Open Letter to Premier Gordon Campbell

Feb 12, 2007 Raise the Rates published a letter to Campbell in the Province newspaper today. The letter addresses the level of inequality in this wealthy province, and urges him to raise welfare rates and minimum wage, and remove the arbitrary barriers that deny assistance to those in need. This open letter has been signed by a number of influential supporters, both individual and organisations/community groups - the full list, along with the letter, is available here.

A news conference announcing the letter was held on Friday Feb. 9 at 10am at 540 E. Hastings, Jenny Pentland Place. There were 6 speakers:

• Andrea Ottem (Dietitian)
• Ken Buchanan (British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society)
• Adrienne Montani (First Call BC Child and Youth Coalition)
• Sherman Chan (Working Group on Poverty)
• Graham Riches (Director, UBC School of Social Work)
• Jim Sinclair (President, BC Federation of Labour)

An opinion editorial also appeared in the Vancouver Sun today in support of our demands - see here for the full article.

For background information on Raise the Rates click here.