Affordability  /  Jobs, Businesses, & Labour

Poverty platforms

Here's what the 2024 BC election parties are promising.

BC NDP

  • Continue to increase minimum wage in-line with inflation

BC Conservatives

  • Increase the supplemental income cap for people receiving disability assistance

    "Increase the supplemental income cap for people receiving disability assistance. The current cap of $16,200 is too low - discouraging people from seeking work. Raising the cap would also reduce pressure on family members who currently often have to provide additional financial support." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Review disability assistance rates annually

    "Review disability assistance rates annually. NDP-Trudeau inflation has been devastating for people across BC, especially people with disabilities who rely on assistance payments to cover the costs of living. We will review rates annually to make sure people with disabilities have the support they need." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

BC Greens

  • Approximately double social assistance rates

    "Raise social assistance rates to ensure that individuals can meet their basic living expenses and live above the poverty line." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

    Single person: $1,060 -> $2,400

    Person and a spouse with no children: $1,650 -> $3,450

    Single parent with one child: $1,405 -> $2,900

    Person and a spouse and one child: $1,845 -> $3,450

  • Increase disability assistance rates

    "Increase disability assistance rates to provide adequate support for individuals with disabilities, ensuring they can thrive in their communities." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

    Single person: $1,483.50 -> $2,400

    Person and a spouse with no children: $2,548.50 -> $3,450

    Single parent with one child: $1,828.50 -> $2,900

    Person and a spouse and one child: $2,268.50 -> $3,450

  • Remove clawbacks on social and disability assistance

    "Remove clawbacks, including the spousal cap, to ensure individuals receive the full support they need." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Remove intrusive checks into people seeking social or disability assistance

    "Create low-barrier access to assistance, eliminating intrusive checks that discourage individuals from seeking help." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Ensure a year of guaranteed assistance upon first receipt of social or disability assistance

    "Ensure a year of guaranteed assistance upon first receipt, allowing individuals to assess their needs without the burden of constant checks and reporting."

  • Reduce regular reporting requirements after the first year on social or disability assistance to ease recipients' administrative burden

    "Reduce regular reporting requirements after the first year to ease the administrative burden on recipients." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Raise the food crisis grant from $40/mo to $200/mo

    "Raise the food crisis grant from $40 per month to $200 per month to better support individuals facing food insecurity." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Develop a poverty reduction plan tailored for Indigenous people

    "Develop a poverty reduction plan tailored to Indigenous individuals, families, and Nations, addressing the systemic impacts of genocide and dispossession." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Fund Indigenous-specific services, including reintegration programmes for incarcerated Indigenous women, addiction support, and childcare

    "Fund Indigenous-specific services in social service areas, including reintegration programs for incarcerated Indigenous women, addiction support, and childcare." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Invest in specific programmes for youth aging out of care, women fleeing violence, people with disabilities, and the long-term unemployed

    "Invest in programs for specific groups such as youth aging out of care, women fleeing violence, people with disabilities, and those who are long-term unemployed." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Looking for the parties' positions on other topics?

See our full 2024 BC election platform comparison
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