The BCCPD delivered the Prepare to Survive – Prepare to Help workshop in Prince George on the 1st of March. Seventeen people – staff and clients – from seven disability organizations participated in the one-day workshop. The workshop involved interactive exercises and emergency scenarios and was very well received.
For more information about the Prepare to Survive workshop, contact Karen Martin, karen@bccpd.bc.ca.
The BCCPD recently facilitated a Money Skills workshop developed by Family Services of Greater Vancouver.
Workshop participants shared many great resources and money-saving tips:
Many thanks to all our workshop participants and Family Services of Greater Vancouver.
Raise the Rates www.raisetherates.org
Can you Live on $610 a month?
Media release
February 12th, 2012
Raise the Rates, the BC coalition that challenged MLAs to live on the welfare rate of $610 a month issued a new challenge today:
“We challenge the BC government to immediately raise disability rates to the Alberta level of $1588 per month,” said Andrina Perry of Raise the Rates. “There is no reason for BC residents who have a disability to have their health issues compounded by trying to live on the mere $906 that they get in BC.”
Raise the Rates wants the BC government to increase all income assistance benefits, including those for single parents and single people, to levels that are adequate to live on.
“People with disabilities in BC are living in poverty,” said Robin Loxton of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities. “We call on the BC government to immediately increase BC’s disability rates.”
“If BC copied the Alberta increase it means people with disabilities like me could go to the community fitness gym for physiotherapy without taking the money out of our food budgets,” said Brenn Kapitan. “It would mean I could get a massage for my inflamed joints, have a longer life expectancy and reduce my risk of cancer.”
Alberta also increased the amount of earnings that people with a disability can keep from $400 a month to $800.
Contacts:
Raise the Rates:
Jean Swanson, 604 729 2380
Bill Hopwood, 778 686-5293 (cell), 604 738-1653
Raise the Rates Website: http://www.raisetherates.org/home2.htm
MLA Welfare Challenge Website: http://mlaonwelfare.com
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities: Robin Loxton: 778 879 9207
For information on the Alberta increase:
http://alberta.ca/acn/201202/3191163E5F543-E3D4-FB5E-826ED0AFD115DA5B.html
All things exciting at Disability Alliance BC!
Find the most current news from DABC and selected community news here.
Earlier this year, #BC got rid of its carbon tax. This month, the lowest federal tax rate was reduced from 15% to 14%. These measures
The Price of Tax Cuts: Why Reducing Taxes Cost Low-Income Communities More | DABC
Recent tax cuts in BC and across Canada were meant to ease financial pressure for Canadians. However, for many low-income individuals, particularly for people with disabilities, these policy changes are having the opposite effect.
Since 1977, Disability Alliance BC has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. Our mission is to promote a more inclusive and equitable society for people with all disabilities through direct services, community partnerships, systemic advocacy, research, and publications.
We acknowledge and have deep gratitude to work together on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Selíl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations of the Coast Salish people. We honour the many territorial keepers of the lands.
DABC is a proud member of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)and BC Poverty Reduction Coalition.
DABC is proud to be certified as a Living Wage Employer by Living Wage for Families BC! We are glad to be able to support our staff to feel valued in their roles and provide them with the opportunity to thrive in their communities.
