“Until they are fed, housed and trained our athletes can’t skate, ski or slide.  365 days a year our worldwide Corporate Partners make the dreams of the Olympic athlete a reality.  For that, we–and everyone who lives the Olympic Games–owe them our deepest gratitude.” – Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee

We understand that athletes need to be healthy and supported to meet their goals at the Olympic games.  But what about low-income British Columbians?  Don’t they also have a right to healthy food and secure housing? After all, they too need to be healthy in order to work, look after their children and family, and participate in their community. 

A December 2009 report from the Dietitians of Canada evaluates the cost of eating in this province.   It shows that one month’s worth of healthy food for a single person would cost $323.  A family of four would spend $872 a month.  If this family were on welfare, they would be spending $127 more than their cheque allows just on food and shelter.  A single person on disability would be $22 short every month.

The Dietitians group states:
“While shelter and food costs have risen significantly over the past decade, income assistance rates have remained virtually unchanged and minimum wage, once the highest in the country, has remained at $8.00/hour.  For those receiving income assistance or earning minimum wage there simply is not enough money to pay for housing and food, let alone other necessities.  Food bank line-ups are at a record high and child poverty rates are worse than any other province.  This situation must not be tolerated.” 

If the Olympics can inspire the support of corporate partners to make the dreams of athletes come true, surely we can insist that government and corporations take action to support our most vulnerable citizens with wage increases, low-income housing developments, and other measures to promote economic equality.