October 17th: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Ask your MP to Take a Stand Against Poverty! Demandez à votre députée ou votre député de se prononcer contre la pauvreté!

Dear friends,

October 17 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Dignity for All: the campaign for a poverty-free Canada wants you to show your support for ending poverty in Canada.
Canada is a wealthy country that has enough resources for everyone; poverty, homelessness and hunger are unacceptable and unreasonable. You can send a strong message to your elected official that you want to see poverty eradicated.
Here’s how:
Take a moment to phone or email your MP. Ask them two things:

1. Will they wear an “End Poverty” button on October 17? They’ve received one in the mail; extras will be available in the lobby to the House of Commons on the 17th.
2. Will they attend “Ending Poverty Together: Real Stories, Real Solutions”, our public forum in conjunction with the All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Oct 17 at the Government Conference Centre?

Together, we can end poverty in Canada!
- The Dignity for All campaign team

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Disability Without Poverty Network

In April 2011, the BCCPD formed the Disability Without Poverty Network. In addition to the BCCPD the Network’s members are the BC Association for Community Living (BCACL), Canadian Mental Health Association - BC and Yukon Division (CMHA), Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC) and the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS). 

The goal of our network is to develop positive recommendations for change so that British Columbians who have a disability and who receive the Persons with Disabilities Benefit (PWD) are not living in poverty.

In July 2012, we completed our paper entitled, Overdue: The Case for Increasing the Persons with Disabilities Benefit in BC, which includes the following key proposals:

• Increase the PWD benefit to $1,200 per month
• Index the PWD benefit
• Establish a shelter assistance program for people with disabilities

Our paper makes a strong case that these changes are needed to help ensure PWD recipients are not living in poverty. 

Link to paper;

http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/docs/overdueincreasepwd.pdf

 

Link to website;

http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/dwpnetwork.htm