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
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
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
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
Bear Witness Day – Repeal Section 43 – Federal poverty reduction strategy – and more! May 2017 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: Bear Witness Day Repeal Section 43: Letters and response 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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 31, 2016 First Call Coalition members were looking for a 2016 federal budget that put Canada’s children and youth first and that ensured that BC’s children and youth have the resources they need to thrive. We were heartened by a number of new commitments for 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
August 2014 First Call submitted its written brief A Call for a Budget That Pays Attention to Canada’s Children as part of the federal pre-budget 2015’s consultation process. The brief’s recommendations touched on four key areas for action: Improving supports for young families and their children Reducing income inequality and health MORE
June 2014 Mid-June, First Call sent a letter to Premier Christy Clark in support of the recommendations in the report On Their Own: Examining the Needs of BC Youth as They Leave Government Care, released April 2014 by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the BC representative for children and youth. “These are MORE
September 2013 First Call submitted this written brief to the BC Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. (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.) First Call’s recommendations call for a MORE
May 2013 First Call’s Child Labour Is No Accident: The Experience of BC’s Working Children brings together original research through interviews and focus groups with existing studies to examine the consequences of child labour laws in BC. The study focused on three areas of potential impact: health and safety, wages and MORE