BC Council for Families

Vancouver, BC, November 24, 2010 --   Children and families in BC deserve better.  They deserve committed action from government to reduce poverty and increase investment in our children's future. 

Following the release today of the 2010 Child Poverty Report Card from First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition, the BC Council for Families is voicing its support for the urgent call for leadership on the issue of family poverty.

"Living in poverty puts tremendous stress on families.  It affects every aspect of family life, and it puts children at greater risk in terms of their physical health, their social integration, and their prospects for school success and employment as adults," said Sylvia Tremblay, President of the BC Council for Families.  "Poverty is hurting families, it's hurting communities, and it's hurting this province."

The BC Council for Families supports the efforts of First Call and Campaign 2000 to lobby for comprehensive, cross-ministerial poverty reduction plans that ensure that all children and families have the resources and opportunities they need to grow and thrive, including:

·       raising Income Assistance benefit levels
·       increasing investment in affordable housing
·       raising the provincial minimum wage
·       building an integrated system of early learning and care in BC
 
 
“Governments at every level need to commit to working with communities and families to end poverty," said Tremblay. "The ultimate goal is to make sure that no family in British Columbia is living in poverty.”
 
 
About the BC Council for Families
The BC Council for Families is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that is a leader in family life education, committed to strengthening families and family-serving professionals in BC. We provide research and resources on family issues, including our practical, affordably priced publications on diverse family topics. Our award-winning parenting programs include Nobody’s Perfect Parenting, My Tween and Me, and Parent-Child Mother Goose.
 

For more information, contact:
Marilee Peters, Director of Communications
604-678-8884 x. 234 | marileep@bccf.ca.