Some BC charities want more help for young families

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The first ever Family Day in BC is this long weekend and a coalition of the province’s biggest charities wants the government to help young families deal with the high cost of living here.

One University of British Columbia Policy professor has coined the term “Generation Squeeze” in reference to the issues that young parents are faced with.

Paul Kershaw says they are being squeezed between lower incomes and higher costs for things like child care and saving for retirement.

He says governments spend $45,000 dollars per retiree and only $12,000 per person under the age of 45.

“Let’s do things like $10 a day child care, so you don’t have to really eliminate a spending net, we just need to tweak it slightly. That small change could make big big differences in the lives of young people when times are especially costly, when they start their families.”

Charities like United Way, and Boys and Girls Clubs all agree.

Kershaw says the holiday is an opportunity to shine a light on the issues. “The reality is, while one holiday is a nice gesture, we need to make far more substantial changes. I think that’s what you hear the community and business leaders saying.”

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