Best way to address child poverty is creating jobs for their parents

While political parties disagree on many things, we can all agree that even one child living in poverty is too many. Where we differ is on finding the best way to help those in need.

First, the good news. The child poverty rate in British Columbia continues to decline. In the last 10 years, the child poverty rate has dropped by 45 per cent — a better rate of decline than the national average. Put in real terms, about 75,000 children in B. C. have been lifted out of poverty. That’s a good start. But there’s still a lot of work to do.

We believe the best way to help families is jobs. My focus has been on growing the size of the economy, rather than the size of government. It’s the only sustainable way to ensure B. C.’ s long- term prosperity. Growing the economy means more investment, more businesses starting up, expanding, or relocating here — and ultimately, creating more jobs that support families.

That’s why we created the BC Jobs Plan. Since its release, B. C. has added more than 30,000 jobs.

That’s part of the reason we’re excited about the transformative opportunity presented by natural gas. Independent estimates project about 39,000 jobs during the nine years of construction, and 75,000 new fulltime jobs thereafter — spread across sectors and regions across the province. We’re talking about skilled trades in fields and shop floors, professions in offices, researchers in labs as well as jobs for the businesses that serve a growing industry, from housing to truck parts to small businesses.

This opportunity will generate $ 1 trillion in economic activity over 30 years ( cumulative GDP), and more than $ 200 billion in revenues. That’s revenue that will allow us to continue making significant investments in health care, education and more supports for low- income families.

B. C. has the second- lowest income taxes in Canada for a two- income family of four. We also raised the minimum wage to $ 10.25 per hour, making it among the highest in the country. For a full- time employee, this could mean over $ 4,000 more each year. Post- secondary students now have access to free online textbooks, which could save them $ 900 to $ 1,500 per year. Almost one million British Columbians receive MSP subsidies, including more than 800,000 individuals who pay no MSP premiums.

To make child care more affordable, we introduced the BC Early Childhood Tax Benefit, starting in 2015. The benefit will provide $ 146 million annually to approximately 180,000 families with children under the age of six ( up to $ 660 a year per child). The province also funds more than 100,000 licensed child care spaces, and fullday kindergarten is now available for all five- year- olds.

StrongStart BC early learning programs provide school- based early learning services for adults and their young children, at no cost to families.

The B. C. Liberal government also made substantial investment in lowincome and subsidized housing. Since 2001, the B. C. government has invested close to $ 3.2 billion to provide affordable housing for low- income individuals, seniors and families in communities across the province.

In 2006, the B. C. Liberal government introduced the Rental Assistance Program, which helps families earning less than $ 35,000 per year with their rent. These programs go a long way – currently, about 19,800 families live in provincially subsidized housing.

Measures and programs like these are intended to lend a helping hand to families in need. But when you talk to any family going through tough times, they don’t want to rely on government assistance; their goal is to pick themselves up and find a good job.

And the best way to ensure we protect and create jobs to support those families is by growing the economy, and making it easier for businesses to expand or relocate here.