Janey Canuck was a pen name used by Judge Emily Murphy when writing books about social injustice in the 1900s.
Her fascinating story was given by Helen Overnes at the Oliver Women’s Institute meeting held recently at Oliver Lutheran Centre.
Ruth read us a story about being too quick to judge a group of high spirited young boys who suddenly showed great caring for an elderly gentleman to cross the road and help him onto a bus.
Last September Helen made a 10-minute video presentation to the all-party BC Finance Committee and has the November report. The written presentation was used under social services to increase welfare and disability rates to a basic livable amount, and every year indexed to the cost of living and rents.
The BC government froze any increase from 2007-2015 and only increased it by $25 in 2016 and $50 (coming in September 2017).
A majority government should not be allowed to keep rates below poverty. Health care costs were $1.2 billion and 16 per cent of children are living in poverty and eight per cent have one parent fully employed on minimum wage at $10.85. This will be increased by 45 cents in September. This should be increased up to $15-$20 to feed a family.
The Poverty Reduction Coalition in 2009 with 200 organizations and prominent people tried to get party politicians to get the BC government to make a commitment to have a poverty reduction plan, a many- faceted problem. In 2015 they tried again with membership of 400 with the BC government not willing to make a commitment, yet poverty is increasing.
Poverty should not exist in a rich province like British Columbia. It is the duty of all Members of Parliament to look after all the citizens that live in BC.
The BC government is going to reduce MSP premiums and give back money to reduce taxes, but does nothing to help the poor, only the middle class. This is very unjust and we should not stand for it
Helen Overnes, Oliver
