Everyone deserves a chance to be healthy, and our political leaders can take action to improve those opportunities for health.
Low-income British Columbians are between 24% and 91% more likely to die earlier from cancer (24%), respiratory diseases (53%), circulatory diseases (65%) and diabetes (91%).[i]
This is largely from negative health effects that come from the stress of living in poverty, as well as the high price of nutritious food and not having the resources to participate in social and physical activities.
Studies show that as socioeconomic status improves, people’s physical and mental health also improve. BCAHL supports poverty reduction measures as we see it as an important way to create a healthier province.
We ask the provincial government to:
- Make sure Income and Disability Assistance rates keep up with inflation so people can afford healthy basics
- Expand affordable housing supply and make sure new housing developments include supports like childcare and newcomer services, recreation facilities and parks
- Provide funding for more low-cost physical activity programming and subsidies for sport for low-income families
- Listen to the recommendations from the First Nations Leadership Council
- Expand affordable housing supply and make sure new housing developments include supports like childcare and newcomer services, recreation facilities and parks
- Provide funding for more low-cost physical activity programming and subsidies for sport for low-income families
- Listen to the recommendations from the First Nations Leadership Council
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[i] Tjepkema M, Wilkins, R, Long A, Cause-specific mortality by income adequacy in Canada: A 16-year follow-up study Health Reports 2013 Vol. 24 no.7 pp. 14-22