Port Coquitlam this week joined a growing chorus of Metro Vancouver cities pushing the province for a better poverty reduction plan.
Tuesday, PoCo city council backed Coun. Nancy McCurrach’s motion to support the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition’s ABC Plan.
The Plan, which is endorsed by councils in Port Moody, New Westminster, Vancouver and Richmond, calls for “accountable, bold and comprehensive” measures in anticipation of the BC government’s unveiling of its poverty legislation that's due out this spring.
Specifically, the coalition is asking for a cut to B.C.’s poverty rate by 75% over the next decade, more affordable social and rental housing options, a hike for income supports and universal, publicly funded child care, among other things.
PoCo council unanimously voted for the ABC Plan (Coun. Darrell Penner was absent from Tuesday’s meeting) with Coun. Laura Dupont saying poverty “is a big issue that has to do with almost everything in our society.”
Coun. Steve Darling added city council needs to put pressure on the B.C. government to address poverty challenges.
