no joke, this is not funny. It is the reverse of April Fools’ Day,” says rally organizer Bill Hopwood.
Hopwood says these figures do not take into consideration the various rate increases that British Columbians are faced with starting today, including BC Hydro and ferry rates.
“It’s been seven years since the rates have been adjusted. They were pitiful seven years ago, so with inflation and everything else, it is criminal,” says activist Fraser Stewart.
Global News reached out to the Ministry of Social Development and received the following statement:
“Currently, we are not in a financial position to raise assistance rates in B.C. When setting assistance rates, government is obligated to take a balanced approach between what is fair to individuals seeking assistance and what taxpayers can support.”
Comments