Skip to content

The Monitor Progressive news, views and ideas

Ten things to know about homelessness in BC

January 1, 1970

0-minute read

On February 20, the British Columbia (BC) government will table its next provincial budget. With that in mind, it’s useful to reflect on the province’s homelessness crisis—along with the various public policy factors that have likely contributed to it.

Here are 10 things to know:

  1. Public operating spending by BC’s provincial government has seen a steady reduction over the past two decades. As a share of Gross Domestic Product, provincial public operating spending has gone from roughly 22% to roughly 18% during this time. The downward trend was especially sharp during the first mandate of the Gordon Campbell Liberal government (2001-2005); but the trend has yet to be reversed, even with the recent election of an NDP government. All of this is illustrated in the visual below.
 

Related Articles

Seven things Canada could do with an ambitious federal budget in 2023

We’re not expecting many bells and whistles in this federal budget. It doesn’t need to be that way.

US–Canada agreement to close Roxham Road will cost lives, migrants say

Legal observers worry the newly-expanded Safe Third Country Agreement contravenes international conventions on refugees.

Balanced budget leaves Ontarians behind

It bears repeating—properly funded public services do more to improve Ontarians' lives than deficit reduction.

Show your support

Since the beginning of the pandemic, our writers and researchers have provided groundbreaking commentary and analysis that has shaped Canada's response to COVID-19. We've fought for better supports for workers affected by pandemic closures, safer working conditions on the frontline, and more. With the launch of the new Monitor site, we're working harder than ever to share even more progressive news, views and ideas for Canada's road to recovery. Help us grow.

Support the Monitor