Dear Editor:
With next year's election looking like a rout of historical proportions, B.C. Liberals are probably beginning to think about the legacy they'll leave behind once they're erased from political relevance.
If Liberals are expecting accolades in their future for the job they've done governing British Columbia in the past 11 years, they're going to be sorely mistaken.
Statistics Canada has pointed out that for the 12th year in a row, British Columbia has the highest poverty rate in Canada among all provinces and territories. British Columbia is also one of only two provinces that do not have a dedicated poverty reduction plan, even though such legislation has been proposed by the B.C. New Democrats and languishes in the legislature.
At least one streak was broken this year, though it's hard to imagine that it was through the policies of the Liberals. British Columbia finally does not have the worst child poverty rate in the country, but having more than 11 per cent of all children in poverty is hardly a sign of an enlightened government.
Christy Clark told the province that she would put Families First if she became premier. She's been premier for over a year now, and the only family she's put first is her own. It's time for the premier to show her words have meaning and to enact comprehensive reform to address poverty throughout the province.
Trevor Ritchie, Burnaby
