as M4

—— End Legislared Poverty

GROUPS IN THIS
COALITION INCLUDE:

FIRST UNITED CHURCH
Nov. 20, 1990
DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

KESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
FORT NELSON ADVOCATE Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
& ANTI-~POVERTY GROUP

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UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF VANCOUVER

TENANTS’ RIGHTS
COALITION

NEW WESTMINSTER
UNEMPLOYED ACTION
CENTRE

VANCOUVER STATUS
OF WOMEN

FEDERATED ANTI-
POVERTY GROUPS
OF B.C.

BC TEACHERS*
FEDERATION
BRANCHING OUT,
DAWSON CREEK

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE
WOMENS’ CENTRE

BC ASSOCIATION
OF SOCIAL WORKERS

CARNEGIE CENTRE
COMMUNITY ASSOC,

BC YUKON ASSoc,
OF WOKENS’ CENTRES

HEALTH, HOUSING, &
SOCIAL SERVICES
WORKING UNDP,

DIVISION OF MISSION,

BC CONFERENCE,
UNITED CHURCH

THE ADVOCACY PROJECT,
- NELSON

KAMLOOPS UNEMPLOYED
ACTION COMMITTEE

BC COALITION OF PEOPLE

WITH DISAMLLITIES

CHILD POVERTY
ACTION COMMITTEE

ST. MARGARETS:

ANGLICAN CHURCH

TOGETHER AGAINST
POVERTY, VICTORIA

-MACLEAN PARK

TENANTS ASSOC.

ASSOCIATION FOR
BETTER COMMUNITIES,
NANALMO

SURREY CHILD POVERTY
COMMITTEE

BURWABY CHILD POVERTY

COMMITTEE

SINGLE PARENTS
ORGANIZING FOR

RESPONSIBLE ECONOMICS

Cancer, we know the cure for poverty.

I’m writing to ask your Council to join with End Legislated
Poverty ina campaign to reduce and end poverty in B. c.

End Legislated Poverty is the B. C. coalition that is
working to get universal School lunch programs in schools in
low income neighbourhoods. We also organized the campaign
that convinced the provincial government to stop a proposed
Welfare cuthack of $50 to Single parents.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP REDUCE AND END POVERTY:

We’d like your Council to Pass the three resolutions that
are enclosed with this letter. These resolutions are about
minimum wage, welfare rates, and forced employment for
Single parents. Then send them to the Premier, the Leader of
the Gpposition, and End Legislated Poverty.

HERE’S WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:

These
They are

Nearly half a million British Columbians are poor.
people are children. They are single parents.
people who work, often very competently at low wages. They
are the elderly, and the disabled. They are people for whom
our economy is not creating decent jobs.

Look around you. You can see that poverty has a devastating
effect on individuals and communities. People who are poor
get sick almost twice as much as other people; they drop out
of school earlier; are more likely to be charged with a
crime and go to prison; and live shorter lives. According
to the Ontario Medial Association, poverty is responsible
for more lost years of life in Canada than cancer. Unlike
People need more
money.

Communities suffer from poverty because poor people can’t be
good customers at local business. They don’t have enough
money. Neighbourhoods where people are poor have more
children who drop out of school, and often more crime.
affects everyone in the community.

This

If we don’t start working now to reduce and end poverty, the
rich will get richer and the poor, poorer. That’s why End
Legislated Poverty is asking for your help. Please read the
enclosed fact sheets on minimum wages, welfare rates and
esppaoyment for single parents on welfare. If you

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#2114456 WwW. Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1R3

Phone 879-1209