Poverty Reduction Plan

The Government of Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy sets an official measure of poverty, the Market Basket Measure. This is based on the cost of a basket of goods and services that individuals and families require to meet their basic needs and achieve a modest standard of living in communities across the country.

The proposed Poverty Reduction Act sets targets to reduce poverty by 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2030.

Learn more External website, opens in new tab

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Act External website, opens in new tab became law in BC in fall 2018. The poverty reduction strategy was released in early 2019.

Learn more External website, opens in new tab

Key themes we heard through this discussion include:

• Cycles of poverty or "poverty traps"
  • For example, it is almost impossible to get stable housing without a job, and vice versa – where do you start?
• Dignity and time poverty
  • Time that could be spent on work or well-being is spent standing in food lines or waiting for government services. Often, several forms must be filled out to prove a low-income status and to access programs. People feel their dignity is not respected when they have to wait publically to access basic necessities like food, or apply for benefit programs.
• Equity, stigma, and racism
  • Stigma and discrimination based on anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, gender, and age is experienced in many everyday situations. Addressing racial and social equity is needed to decolonize existing services and programs and acknowledge systemic barriers to cultural and social isolation.
• Mobility and access to affordable transportation
  • Many people living in poverty don't have enough money to access parts of Vancouver other than their immediate neighbourhood. Getting around the city is crucial to accessing work, training, education, culture, and social events like car-free days or other public festivals, and feeling like they belong.
• Access and affordability of leisure, recreation, culture, and connection
  • All Vancouverites should have access to art, culture, recreation and leisure for mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being.
• Meaningful work and activities
  • Not everyone is able to work a steady ‘9-5’ job, but that does not mean that people don’t want to work and are able to work in some capacity. Meeting and supporting people where they are at and engaging local business who have labour force needs has proven to change the lives of individuals and communities for the better. The City is supporting a broader approach to income and employment with the DTES Community Economic Development Strategy. It takes a coordinated approach - and a community - to improve the health of the local economy.
• Affordability of basic necessities including housing, food, and childcare
  • We will not see an impact in affordability if the average income of Vancouverites does not match the cost of living. Basic necessities such as food and housing costs are rising at a faster rate than incomes.
• Addressing fear and violence in low-income communities
  • Systems of oppression are created and upheld by colonization, colourism and racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, trans-misogyny, and classism. Safe spaces are needed for women and girls, children, and others experiencing an abuse of power and control over someone based on gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender.

Based on the research and engagement done to date, we will consider an expanded definition and measurements of poverty to reflect the concerns raised. This means looking at broader issues of affordability and equity. 

A first step is aligning with senior levels of government to adopt the Market Basket Measure External website, opens in new tab. This measure captures income, the affordability of basic goods, and variability in cost of living.

We will continue to engage Vancouverites on the creation of a poverty reduction plan.

With our partners, we're working towards a finalized plan in fall 2019.