B.C. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction Shane Simpson in counting on the federal government coming to the table in its quest to improving low-income housing and childcare in the province.
In his sixth week as minister, Simpson was in Prince George Monday to visit offices and staff under the ministry’s authority in the city and to meet with some of the organizations who are delivering services to vulnerable people.
Simpson listed making “strides in the housing area” and progressing towards $10-a-day childcare as priorities for his ministry, but indicated success federal cooperation on those fronts will be a significant factor.
“I’ve had conversations with one of the federal ministers responsible for poverty at the federal level and we’ve agreed to work together and I’m very hopeful,” Simpson said.
“They have a significant allocation of money over the next few years to put into housing and into childcare, which is a significant piece – the $10-a-day childcare plan that we’re moving forward on – and it will be to see how we can clarify what share of those resources will come to British Columbia and what conditions will be attached to those resources.”
Among Simpson’s stops was The Foundry, the soon-to-be-opened integrated health and social service centre for youth aged 12 to 24 across from city hall. Simpson said it makes more sense to extend services from the previous cutoff age of 18 years old.
“I think it’s a pretty neat model and if the buzz gets out there among young people who would need or want to access these services that this is an OK place to come to, I think it’s gong to be a big benefit to the community,” Simpson said.
The YMCA of Northern B.C. will operate the “one-stop shop.”
