February 13:
Nanaimo News Bulletin: Exercise needs due follow up
February 6:
Vancouver Sun: Life on welfare: separating fact from fiction
Vancouver Sun: Hardships of welfare poverty harm children and families
February 4:
The Link: Brar ends welfare journey a little lighter in body weight but hopefully richer in insight
Global BC TV: A month on welfare
Vancouver Sun: Surrey MLA ends his month on welfare a changed man
CBC TV: MLA ends welfare month
Global BC: Rich man, poor man
Globe and Mail: Video: BC politician reflects on a month living on welfare
Globe and Mail: Photos: Jagrup Brar’s month of poverty
The Tyee: A tour of duty in BC’s poverty ‘war zone’
Vancouver Observer: Social security rates for BC poor slammed as MLA ends welfare month hungry, broke
January 30:
The Province: Jagrup Brar a changed man after being “on welfare”
Georgia Straight: BC poverty reduction plan could reduce costs, advocates say
24 Hours: Government action plan costs less than poverty, advocate says
January 25:
Cloverdale Reporter: Jagrup Brar is keeping it real
Georgia Straight: NDP MLA Jagrup Brar prepares to bring welfare lessons back to BC legislature
January 23:
Surrey North Delta Leader: Being Jagrup Brar
24 Hours: Parenting in poverty a tough road
January 22:
CBC TV: MLA’s funds dwindle on welfare challenge
January 20:
Indo-Canadian Voice: Jagrup Brar Welfare Challenge moves to Vancouver only $21.45 left in the kitty
January 19:
Vancouver Sun: Surrey MLA brings his welfare challenge to Vancouver
January 17:
Georgia Straight: NDP MLA Jagrup Brar moves to Downtown Eastside for welfare challenge
Global BC: Welfare challenge
January 16:
Surrey Now: Weary and broke, Surrey MLA Brar braces for live in Vancouver’s downtown eastside
January 12:
Surrey Now: Brar’s a real leader
January 11:
Vancouver Sun: MLA Welfare Challenge: Money, food likely to run out
Surrey North Delta Leader: Surrey MLA is running low on money
January 10:
New Westminster News Leader: It’s time to focus on a national housing strategy
January 9:
Surrey North Delta Leader: Editorial: A Surrey MLA’s earnest bid to understand the plight of the poor
City TV: MLA on Welfare – Breakfast Television
January 6:
Vancouver Sun: MLA Brar says he shed tears trying to find affordable accommodation
January 5:
CTV BC: BC MLA fed up after five days on welfare rate
January 4:
Vancouver Sun: MLA finds making ends meet on welfare rate ‘eye-opening’
Globe and Mail: Crosscheck: How does BC’s welfare rate stack up?
Kamloops News: MLA’s time on welfare no picnic
January 3:
Metro: ‘One of the most emotional nights of my life’: Welfare challenge MLA
January 2:
Vancouver Sun: Surrey MLA Jagrup Brar takes vow of poverty for a month
The Province: Surrey MLA kicks off 30-day welfare challenge
January 1:
Global BC
CTV News (begins at 6:05)
News 1130: MLA begins month of living in poverty to raise awareness
December 29:
The Globe and Mail: MLA frets ahead of month-long welfare experiment
Georgia Straight: NDP MLA Jagrup Brar takes Raise the Rates poverty challenge
December 6:
Vancouver Sun: Brar welfare experiment just rhetoric, past suggests
December 1:
Surrey North Delta Leader: Surrey MLA to live on welfare next month
Surrey Now: MLA’s stint as poor man won’t offer real insight
November 29:
Metro: BC MLA to live on equivalent of welfare
Darpan Magazine: Jagrup Brar to live on welfare in hopes of raising poverty awareness
November 28:
The Globe and Mail: MLA accepts challenge to live on $610 stipend
24 Hours: MLA to experience welfare firsthand
Global BC: Welfare Challenge
Surrey Now: Surrey MLA Brar pledges to live on $610 a month
CBC News: BC MLA to live on $610 for one month
The Province: MLA Brar to live on $610 a month to target plight of BC’s low-income
News 1130: Surrey MLA to live on welfare for one month
CTV BC: BC MLA accepts challenge to live on welfare rate
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Advocacy is needed to deal with landlords that won’t treat fully and properly for pests such as bedbugs and rats, mold or won’t replace broken appliances, no heat or drafty windows and patio doors. There are no pro bono lawyers with knowledge of thehousing issues and the Residential Tenancy Act and the advocacy centres are so overloaded they can’t even return all the calls they get.
If we could guarantee a minimum of $900 for rent, $150 for utilities/phone AND $200/person for food per month, a family just *might* be able to pull themselves out of poverty. Sure, a family would still have to pay out of their food money for rent because a 3br can not be found for less than $1200, but it’s better than what we have now.