B.C. government urged to end 'shameful situation'

A coalition of 22 social advocacy groups has appealed to the B.C. Liberalgovernment to raise welfare rates andthe minimum wage, and to eliminate the $6-an-hour "training wage" in the next budget later this month.

The Raise the Rates Coalitionwantsthe shelter and supportparts of income assistance boosted by at least 50 per cent, and wants the government to make it easier to qualify for welfare.

The groupshave also repeated the callto boost the minimum wage from $8 to$10 an hour.

The groups have sent an open letter to the premier saying the present environment keeps thousands of young people and families in B.C. in perpetual poverty.

B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair said despite all the optimism created by B.C.'s booming economy, there is a "poverty crisis" in the province because not everyone is sharing that growth.

"I don't think its going too far to say that we live in a shameful situation, that there is a complete moral gap here between people in power and the rest of the population, that British Columbians in the majority favour taking care of people. And this government has dropped that ball completely."

Graham Riches, director of the School of Social Work at UBC and a member of the coalition, calls the situation in B.C. "shocking and scandalous."

He accused the provincial government of breaking international agreements by denying the poor access to good food, clothing and shelter.