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Politics

Tweet Against Poverty: #bcwantsaplan

Join the conversation on Twitter to send a message to the premier. Finish this sentence: "I would be proud of my premier if..." and tag it #bcwantsaplan.

David Beers 11 Mar 2011TheTyee.ca

David Beers is editor of The Tyee.

Would you feel proud if our premier took leadership against poverty and set in motion a plan to reduce it?

Well, you're not alone! In fact, 91 per cent of British Columbians feel the same way.

Which inspired the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition to create the video above. And to invent a fun little Twitter game, that asks: What else could the new premier do to make so many of us proud?

Crack a walnut between bicep and forearm?

Tattoo a walnut between bicep and forearm?

Just manage to eat a walnut and not get little bits stuck between the teeth?

Check out what people are already twittering, and add your own, here: #bcwantsaplan

Change is doable

In the meantime, consider these less than fun facts about our province: B.C. has the highest poverty rate in Canada; one in four living in poverty is a child; most poor people are working; and the poverty rate as of 2008 started rising again.

It doesn't have to be that way, given all the resources, brain power and people of good will here in British Columbia. Consider:

Six provinces in Canada have either adopted poverty-reduction plans, or are in the process of developing them; and

In the United Kingdom, the government set a plan in motion and reduced child poverty by almost 25 per cent in five years.

Now is the time for B.C. to set clear goals, with concrete targets and a system of transparency. That way, the public can measure the results, even when the government changes hands.

British Columbians want a plan. Get tweeting!

Over 90 per cent of British Columbians believe that if other countries can reduce poverty, Canada can.

Eighty-seven per cent of British Columbians believe that now is the time for strong political leadership to reduce the number of B.C. and Canada's poor.

Eighty-seven per cent said the Prime Minister and the premier should set concrete targets and timelines to reduce poverty.

Ninety-one per cent said they would feel proud if B.C.'s premier took leadership on poverty reduction.

Which brings us back to the new B.C. poverty video you can watch at the top of this article.

And the Twitterfest we're helping to launch here. If more than nine out of 10 British Columbians would be proud if the premier took leadership on poverty reduction, what else could the new premier do to make so many of us proud? Get Tweeting at #bcwantsaplan  [Tyee]

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