Beginning in July 2018, Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payments will be adjusted as the cost of living increases, nearly two years ahead of the previously planned adjustment. According to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, a family with two children will pocket approximately a $200 increase in Canada child benefit payments starting MORE
The fall economic update also includes an increase to the federal Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB). For some time, policy advocates such as the Caledon Institute for Public Policy have suggested the WITB needs increased benefit levels and extended coverage. Government will now enhance the WITB by $500 million annually MORE
First Call’s budget submission to the provincial Finance Committee for the 2018 budget makes 23 specific recommendations covering early childhood, public education, poverty reduction, supports and services for vulnerable children, youth and families and post-secondary education. Some highlights are: Redesign the BC Early Childhood Tax Benefit into a BC Child MORE
The BC government has made available $6.4 million to BC First Nations communities and agencies aimed specifically at family reunification and preservation, and will increase that funding to $9.5 annually starting in 2018. “Indigenous communities are in the best position to identify and deliver services and supports that will have MORE
Until 5pm, October 16, the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (BCACCS) is surveying stakeholders on their work for Indigenous children, families and communities. Data collected will be kept confidential and the survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Take the survey
Effective October 1, 2017, the Annual Earnings Exemption (AEE) limit will increase by $2,400 for each person receiving Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefits, and raise from $200 to $400 per month for all single income assistance recipients. The earnings exemption is raised to $600 for families with children and $700 MORE
While increasing the earnings exemption for those on disability and income assistance is a welcome step, First Call advocates for the provincial government to stop clawing back benefits deemed ‘unearned income’ from IA and PWD recipients. Right now, all Canada Pension Plan benefits and CPP spousal death benefits are clawed MORE
Parental-leave rich and parental-leave poor: Inequality in Canada labour market based leave policies by Lindsey Mckay, Sophie Mathieu and Andrea Doucet, compares access to parental leave benefits between Quebec and the rest of Canada by family income and by its two different programs. Maternal access to leave benefits has improved dramatically MORE
A coalition of legal groups including the Community Legal Assistance Society, PIVOT, the BC Civil Liberties Association and Westcoast LEAF have issued a report outlining justice reform priorities for BC’s “badly broken” system. Outlined priorities for the Attorney General and Solicitor General of BC addressing family law include: Increase funding MORE
According to the Canadian Labour Congress Pharmacare for All campaign, 3.5 million Canadians can’t afford to fill their prescriptions. The campaign is working to win a universal prescription drug plan that covers everyone in Canada, regardless of their income, age or where they work or live. First Call has long MORE
The provincial government has increased funding for the BC Healthy Kids program. The BC Healthy Kids Program helps low-income families with the cost of dental and vision care for their children. More than 166,000 children will benefit from these changes, which amount to $6 million in increased funding. The funding MORE
The Growing Together Toolkit is for community service providers who support mothers and their young children and families. The toolkit present strategies to build healthy relationships with babies and toddlers and focuses on mothers who are dealing with depression, anxiety, substance use, trauma or other challenging life circumstances. To access MORE
BC has announced it will raise minimum wage by 50 cents as of September 2017. This is one of several smaller increases leading to a promised $15 minimum wage by 2021. According to the government, 63% of minimum wage workers are women and the raise will benefit more than 100,000 MORE
Just in time for Father’s Day: A new StatsCan survey of two-parent families shows that while the number of fathers doing chores and their time spent doing them has increased since 1986, mothers still contribute the most time to unpaid housework and child care. Source: CSRL E-news
BC211, operator of the Red Book Online directory of community services, has expanded its reach from Metro Vancouver to now offer service throughout BC. In addition to phone service, BC211.ca now also offers a live web chat service with call centre staff, ready to refer callers to anything from emergency MORE