Today, First Call and Basics for Health Society sent a letter to the BC government urging a coordinated response to children’s health during this COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates, physicians, researchers and health care professionals have come together to voice their alarm about the harmful impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children, MORE
In early May, First Call added our voice to the call for the federal government to work closely with provincial and territorial governments, health institutions, and public health leaders to ensure and support access to healthcare for all people living in Canada, including those currently living in detention, regardless of MORE
Media Release November 20, 2018 First Call’s Annual 2018 Child Poverty Report Card Finds One in Five Children Still Poor (Vancouver BC) Today, First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition released its annual BC Child Poverty Report Card finding that not much has changed for poor children and their families. MORE
On August 3, First Call participated in the federal government’s Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2019 Budget with a submission that made recommendations in three key areas: Tax Fairness and Income Support Leveling the playing field for Canada’s children and youth is one of the best investments government can MORE
Canada’s first federal Poverty Reduction Strategy is expected to be released within the next few weeks. Campaign 2000’s newly released child poverty data reveals a disturbing picture of the magnitude of child poverty in every federal riding. The ridings with the worst child poverty rates are home to the highest MORE
NEW June 2018: Revised Submission to BC Poverty Reduction Strategy Consultation On March 30th 2018, First Call sent in a submission to the BC Poverty Reduction Strategy Consultation to Minister Simpson. Our first provincial report card containing data for 1994 showed that one in five BC children were poor. It is 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
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
Media release: November 21, 2017 Looking for Action to Change BC’s Child Poverty Story Data in the 2017 BC Child Poverty Report Card, released today by First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition, highlights the income inequality that leaves far too many British Columbia families struggling to cover basic 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
Adrienne Montani Most people are probably aware that immigrant and refugee families are over-represented in poverty statistics. 2011 data from the National Household Survey shows immigrants with less than five years in Canada have a one in three chance of being poor, much higher than the overall poverty rate. The MORE
We’re hiring – federal policy lowers living wage – federal progress update – restore aboriginal youth funding – sanctuary schools – and more! April 2016 Welcome to our monthly update about First Call’s advocacy work and key actions you can take to support children and youth in BC. Highlights this MORE
April 2016 This letter from the First Call Coalition congratulated all Members of Parliament and relevant Ministers (re)elected in the 2015 federal election and invited them to learn more about First Call’s vision and work. It also commends them on the actions they have already taken in their first few months of MORE
In the lead-up to the federal election, First Call developed an election toolkit outlining what is at stake for BC’s children and youth at the federal level under each of the 4 Keys to Success for Children and Youth. In this new report we’ve tracked the progress made on our policy recommendations based on announcements MORE
September 2015 First Call made a presentation and written submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services regarding the 2016 provincial budget. (Each fall, the Select Standing Committee holds province-wide public consultations on the next provincial budget, then drafts recommendations for the budget based on the input given.) MORE