BC Greens announce plan to raise income assistance to the poverty line
The BC Green Party published a poverty reduction platform on October 6, proposing to raise provincial income and disability assistance rates to match the market-basket poverty line and index them to inflation.
Announcement. A campaign, a party or the City chose to say this. voche.me reports it as their claim. Read the original report on bcgreens.ca.
The BC Green Party published a poverty reduction platform on October 6, 2026, at an event in Victoria. Party leader Emily Lowan announced the plan, which focuses on provincial income and disability assistance rates.
What the party proposes
The announcement calls for raising social and disability assistance rates to match the market-basket poverty line and indexing those rates to inflation so they increase with costs over time. The party also says it would remove clawbacks, meaning people on assistance could earn income without losing benefits, and create easier access to programs by removing what it describes as intrusive eligibility checks.
The plan also includes a targeted basic income for young people who have aged out of government care. The party says this income would equal the poverty line until the person turns 25.
Other proposals include an Indigenous-specific poverty elimination plan, funding for Indigenous-led services covering reintegration, addiction support, and childcare, and reduced barriers for non-profit service providers.
The party's figures
According to the BC Green Party's announcement, a single person receiving disability assistance in British Columbia currently receives $1,483.50 per month. The party puts the market-basket poverty line at $2,480 per month, which it says leaves people on disability assistance $997 below the poverty line.
Lowan is quoted in the announcement as saying: "The social and disability assistance rates are nearly $1000 below the poverty line, leaving vulnerable people in an even worse situation."
The party says one in 16 British Columbians lives in deep poverty and that 50,000 children are in deep poverty. It puts the cost of poverty to the provincial government at between $15.9 billion and $22 billion in 2026, which it says is 3.4% to 4.7% of provincial GDP.
These figures come from the party's own materials. voche.me has not independently verified them.
What voters can do
This is a platform announcement ahead of the October 24 vote. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21. You can compare what each party has announced on income support and social policy using the party pages on this site.
Questions this story answers
What is the BC Greens' plan for income assistance?
The BC Green Party published a poverty reduction platform on October 6, 2026. The plan calls for raising provincial income assistance and disability assistance rates to match the market-basket poverty line and indexing those rates to inflation so they keep pace with costs. The party also proposes removing clawbacks on assistance, creating low-barrier access without what it describes as intrusive eligibility checks, and developing an Indigenous-specific poverty elimination plan. These are the party's own proposals.
What is the current disability assistance rate in BC?
According to the BC Green Party's announcement, a single person receiving disability assistance in British Columbia currently receives $1,483.50 per month. The party says the market-basket poverty line stands at $2,480 per month, leaving people on disability assistance $997 below the poverty line. These figures come from the party's own announcement materials.
What is the BC Greens' plan for young people who age out of government care?
The BC Green Party's announcement includes a targeted basic income for young people who have been in government care and aged out of the system. The party says this income would equal the poverty line, at $2,480 per month on its figures, and would continue until age 25. This is the party's own proposal.
What does the BC Greens say about the cost of poverty?
The BC Green Party's announcement states that poverty costs the provincial government between $15.9 billion and $22 billion in 2026, representing 3.4% to 4.7% of provincial GDP. The party also says one in 16 British Columbians lives in deep poverty and that 50,000 children are in deep poverty. These figures come from the party's own materials and have not been independently verified.
What did Emily Lowan say about poverty in BC?
In the announcement, Emily Lowan is quoted as saying: 'Poverty is a political choice' and 'In a province with immense wealth, it is unthinkable that one in 16 of us are living in deep poverty.' She also said: 'The social and disability assistance rates are nearly $1000 below the poverty line, leaving vulnerable people in an even worse situation.'
What does the BC Greens plan propose for non-profit service providers?
The BC Green Party's announcement includes a proposal to reduce barriers for non-profit organizations that provide services to people on income assistance. The party says it would also develop Indigenous-specific services for reintegration, addiction support, and childcare. These are the party's own proposals.
When is the BC provincial election?
The British Columbia general election is on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to 21, inclusive. You can register to vote and find your voting place through the Elections BC website. To be eligible you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old on voting day.
Who is Emily Lowan?
Emily Lowan is the leader of the BC Green Party and a candidate in the Saanich North and the Islands district in the BC provincial election on October 24, 2026. You can read her candidate profile at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/emily-lowan.
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