Submission: BC Budget 2027
At a moment that calls for nation-building, we must address the growing crises of poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and inequality in BC.
Submitted to the BC Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of the 2027 provincial budget consultations
Presented by Chantelle Spicer on behalf of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
We agree with the BC Government’s budget consultation paper, which states that now is the time to protect BC’s core public services and future. At a moment that calls for nation-building, we must meaningfully acknowledge the growing crises of poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and inequality in the province, seeing them not just as social challenges, but as economic liabilities that undermine our society. Social safety nets and investments in well-being should be part of the nation and economy-building initiatives BC has stated it is committed to.
We see the following priority areas as vital next steps for the government to take in that work:
Recommendation 1: Indexing social assistance rates to inflation
First, we recommend taking a necessary step in increasing the livability in social assistance rates by indexing these rates to inflation. There are fiscal, population health, and moral benefits to increasing these rates immediately, as we work to meet the basic needs and human rights of people in BC.
Despite incremental increases to social assistance rates since 2017, current rates are forcing people into inadequate living situations and insecure food access. Indexing rates to inflation would ensure that assistance can at least keep up with inflation, which is weakening the spending power of increases given previously. As of 2024, BC began indexing minimum wage to inflation, while also recognizing that there is a case for similarly indexing income assistance rates to inflation in the update to the poverty reduction strategy (34), while more than half of all provinces and territories now index at least some parts of their social assistance benefits. Though we do see indexing rates as a step in reducing the impacts of inflation on low-income people and families, it serves more as a floor than a ceiling and does not let the government off the hook for inadequate rates.
Recommendation 2: Create a targeted income for people fleeing domestic and intimate partner violence
Second, we urge this government to action a primary recommendation from the 2020 BC basic income expert panel to create a targeted income for people fleeing domestic and intimate partner violence. Ensuring that women and gender-diverse people can leave violent relationships and build safe lives is a matter of public safety, equity, and community well-being. BC’s social safety net is meant to support people experiencing a transition in their lives, but a critical gap exists for people leaving domestic and intimate partner violence. When people and families are undertaking such a significant and dangerous shift in their lives, having agency and access to funds ensures they do not have to return to violent homes. A targeted income support could simultaneously as part of the province’s efforts to prevent violence and support survivors who have experienced violence.
Recommendation 3: Investing in non-market housing
Finally, we are calling for investment in a continuum of non-market housing, including accessible and family-oriented units across municipalities in BC. While a new supply of housing through BC Builds is undeniably critical in our current environment, an over-reliance on the supply-side of housing, without considering deep affordability for low-income households at shelter rate risks perpetuating the very issues we seek to resolve. Research and lived experience consistently show that the private market – on its own – will not provide affordable and safe housing for those facing the worst expressions of the housing crisis and poverty, especially if they are women or gender-diverse, Indigenous, racialized, have a disability, or are single parent households.
Rather than cuts to housing, which we saw in last year’s budget, we recommend that Budget 2027 significantly invest in increasing the province-wide stock of all forms of social housing, including the right to housing for the lowest income peoples in our province. Affordable non-market housing options and investing in transitional housing for women fleeing violence are key priority areas that would immensely impact the housing spectrum, the non-profit sector, and the public safety of people across our province. BC needs 25,000 units of affordable housing as a starting point to build a foundation to address the housing crisis in BC.
Our recommendations are rooted in dignity and the vision for a province without poverty. We hope the BC government will take these recommendations seriously as they prepare Budget 2026.
