WHEREAS the October 2005 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rental Market Report for Kelowna indicates average rents far exceed the shelter allowance portion of BC Assistance; AND WHEREAS the cost of living, particularly shelter in this province, has continually increased without corresponding adjustments to the levels of assistance; AND WHEREAS thousands of low-income households in our city are paying far in excess of 30 the majority in excess of 50 of their gross income before tax on shelter; AND WHEREAS adults with disabilities may have greater expenses than seniors in order to address the needs of their disability, including access to special needs housing: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance be asked to increase current assistance rates and implement a program to adjust those rates annually based on the BC Average Annual Consumer Price Index; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the provincial Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance also be asked to increase assistance for adults with disabilities to the same level of assistance available to seniors.
MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME ASSISTANCE Thank you for your letter of December 8, 2006 to the Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier, regarding the announcement at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities UBCM conference to raise shelter rates. As Minister of Employment and Income Assistance, I am pleased to respond. I can assure you that the government remains committed to building the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities. We are helping individuals and families most in need move toward sustainable employment and participate in the community more fully as they are able. Since 2001, the ministry has moved towards this goal with the support and input of UBCM. Further to this, I appreciate your support for the increase to shelter rates for our clients. This initiative will be the first increase to shelter rates since 1994 and will help to ensure the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens. This is in addition to increases in the disability rates introduced in January 2005, placing the provinces disability rates as the third highest among the provinces. Details on amount of the rate increase and the implementation date are being determined through the budget process and will be announced in the provincial budget in February 2007.