Anti-Poverty Initiatives in BC funded by the PSAC

Funding anti-poverty initiatives in Canada is one of five priority areas for the PSAC’s Social Justice Fund. As part of this the SJF funds initiatives that support a closer collaboration between union members and low income groups in the community, particularly activities that are part of anti-poverty coalitions at the community level. These activities include the development of educational initiatives or advocacy work such as letter writing, postcard campaigns, marches, white-band days and other similar activities.

Here is a list of groups and activities in BC that received funding assistance from the PSAC Social Justice Fund.

BC Council for International Cooperation, Vancouver. Bridging the Poverty Gap: An awareness and advocacy campaign, mobilization, and city-wide march to mark the 2005 world summit at the UN. $2000. Visit their website. 

Prince Rupert Unemployed Action Centre Society, Prince Rupert. An ongoing project to provide advocacy services to un(der)employed people the Prince Rupert community. $2500.

Social Planning Council, Victoria. The Waged Poor Project: Will raise public awareness about poverty through interactive theatre presentations. $2500. Visit their website.

Crabtree Corner Childcare Centre, Vancouver. In partnership with the YWCA, Crabtree Corner provides a healthy and secure environment for women and families on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. A $2500 grant will cover 500 visits to the centre by parents who can't afford the $5/day child care fee. Visit Crabtree Corner's website.

Bus Rider's Union, Vancouver. Lower The Fare Now: a one year project to offer workshops and public meetings in various transit dependent community centres with the objective of winning lower transit fares and involving poor and marginalized people to take action for the elimination of poverty. $2500. Visit the BRU website.

Livable Income for Everyone, Victoria. Community Education to Make Poverty History: a four month project to develop and publish a brochure and other materials describing the livable income project and MPH campaign, mail the information to high schools, colleges, community organizations and labour unions in the greater Victoria area. $1150. Visit Livable Income for Everyone here.

Check Your Head: The Global Youth Education Network, Vancouver. Youth Speak Out: a one year project to facilitate and support 20-30 at risk and street-involved youth as project decision makers in the YSO coordinating committee, partner with community organizations that service at-risk and street-involved youth, develop and deliver street outreach training to form peer-to-peer outreach teams, and develop a pocket resource guide and community resource guide. $2000. Visit Check Your Head's website.

Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, Vancouver. Power of Women to Women: A one year project that plans to establish an advisory committee for support and guidance, delivery of workshops, facilitate support groups  and complete a participatory action focused on social justice. $2500. Visit the DTES Women's Centre here.

December 10, 2005 - Global White Band Day 3

posted November 22nd World trade negotiations in December will impact the lives of millions of people in poverty - for better or worse. Across the globe on White Band Day 3 (December 10), people will reminding world leaders that we are still watching and waiting for them to deliver trade justice to make poverty history. International trade should contribute to creating decent work, promoting human rights and ending poverty worldwide. But currently, the rules of international trade are not working for the poor. Every two years the World Trade Organization (WTO) holds a major summit called a ministerial meeting. In 2005 this 6th Ministerial Meeting will be in Hong Kong December 13-18th. What can you do to make your voice heard on December 10th? Visit makepovertyhistory.ca to find out

October 17th: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, event in Victoria

How can we 'Make Poverty History' in Victoria?

Film Screening and Public Dialogue at the University of Victoria

When: October 17, 2005 - Film begins at 7pm - very limited seating so get there early!

Where: Graduate Student Lounge (IQ Bistro), Halpern Centre for Graduate Students: 3800 Finnerty Road

This event is FREE and is open to the general public as well as the University community.

• Non-perishable donations for the UVic Food Bank will be collected at the door.
• Voluntary donations to local organizations will also be accepted.

Film: "HidE & go HoMeLesS": A controversial 45 minute documentary produced entirely by youth that explores the issues of poverty and homelessness in Victoria, BC (Mask Removal Productions, 2004)

Speakers:

• Roderick Taylor: Counsellor with the Cascadia Counselling Clinic, MSW student at UVic and Founder of Mask Removal Productions
• Sue Hendricks: Income Assistance Lawyer for Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS)
• Cindy L'Hirondelle: Coordinator of the Women's Economic Justice Project

BC MPH Task Force Projects and Campaign Activities

posted September 27th Oct. 14:  Making Poverty History: What Can Canadians Really Do? A Southern Perspective MPH Task Force partner, Canadian Crossroads International, is hosting a ‘brown bag lunch’ forum at UBC Robson Square with three of their Southern partners to examine market mechanisms and micro-credit as a means to address equitable development and poverty reduction.  Speakers include Gustavo Diez de Medina Villareal from Boliva (Community Economic Development, Microcredit), Juan Gabriel Ixcamparij, from Guatemala(Human and Indigenous Rights) and Sjachnaz Pengel, from Suriname(HIV/AIDS, Poverty Reduction). Oct. 17:  International Day to Eradicate Poverty – Municipal Government Declarations The MPH Task Force has drawn up a proclamation in support of the MPH goals.  The declaration is being sent to city councils and mayors around the province.  Initial responses, particularly from the Cities of Victoria and Vancouver, have been very positive.  To coincide with this important day, the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (a Task Force partner) and the Dieticians of Canada BC Branch will be releasing their updated report on the cost of eating in BC and the Adequacy of welfare rates in meeting the cost of daily living in BC. Oct. 28-29:  CoDevelopment Canada's 20th Anniversary "Make Poverty History" conference MPH Task Force partner CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev) is focussing its 20th Anniversary conference on the examination of policy options for Making Poverty History.  The CoDev conference will bring together committed citizens to generate concrete policy recommendations in the four areas of the national MPH campaign: more and better aid, trade justice, cancel the debt, & ending child poverty in Canada. The conference includes an evening presentation with special guests, and a one-day action-oriented session that will engage participants in critical analysis, thoughtful discussion and creative strategizing around effecting meaningful policy change.  The BC MPH Task Force members are promoting the event and several are acting as resource people for the conference.  Participants will include representatives from trade unions, local community, aboriginal, anti-poverty, student's groups, government, and other individuals working on social justice issues locally and globally.  The PSAC BC region has requested space for five members to attend the conference.  For more information on the conference, or to get involved, please email conference@codev.org. More details on the conferecnce are here. Fall 2005:  Make Poverty History High School Essay Contest The Capilano College Global Stewardship Program, in partnership with the BC MPH Task Force will award prizes for the best high school student essay on the topic: How can young people help make poverty history?  Details can be found at capcollege.bc.ca  An exiting opportunity exists for PSAC members to help with the selection of best essay. Nov. 24:  Anniversary of 1989 House of Commons declaration to end child poverty in Canada First Call and the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (both MPH Task Force partners) will hold a press conference on the latest report card on child poverty in BC.  This coincides with the release of the national report card on child poverty in Canada by Campaign 2000. Dec. 2005:  “Fair trade Santa” market In the lead-up to the gift-giving season and to coincide with the WTO Ministerial Conference in China (December 13-18th), the BC MPH Task Force is planning to co-host (with Fair Trade organization 10,000 Villages) an event to raise awareness about the fair trade pillar of the MPH campaign while giving local artisans a place to sell their crafts for the gift-giving season. Spring 2006:  Global Stewardship Student Conference: Evaluating MPH and Next Steps Capilano College’s Global Stewardship Program will partner with the BC MPH Task Force to host a conference examining the previous year’s global campaign to Make Poverty History.  This conference will be a student-led event and will culminate in a summary of measurable progress and challenges still to be overcome in the on-going campaign. On-going:  Awareness and Advocacy Campaign Awareness and advocacy activities for the MPH campaign have continued in the Lower Mainland of BC since the April 2005 Vancouver campaign launch.  The many events and activities taking place throughout the Fall and Winter and are building on the momentum generated by the major September 10th Bridging the Poverty Gap march and speaker’s corner.  Letters, post-cards and web-site sign-ups to the campaign have continued to put pressure on government leaders to fulfil the goals of the Make Poverty History campaign while raising public awareness, inspiration, action and opportunities for continued advocacy in BC’s Lower Mainland. For information on any of these events contact The Make Poverty History Campaign - BC Lower Mainland Task Force Phone number: 604-899-4475 Fax: 604-899-4436 Email: bccic@web.ca Contact Person: Michael Loo

October 17, 2005 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Mayoral Proclamation, Issued by Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell

October 17, 2005 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

WHEREAS more than 1 billion women, men and children are currently subjected to the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty; and

WHEREAS we recognize the Make Poverty Historycampaign goals for more and better aid, trade justice, debt cancellation, and ending child poverty in Canada would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation; and

WHEREAS October 17 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty;

THEREFORE, I, Larry Campbell, Mayor of the City of Vancouver, do hereby proclaim

October 17, 2005 as Make Poverty History Day in Vancouver. 

Signed by Larry Campbell, Mayor

Making Poverty History - Conference

September 9th “MAKING POVERTY HISTORY” - CODEVELOPMENT CANADA 20th ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE in Vancouver BC, October 28-29th, 2005 A two-day event to explore strategies and visions for policy change around the themes of the national Make Poverty History Campaign: FRIDAY OCTOBER 28th Opening event with nobel peace prize nominee YOLANDA BECERRA (Colombia) and other special guests Special presentations followed by a reception to celebrate Codev’s 20thanniversary7-10pm, Unitarian Church of Vancouver (949 West 49th Ave) SATURDAY Oct. 29th One-day conference: Your chance to work together with diverse people from the community to generate policy recommendations and actions for making poverty history. 9-5pm, Langara College (100 West 49th Ave) Fri & Sat: $50;  Fri only $20;Sat only $40; student & low-income discounts available. For registration information email conference@codev.org or call: (604) 708-1495 ext. 117 View the conference schedule at www.codev.org  and download a registration form below codev_conf_reg.pdf

Labour Day message: Eradicating poverty is a priority

September 2nd This year’s Labour Day will be celebrated in the midst of the “Make poverty history” campaign.  Social and trade union activists from around the world are wearing the white band, symbol of the campaign and of their commitment to fighting poverty. The Live-8 concerts held in several cities around the world on July 2 marked a major event in this campaign. One of the immediate results of this campaign was the announcement by the leaders of the G-8 to eliminate the debt of several African countries, among the poorest on the planet. It is certainly an important step, but not the final one. Together with the Public Services International (PSI), the global federation that brings together public sector unions from around the world, the PSAC believe that quality public services in Canada and abroad are a key component of this international campaign against poverty. Read more at the national website.

September 10th: Making Poverty History - Bridging the Poverty Gap

The Global Stewardship Program at Capilano College, along with the Lower Mainland Task Force for the Make Poverty History campaign is holding an event on September 10th to bring the Vancouver community together in support of Make Poverty History campaign goals:

1. More and Better Aid
2. Trade Justice
3. Cancel the Debt
4. End Child Poverty in Canada

The purpose of this event is to draw attention to the goals of the Make Poverty History campaign, while world leaders meet at the UN for a historic summit on the Millennium Development Goals.  We believe our event will be a day for awareness, inspiration and action. The city of Vancouver has given permission for the event to commence at Peace Flame Parkat 11:00 a.m.

A First Nations Elder will bless the proceedings, and drummers will perform.  A welcoming speaker will introduce the event, and prepare the audience for the day.  At noon we will commence our march across the Burrard Street Bridge as we symbolically “Bridge the Poverty Gap”, carrying banners that read “Make Poverty History”.  We are asking people to wear white, in support of the campaign, so that we can create a human chain across the bridge as a gesture of solidarity.

From the Burrard Street Bridge, we will walk to the Vancouver Art Gallery where speakers will briefly describe each of the four goals of the campaign.  There will be some musical acts, including local band Yuca.  In addition, we will have about 40 NGOs with tables set up to provide information about what is being done to eliminate poverty, and how participants can make a difference. We expect the event to come to a close by 4:00 p.m. For further information about this and future events such as the Oct.17^th International Day to Eradicate Poverty and the November 24^th anniversary of the House of Commons’ 1989 declaration to end child poverty in Canada, please contact Michael Loo at the B.C. Council for International Cooperation, 2150 Maple St. Vancouver, 604-899-4475 bccic@web.ca  Also visit www.makepovertyhistory.ca  to find out more about how you can help Make Poverty History.

Public Service Alliance of Canada joins campaign to “Make Poverty History”

The PSAC Social Justice Fund will be among many to take a lead role in a global campaign that calls on world leaders to fulfill their promises to eradicate poverty.

Make Poverty History is a campaign spearheaded by an alliance of hundreds of trade unions, women’s organizations, human rights advocates, Aboriginal people’s movements and faith-based groups in Canada and around the world. It is historically the largest mobilization seeking to hold governments accountable for their commitments on trade justice, on more and effective foreign aid and on full debt cancellation.

Read more at the national website . Visit makepovertyhistory.ca for more information and to watch the video.