The government in British Columbia/Canada has persistently ignored Women’s Rights and deliberately failed to comply with the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in Canada (BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, 2017, February 1). “Women’s equality in Canada has regressed over the last two decades,” and British Columbia has been the worst in Canada for women hampered by many factors (BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, 2017, February 1).

Here are just some examples. “BC consistently has among the highest poverty rates in Canada, and poverty rates for single women, and particularly single women caring for children, are shockingly high” (BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, 2017, February 1).

The BC government has deliberately failed to increase benefit levels “leaving the poorest British Columbians far behind” as said one of advocates against poverty when there was no money included for increase for them in the announced budget in February 2018 for the year ahead although the money has been available to help them rights away as a senior economist  told on that meeting and also asked for increase (MacLeod, 2018, February 23).  The BC government made only promises and the smallest minimum positive change, which is inadequate ONLY during election to get to the power.  As you can see, after the election, they started that new year carrying on the same as the previous government.

Before that 2017 election in British Columbia, “[t]he government has room in its budget to act... It could immediately raise rates by $200-400 a month (depending on family size), and the total cost of about $400 million could be covered by the current surplus” (Klein & Reano, 2017, March 30). However, more than decade the BC government deliberately persistently kept it frozen. Only during the throne speech, when losing its power, the BC government unwillingly mentioned only about $100 increase (Meissner, 2017, June 19).

Over the decades “annual inflation has eroded the real value of a welfare cheque. While politicians see their paycheques increase annually (often well beyond the rate of inflation), welfare benefits have been frozen at rates that were utterly insufficient to meet basic needs to begin with” (Klein & Reano, 2017, March 30).  

As one of activists against poverty said that for a single person “the assistance rate needs to be at $1,500 a month” (Shaw, R, 2017, July 20).

“The average earnings of women in BC are well below the Canadian average female earnings and the pay gap between male and female workers in British Columbia is larger than the national average” (BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, 2017, February 1).

Socio-economic inequality has a profound impact on health, access to services, and duration of the lives, for instance, males from wealthier parts of Montreal live approximately six years longer than those from lower income suburbs (Disabled World, 2017, May 12).

Only $375 a month has been allowanced for income assistance for a single person to get the roof over her head. “This rate hasn’t increased [more than] decade yet housing costs have risen dramatically. … This is far, far below what it actually costs to find shelter” (Weaver, 2018, May 30). “The previous critic on this file said last year: “Every year I ask the minister how on earth they come up with $375 as the shelter allowance for income assistance, because there’s nowhere in B.C. that’s available for $375” (Weaver, 2018, May 30). “[T]his remains true today, and the average rent of a bachelor apartment in Vancouver is over $1,000 a month” (Weaver, 2018, May 30).  The government in British Columbia/Canada has deliberately caused genocide to the most vulnerable people.  It is wrong.

Furthermore, during the 2017 election, the NDPs promised “They will also provide a renters rebate of $400 a year per rental household” (BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, 2017, May 3). However, when that 2017 election was over, it has been the second year nothing was paid of their promised “a renters rebate of $400 a year.”

“BC has the highest rate of wealth inequality in the country” (BC Poverty Reduction Coalition).

“[G]ender discrimination [has been] in key areas such as employment, housing and public services” (BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, 2017, February 1).

The government in British Columbia/Canada has seized the rights from women so from their child(ren) and their families. Without defense/representation by a lawyer a person cannot defend her/his/their rights in British Columbia/Canada. The government cut legal aid in around 4.5 times in British Columbia. “Between 2001 and 2015, the number of family law cases approved for legal aid in BC dropped from 15,526 to 3,442” (BC CEDAW GROUP, 2016, p.2).  Moreover, Human Rights/Women’s Rights has not been included in legal aid in British Columbia.  Without paid lawyer(s), person(s) cannot defend her/his/their Human Rights/Women’s Rights in British Columbia/Canada.

I saw some people promoted my petition on Change.org earlier this month, thank you so much.

            Thank you for all the people who have helped me.

Help me and many other British Columbians/Canadians defend our Human Rights/Women’s Rights.

SIGN THE PETITION TO SUPPORT and please share the petition with others to get more new supporters.

BC CEDAW GROUP. (2016). Women’s Rights in British Columbia.

BC Poverty Reduction Coalition. (2017, February 1). It’s time to step up for women’s equality!

Disabled World. (2017, May 12).  Canadian Male and Female Life Expectancy Rates by Province and Territory.

Klein, S. & Reano, P. (2017, March 30). Time to raise welfare rates: Debunking the BC government’s sorry excuses for inaction. Policynote.ca

MacLeod, A. (2018, February 23).  Government Defends Lack of Increases in Welfare, Disability Rates. The tyee.

Meissner, D. (2017, June 19). B.C. Liberals promise welfare rate hike days as government is expected fall.  Infotel.ca

Shaw, R. (2017, July 20). NDP follow through with promise, raise B.C. welfare, disability rates. Vancouversun.

Weaver, A. (2018, May 30). When will government increase the $375 shelter allowance for income assistance? andrewweavermla.ca