Local teachers are taking the fight against child poverty to city hall.
During the first city council meeting of 2013, the Prince George District Teachers' Association will present a petition for a poverty reduction plan.
The petition presented to council has about 270 signatures backing a request for the city to partner with the provincial government to launch a comprehensive and accountable plan to reduce and eventually eliminate child poverty in B.C.
According to the B.C. Teachers' Federation, "a child's performance in school is strongly related to socio-economic status. A strong education is often the only means of breaking the cycle of poverty for poor children."
On Nov. 20, the United Nations' International Day of the Child, teachers and their supporters rallied outside of Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond's constituency office and collected food and clothes for the Elizabeth Fry Society.
Bond, unable to attend the event due to it conflicting with the regimental funeral for a Surrey-based RCMP officer the same day - wrote in a letter that she appreciates the group's concerns over child poverty and that she assures "that our government is working hard to ensure that all families in British Columbia are able to properly care for their children."
Council will also hear from the proponents of a proposed natural gas pipeline, Spectra Energy.
The 850-kilometre line would stretch from northeastern B.C. to Prince Rupert with a view towards moving natural gas to new places (a Spectra line already goes from Fort Nelson to the south coast) and creating new jobs.
The 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society will also have council's ear as they present an overview of their business plan. According to the society, the key to the success of $27.5 million event will be their ability to generate more than $10 million in private sector funds and ticket and merchandise revenue.
