SURREY– New Democrat MLAs in Surrey are welcoming provincial funding that will help the City of Surrey provide supports for vulnerable and low-income people in their community.
The City of Surrey has received $25,000 in provincial funding to develop an updated Surrey Poverty Reduction plan. The City will work in partnership with organizations including the Surrey Poverty Reduction Coalition and the Skookum Lab Indigenous Child Poverty Task Force to develop the plan.
Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford, says the grant funding will support the City of Surrey to develop an updated poverty reduction plan that addresses the unique needs of the community.
“Poverty looks different in every community, and this funding will empower our community to work together to develop a plan that recognizes the specific needs, challenges, and strengths of people in Surrey,” said Begg.
The local investment is part of the Poverty Reduction Planning and Action Program which will empower 54 local governments across the province, through 29 projects, to develop poverty reduction plans that directly support people in their communities.
The 29 projects are receiving a total of $1.4 million, from a $5 million provincial grant to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM), with individual project funding ranging from $16,000 to $150,000. The grant is part of the New Democrat government’s commitment to partner with local governments and communities in poverty reduction initiatives, as part of TogetherBC, B.C.’s first poverty reduction strategy.
“Every person in Surrey deserves to be able to make ends meet, and provide for their family,” said Jinny Sims, MLA for Surrey-Panorama. “This investment in poverty reduction is another important step in our efforts to lift people out of poverty.”
“This provincial funding will support the City of Surrey’s work to develop a poverty reduction plan,” said Jagrup Brar, MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood. “This means Surrey will have a greater capacity to address poverty at the local level.”
“Too many people in our community are struggling to get by,” said Rachna Singh, MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers. “These investments demonstrate our government’s commitment to reducing poverty and making life more affordable for all people in B.C.”
“Addressing the complex issue of poverty takes collaboration at every level of government,” said Harry Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton. “I’m proud to see our government supporting municipalities like the City of Surrey to ensure they have the tools they need to address poverty locally.”
“This investment in Surrey is a part of our government’s work to ensure people have the supports they need to break the cycle of poverty,” said Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley. “This grant will strengthen our shared ability to work together to reduce poverty in our community.”
Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020SDPR0032-000990
