VOTERS FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE


PURPOSE

To unite poor people and those who care about low income people for the
purpose of creating a powerful voice and a powerful voting block.  In this
way we will be able to exercise the power our numbers give us. 

We will use this power to defend and enhance our rights.  By forming a
voting block we can pressure government into passing laws and making
policy that will really help poor people. 

BACKGROUND

Our spending power has gone down because of inadequate raises and actual cutbacks in our incomes.  Inflation and rising incomes in the middle and upper levels of society have further contributed to our decreasing spending power.

The price of everything goes up while our incomes stay the same; or go
down.  This is not fair! 

None of the governments, federal or provincial, have done much for low
income people in the last twenty years.  They have given tax breaks to the
rich, allowed profitable corporations to pay little or no tax and have
given outright grants to businesses.  It is these tax breaks, tax
deferments, grants and high interest rates that are largely responsible
for government debt and deficits: not social spending. 

NOW

Now governments are trying to solve their money problems by taking more
money from poor people.  This is unfair and we don't have to put up with
it. 

POWER OF POOR PEOPLE

Twenty percent of the population of B.C. live on incomes that are below
the Statistics Canada low income line.  This amounts to over 500,000
people.  That is a lot of votes. 

The media never mentions the poor without mentioning that we are
powerless.  Well, we are not! 


We are powerful!!  because of our numbers We can dictate who will form the
next government and what they will do for us. 


WHO ARE THE POOR?
	- Seniors (many of them)
	- Students (many of them)
	- Working poor
	- U.I.C. Recipients
	- Income Assistance Recipients
	- Homeless People
	- People with Disabilities
	- Single Parents
	- Anyone with an income below the poverty line.

ARE YOU POOR? In "Welfare Incomes 1994" a report by the National Council
of Welfare issued in the fall of 1995, poverty lines for four types of
family in B.C. are listed:
	- Single employable			$15,479
	- Disabled person			 15,479
	- Single parent, 1 child       		 20,981
	- Couple, two children 			 30,708 

We present the above information to help you see if you are poor.  Any low
income group will have more detailed information for you, if you want it.
IF YOU ARE POOR If you are poor, join us and be part of a strong voice. 
Be a part of the solution.  If you know and/or care about poor people, you
too can join us and be part of the solution.  Only individuals can join. 
Membership $5.00/year for people who are working and being paid or are
wealthy enough to afford it and $2.00 for unwaged and poor people. 
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	VOTERS FOR ECONOMIC & SOCIAL JUSTICE MEMBERSHIP FORM

Name:___________________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________

City:________________________________Prov:______________________

Postal Code:___________________Phone:(___)______________________

Ridings:Prov:_______________________Fed:________________________

Age:______Date of Birth:_________________Voter: Yes_____ No_____

Is your family income below poverty line?________(optional)

Please send with $5.00 or $2.00 to:

Voters for Economic and Social Justice
2221 Belmont Ave.
Victoria, BC.
V8R 3Z9