Victoria, BC – October 2, 2017: Inclusion BC\’s Faith Bodnar and other disability advocates joined BC Minister Shane Simpson today to announce a new transportation supplement for people who live on Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefits.
The new transportation supplement fulfills the BC government\’s promise to restore the bus pass for PWD recipients effective January 2018 without any clawbacks.
The Ministry for Social Development and Poverty Reduction announced the new flexible transportation supplement, which can be used for a bus pass or other transportation options, at a press conference Monday morning.
Bodnar, Inclusion BC\’s Executive Director, had urged government to restore the bus pass as soon as possible, noting that reliable and affordable access to transportation is critical to ensuring that people with disabilities can exercise their rights to community inclusion.
On Monday, Bodnar joined Minister Simpson for the announcement and applauded the move as a positive one.
\”Almost 18 months ago. Inclusion BC and thousands of British Columbians called for the restoration of the bus pass,\” Bodnar said. \”We brought our call to this very legislature along with the support of 16,000 people who signed our petition.\”
\”I am very pleased that the new government has made transportation a priority for people on PWD. Not only for those who use a bus pass but for everyone on PWD,\” Bodnar said.
Other advocates, including Disability Alliance BC and the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) also joined the Minister for the announcement and applauded the move.
The provincial government has recently taken a number of steps to start addressing the poverty faced by people with disabilities (read more).
- In September, PWD rates were increased $100/month.
- In September, the BC government also increased the earnings exemption (the amount someone can earn from working before their PWD benefits are reduced) by $200 per month.
This raises the total annual earnings exemption for 2017 to $12,000 for a single person before any reduction in their monthly PWD benefits. BC now has the highest annualized earnings exemption for disability benefit recipients in Canada.
Inclusion BC is also participating in community consultations that Minister Simpson has launched to help shape a poverty reduction strategy for BC.
\”The transportation supplement is a major improvement that acknowledges all British Columbians with disabilities on assistance should receive support to get around in their communities, wherever they live,\” Bodnar said. \”This, along with the increase in earnings exemptions, is an important step forward in providing people on disability assistance with the capacity to work, improve their quality of life without penalty and contribute economically to the province.”
Inclusion BC looks forward to working with government and community partners to ensure income security for people with intellectual disabilities. This includes PWD rates that reflect the true cost of living and that are indexed to inflation.
About Inclusion BC
We are a provincial federation of people with intellectual disabilities, families and community agencies that advocates for inclusion, rights and full citizenship. Since 1955, we have been working with communities, partners and governments to advance our vision of a world where we all belong.
More: inclusionbc.org
Contacts
Faith Bodnar
Executive Director
Inclusion BC
Cel: 604 764-2591
Email: [email protected]
Dawn Steele
Communications
Cel: 604 374-1530
Email: [email protected]
NEWS RELEASE Inclusion BC welcomes restored PWD bus pass
Posted: October 2, 2017 by cvsadmin
Victoria, BC – October 2, 2017: Inclusion BC\’s Faith Bodnar and other disability advocates joined BC Minister Shane Simpson today to announce a new transportation supplement for people who live on Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefits.
The new transportation supplement fulfills the BC government\’s promise to restore the bus pass for PWD recipients effective January 2018 without any clawbacks.
The Ministry for Social Development and Poverty Reduction announced the new flexible transportation supplement, which can be used for a bus pass or other transportation options, at a press conference Monday morning.
Bodnar, Inclusion BC\’s Executive Director, had urged government to restore the bus pass as soon as possible, noting that reliable and affordable access to transportation is critical to ensuring that people with disabilities can exercise their rights to community inclusion.
On Monday, Bodnar joined Minister Simpson for the announcement and applauded the move as a positive one.
\”Almost 18 months ago. Inclusion BC and thousands of British Columbians called for the restoration of the bus pass,\” Bodnar said. \”We brought our call to this very legislature along with the support of 16,000 people who signed our petition.\”
\”I am very pleased that the new government has made transportation a priority for people on PWD. Not only for those who use a bus pass but for everyone on PWD,\” Bodnar said.
Other advocates, including Disability Alliance BC and the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) also joined the Minister for the announcement and applauded the move.
The provincial government has recently taken a number of steps to start addressing the poverty faced by people with disabilities (read more).
This raises the total annual earnings exemption for 2017 to $12,000 for a single person before any reduction in their monthly PWD benefits. BC now has the highest annualized earnings exemption for disability benefit recipients in Canada.
Inclusion BC is also participating in community consultations that Minister Simpson has launched to help shape a poverty reduction strategy for BC.
\”The transportation supplement is a major improvement that acknowledges all British Columbians with disabilities on assistance should receive support to get around in their communities, wherever they live,\” Bodnar said. \”This, along with the increase in earnings exemptions, is an important step forward in providing people on disability assistance with the capacity to work, improve their quality of life without penalty and contribute economically to the province.”
Inclusion BC looks forward to working with government and community partners to ensure income security for people with intellectual disabilities. This includes PWD rates that reflect the true cost of living and that are indexed to inflation.
About Inclusion BC
We are a provincial federation of people with intellectual disabilities, families and community agencies that advocates for inclusion, rights and full citizenship. Since 1955, we have been working with communities, partners and governments to advance our vision of a world where we all belong.
More: inclusionbc.org
Contacts
Faith Bodnar
Executive Director
Inclusion BC
Cel: 604 764-2591
Email: [email protected]
Dawn Steele
Communications
Cel: 604 374-1530
Email: [email protected]
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