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According to Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy (2018), "poverty is the condition of a person who is deprived of the resources, means, choices and power necessary to acquire and maintain a basic level of living standards and to facilitate integration and participation in society."

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The UN (2023) mentions that "Poverty entails more than the lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, as well as the lack of participation in decision-making."

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Canada’s Official Poverty Line is based on the Market Basket Measure (MBM), which is a way of calculating the cost of a certain amount of goods and services that meet people’s needs and allow them to have a modest living experience.

The MBM sets thresholds based on the cost of food, clothes, transportation and other services for different regions in different provinces. If families or individuals have an income below those thresholds, they are considered to be living in poverty.

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Affordable housing is considered to be when a household's total cost for shelter does not exceed 30% of its income. The average rent cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Canada is $2,072 which is 72% of a minimum wage full-time job meaning 3 full-time minimum wage jobs are needed for a single-bedroom apartment to be considered affordable. Cheaper housing is also often farther away from city centers where most jobs are located meaning the people who live in cheaper housing also have to worry about transportation.

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There are many kinds of discrimination all of which have a range of consequences against those discriminated against, all of which contribute towards poverty. A noticeable example of this is that the average non-Caucasian person with a post-secondary degree makes noticeably less than a Caucasian person with the same degree. Even more noticeable is the pay difference between a Caucasian man and a non-Caucasian woman who both have the same degree Caucasian men making $51,600 on average and non-Caucasian women making $45,700.

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Underemployment and Unemployment are arguably the largest contributors to poverty. The BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner defines poverty as an "Inadequate standard of living." The cause of this is fundamentally a lack of resources which are gained in Canada through money which is earned almost exclusively through employment. Unemployment can be an inability to work because of a disability or a lack of jobs that a person is qualified for. Underemployment is when there is a lack of cost of living jobs forcing people to work multiple jobs to survive, or a lack of jobs in a person's field meaning they cannot apply their expertise.

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Education, or rather the lack thereof, is often a large reason that multiple generations of a family stay in poverty. The reason for this is that jobs that do not require a post-secondary education or a high school degree do not pay enough to pay for someone to attend a post-secondary institute while also paying for living expenses. Adding to this some post-secondary institutions do not allow students to have jobs while attending school. It is extremely difficult to get an education when to pay for said education you need a job that requires you to have an education in the first place. This can lead to families not being able to break past the poverty line because they cannot afford the thing that would allow them to no longer be in poverty.

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British Columbia's Poverty Reduction Strategy aims to reduce overall poverty by 25% and child poverty by 50% by 2024, focusing on affordability, opportunity, reconciliation, and social inclusion. The strategy prioritizes affordable housing, family support, education expansion, job creation, income support, and social inclusion ( British Columbia Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, 2024).

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This video provides a dynamic explanation of the MBM and how it has become the Official Poverty Line of Canada.

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Decoding Canada’s Poverty: Understanding the Market Basket Measure

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According to the Canadian Poverty Institute (2024), there are three dimensions of poverty in the country, which are not only related to monetary issues.

1. Material Poverty: directly related to the lack of financial resources.

2. Social Poverty: related to the lack of support or resources from the community or Government.

3. Spiritual Poverty: related to the lack of motivation, purpose and meaning in life.

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According to an aticle from the Tyee, The British Columbia province's poverty reduction strategy shows the province still has the highest poverty rate in the country, despite exceeding targets set five years ago. The Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction acknowledges that vulnerable people are still suffering and highlights concerns about food and rent price inflation, housing crises, and mental health issues. The government is working on renewing the strategy and presenting it to the legislature in spring (MacLeod,The Tyee, 2023).

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Access to Healthcare: Assistance for people without care providers (Fairpharmadrug -healthlinkbc).

Income assistance: suited for people that have monthly difficulties in make ends meet (my selfserve app) people can apply to province income supplement help.

Food and security: Food bank access (interactive map online FoodBanksBC) people can access also to food exchanges (with subsidized prices) and community kitchens.

Medical Evaluations: access to medical services like screening questions, history taking, physical examinations, laboratory testing.

Disability Assistance: for persons with disabilities.

Bus pass assistance: reduce costs and annual bus pass for low-income seniors and with disability assistance (Univeristy of British Columbia, n.d).

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Bc housing finder: Is a rental assistance program that provides low income working families with cash assistance to help with monthly rent payments.

Shelter aid for elderly renters: Provide monthly cash payments to BC residents over 60 who pay home rent.

Subsidized housing: provides long term assistance for low-income families.

Emergency shelters: are temporary but immediate places to stay for homeless or at risk.

Basic needs resources: free laundry places and free showers

(Univeristy of British Columbia, n.d).

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According to the Poverty Reduction Strategy of British Columbia (2019), these are relevant facts about people living below the poverty line in BC:

B.C. has one of the highest rates of poverty in the country and has had for decades. We have the second highest overall poverty rate in Canada.

About 40% of people living below the poverty line are working.

Indigenous peoples and people with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty.

B.C. has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country, with approximately 99,000 children living in poverty in B.C.

Children who live in single parent families are more than three times more likely to live in poverty than children in two parent families.

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In 2019, Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, introduced the first Poverty Reduction strategy for British Columbia: TogetherBC. The initiative was developed after consulting British Columbians about the main causes of poverty in the province and the lack of resources or opportunitites to thrive.

The strategy focuses on six priority action areas:

1. Affordable housing.

2. Support for families, youth and children.

3. Expansion of access to education and training.

4. More job opportunities.

5. Improvement of income supports.

6. Investment in social inclusion.

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Poverty in British Columbia is a complex issue affecting diverse groups. Despite overall prosperity, many struggle to afford basic necessities like housing, food, and healthcare. Factors contributing to poverty include income inequality, high housing costs, limited job opportunities, education disparities, inadequate social services, and systemic discrimination. Some of groups more impacted by poverty are:

Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous communities in BC, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, experience significantly higher rates of poverty compared to non-Indigenous populations. Historical injustices such as colonization, forced displacement, and the intergenerational trauma resulting from the residential school system have contributed to economic disparities among Indigenous peoples.

Racialized Communities: Racialized communities in BC, including Black, Asian, and other minority groups, may face systemic discrimination and barriers to economic opportunities, leading to higher rates of poverty within these communities.

Youth and Children: Children growing up in poverty face significant challenges that can impact their physical health, education, and future economic opportunities. Additionally, youth aging out of the foster care system or experiencing family instability are at heightened risk of poverty. According to the governmental report "Together BC," as of 2021, the percentage of children and youth aged under 18 living in poverty was 7.9%.

People with Disabilities: Individuals with disabilities often encounter barriers to employment, education, transportation, and housing, making them more susceptible to poverty. Discrimination, inaccessible environments, and the additional costs associated with disability contribute to financial insecurity among this population.

Immigrants  and Refugees: Immigrants and refugees in British Columbia confront poverty due to obstacles like employment barriers, housing affordability issues, limited social connections, discrimination, and difficulties accessing settlement services.

Seniors: Seniors facing poverty in British Columbia encounter several challenges. Many rely on fixed incomes that may not cover rising living costs, especially housing and healthcare expenses. Housing affordability is a significant concern, leading to housing instability for some seniors. Healthcare costs, including medications and long-term care, can strain finances. Social isolation is common among seniors, affecting mental and physical well-being. Mobility issues and accessibility barriers further limit access to services and community engagement.