Shine a Light takes place tomorrow

Apr 7, 2021 | 2:52 PM

The United Church of Canada has declared that April 8th, 2021 as a time to Shine a Light on the need for a Guaranteed Livable Income in Canada.

In brief, it is asking both Todd Doherty, MP and Bob Zimmer, MP to support immediate non-partisan and inter-jurisdictional development and implementation of a Guaranteed Livable Income plan for all Canadians.

The Board of Trinity United Church in Prince George on March 23rd, 2021 passed a motion of support for this campaign; encouraged our members to become informed about the need for a Guaranteed Livable Income; and uplifted ways to participate on April 8th as part of Shine a Light. As a community of faith, we believe that we are all called to care for our neighbours and ensure that they have ‘daily bread’, which in the 21st Century means enough income to afford safe housing, food security, and health/dental/eye care.

But, based on the recent findings from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, such a concept would be good for the lowest income and not so good for the middle class.

“I think what government should be doing is doing everything in their power to create policies and opportunities that incentivize small businesses to create jobs in our most marginalized communities,” says Doherty.

“Essentially we’re saying it’s time for us to re-vamp the social safety net that sees beyond the jurisdictional issues of ‘Well, that’s federal’ or ‘That’s provincial’ or ‘That’s municipal.’ Let’s finally say it’s time to see beyond that and beyond, ‘Is it a green or an orange or a blue or a red or an independent? Beyond those partisan pieces,” explains Reverend Bob Fillier of Trinity United Church.

On April 8th, 2021 from 12 noon until 1:30 pm we are inviting members of our community of faith and the wider public to join our team at the office of Todd Doherty, MP and Bob Zimmer, MP; to light a candle; have their picture taken, and post the picture on various social platforms.

We’re also inviting people to post pictures of candles, especially if they don’t want to be in the picture. If you’re interested in following the campaign, we’ll be using the hashtags: #UCCAN #UCCANLivableIncome #Poverty #BasicIncome.