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As the B.C. government prepares to table its budget Feb. 21, and as parties try to convince British Columbians to vote for them in May, they all need to focus on poverty, specifically how to reduce it throughout the province.

At 13.2 per cent, B.C.’s poverty rate is the second highest in Canada. Yet, we are the only province without a poverty-reduction plan.

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When asked about the call for a plan, the government points to its Jobs Plan. However, a report recently published by our organizations — Long Overdue: Why B.C. needs a poverty-reduction plan — shows how jobs alone aren’t the answer.

First, while a good job is indeed a route out of poverty for some, a large share of the poor are already employed in low-wage jobs. It’s a common misconception that the poor are mostly on social assistance. In fact, about half of those living below the poverty line are either the working poor or children of the working poor. While over 13 per cent of British Columbians live in poverty, only about four per cent rely on social assistance at any given time.