Advocates across BC are dusting off their placards and signs as we face yet another round of funding cuts to public education and support services for children, youth and their families.
Many of us organized petitions and demonstrations in 2002 – a year of unprecedented funding cuts – and now find ourselves resurrecting the slogans and strategies that called us to action back then. The issue, it seems, has not changed. Our decision-makers seem to need constant reminding of the importance of taking care of children when they are children.
Newborns and their families can’t wait for oil and gas revenues to rebound to get the help they need to be healthy and strong. Primary students can’t put their schooling on hold to wait for consumers to spend again. Adolescents can’t wait for the real estate market to rebound to get the education they need for our future.
This Friday, November 20th is the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child & National Child Day in Canada. To commemorate the day, please visit Moms on the Move and sign their petition urging Premier Campbell to honour his promises to BC’s children.
On November 24, First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition is holding a Provincial Day of Action on Child Poverty. Write a letter to your MP and MLA to urge action on child poverty in BC.
This is the first post on my newly renovated blog. You – yes YOU – out there reading, please stay tuned. I hope to post here regularly on the issues close to my heart. AND I hope if you are reading you will also consider writing here too.
Thanks.
Helesia
