Many thanks to the Oceanside Coalition for Strong Communities for organizing an excellent forum recently on “Poverty in Our Backyard.”
The presentations on the importance of a living wage, affordable daycare and reducing child poverty were very informative.
I wish that our MLA, Michelle Stilwell, had been at this forum. As the Secretary for Healthy Living in our current government, Stillwell must be aware of the high costs of poverty not only to the individuals and families affected, but to our province and our nation.
Every $10 spent by government on providing homes resulted in a $22 savings in other areas. Increasing assistance rates in order to allow our poorest citizens to purchase healthy food is an investment in the future.
One can only wonder how B.C. could afford to entertain the world with the Winter Olympics and pay for a new roof on B.C. Place, yet fails to address the desperate poverty of thousands of individuals, including families with children.
Virginia Brucker
Nanoose Bay