Come and tell the BC government to raise disability and income assistance rates to the poverty level!
Raise the rates / return our bus pass
Rally for economic justice at the BC Legislative Assembly (Parliament Buildings) in Victoria
We insist that our government provide an adequate increase in disability and income assistance rates & return the bus pass and / or special transportation subsidy.
It is nearly a decade since provincial disability benefits were increased. The modest $77 per month rate increase introduced by Minister Stilwell leaves 100,000 people on disability benefits living on an amount that is one half of the poverty line.
Government must consider the consequences of their actions on the disabled, on their families, and on the provincial economy. No one benefits by having large numbers of British Columbians socially isolated and unable to participate in their communities because of poverty.
Likewise, no one benefits from government failure to properly address the marginalization of the disabled in work, housing, transportation, recreation and healthcare. Leaving the disabled in poverty and isolation diminishes their quality of life and life expectancy. It also deprives and injures communities, community organizations, and businesses that must go without disabled customers, workers, volunteers, clients, and patrons.
We insist
– Give us back our $45 yearly bus pass and special transportation subsidy.
– Introduce a rural transportation subsidy for those living outside the areas where the Bus Pass Program and Special Transportation Subsidy operate.
– Raise the income and disability rates to the poverty line and index them to inflation.
– Initiate concrete actions to address the marginalization of persons with disabilities in BC.
(Please view details on our event page).
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Here is our letter to the Premier, Minister Stilwell, Opposition critic Mungall, and Opposition leader Horgan (their email addresses are included at the end of the letter).
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BC Disability Caucus
bcdisabilitycaucus@gmail.com
@bc_disability
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