Details

WHEREAS the amount of support given to individuals on disability, welfare, and/or old age security is inadequate to support people’s basic human needs in terms of adequate shelter, clothing, food, and other basic necessities, based on today’s cost of living;

AND WHEREAS this forces individuals, who are obliged by circumstance to utilize these programs, to live in a manner that violates basic human rights and dignity:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NCLGA and UBCM petition the Provincial and Federal Governments to increase the basic support allowance given to these individuals to a level that reflects the true cost of living in our country.

AMENDED BY THE UBCM MEMBERSHIP:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM call on the provincial and federal governmetns to increase the basic support allowance given to individuals on disability, welfare, and/or old age security to a level that reflects the true cost of living in our country.

Additional Information

UBCM Comments: The UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2011-B175 calling on the provincial government to increase current assistance rates and implement a program to adjust those rates annually based on the BC Average Annual Consumer Price Index.

Responses

In response to this resolution, the Province indicated that it would not consider increases to income assistance and disability assistance. However, the provincial government did advise that it would be working with UBCM on local poverty reduction strategies in seven BC communities.