Poverty rates decrease from 2016 to 2018 according to Statistics Canada

VICTORIA–Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Shane Simpson released a statement in regards to Statistics Canada’s release of the Canadian Income Survey in 2018, showing a decline in poverty rates in BC.

“The 2018 Canadian Income Survey demonstrates that TogetherBC, the province’s first poverty reduction strategy, is working. We set a target to reduce the overall poverty rate by 25% and the child poverty rate by at least 50% by 2024 based on 2016 data,” said Simpson.

In 2018 BC’s overall poverty rate was 8.9 percent a decrease from 12 percent in 2016. The provinces’ child poverty rate declined from 6.9 percent in 2018 from 12 percent in 2016.

“These statistics are encouraging and confirm we’re on the right path, but there is still more work to do.”–Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction