This year, we are reporting on activities over an eighteen-month period beginning in January 2019 and ending June 2020. The collective voice of our members has been critical during COVID 19. Together, we have achieved two very big successes for children and their families over the past 18 months. Families MORE
First Call is proud of what our coalition has accomplished in 2018. From holding government to account for BC’s child poverty crisis to advocating for improved child labour standards. Together, we’ve done some amazing work to put BC’s children and youth first. Here are highlights of key successes, victories, communications MORE
In November 2019, First Call responded to the Ministry of Labour’s call for submissions on child employment standards regulation. We’re optimistic that new legislation and the accompanying regulations will better protect children from accidents, injury and exploitation while working in BC. We appreciate the Ministry has received many submissions, including MORE
On March 31, 2019, First Call submitted a letter to Minister of Labour Harry Bains in response to his Ministry’s call for submissions to the Employment Standards Act – Consultation Paper. Specifically, the letter responds to Theme 1 – Increasing protection of child workers: For Input: What is your view on MORE
Today, First Call sent an open letter to the Honourable Harry Bains, Minister of Labour, calling on him to table legislation at the next sitting of B.C.’s Legislative Assembly aimed at protecting children and youth from employment-related injury and exploitation. In British Columbia, children as young as 12 years old can MORE
Today, First Call submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Labour and The Law Institute of B.C. calling for better government protection for children who are working. First Call’s recommendations provide a framework for the B.C. government to develop employment standards consistent with Canada’s commitment to establish 16 as the age MORE
On July 23rd, First Call sent a package to all BC MLAs to request they support legislative and regulatory changes in BC’s next legislative session to better protect BC’s children and youth from exploitation and injury doing jobs meant for adults. We called on the need for a gradual, safety-focused approach MORE
Each year First Call publishes a BC Child Poverty Report Card, analyzing the latest federal and provincial data to accurately portray the extent of child and family poverty in our province. In 2017, using the most recent available data, we found that 153,300, or 1 in 5, BC children are MORE
As part of consultations held over November and December 2017, First Call made a submission to the BC Fair Wages Commission, demonstrating why BC urgently needs a minimum wage in line with the current cost of living and the social costs of keeping wages in BC unacceptably low, as well MORE
Published November 21, 2017, in The Province By Adrienne Montani A generational opportunity to change the child-poverty story in B.C. is knocking. The provincial NDP government and the B.C. Green party have committed to work together to design and implement a province-wide poverty reduction strategy. The new cabinet includes a minister MORE
First Call has submitted a written brief, Respecting Child & Youth Rights with Timely Investments, to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of their public consultation to prepare British Columbia’s 2018 budget. Each fall, the Committee drafts recommendations for the provincial budget based on the MORE
First Call in 2016: Have you been to Poor Child City? Welcome to our monthly update about First Call’s advocacy work and key developments in child and youth policy in BC. Join us as we look back at our wins and other work in 2016, and ask for your continued support MORE
BC’s child labour law must go – No clawbacks attached to CCB – First Call podcasts coming this fall – and more! Welcome to our monthly update on First Call’s advocacy work and key developments in child and youth policy in BC. Highlights this month include: Canada Child Benefit arrives, no MORE
July 11, 2016 Vancouver Sun by Adrienne Montani and Catherine Evans In 2004, when the B.C. government lowered the work start age to 12, our province became an outlier among developed states around the world. Nowhere else are there so few restrictions on the type of work children can do MORE
Canada (finally) ratified min working age standards – Maternity benefits clawback unfair – Parksville becomes a living wage employer – First Call staff changes Welcome to our monthly update about First Call’s advocacy work and key developments in child and youth policy in BC. Highlights this month include: Hello…Goodbye! First Call MORE