Prince  George, B.C.  – It is a rally that  takes place  every year at this time,   it calls for  action to reduce violence against women, and  the reduction of poverty in B.C. and Canada.

It is the annual Chili Blanket event,  which provides  warm clothing, blankets, chili and hot chocolate to the most  disadvantaged in the community.

Supported by the Northern Women’s Forum, this year’s event  will have a special poignancy, as it will take  place on December 6^th,  the 25^th anniversary of the  mass murder  at  Ecole Polytechnique , when  gunman Marc Lepine  went on a shooting rampage and  killed 14 women.

Organizer Jan Mastromatteo says although  this is the 12th Chili Blanket, there  has been  no progress on the  efforts to reduce poverty “Unfortunately we seem to be going backwards on both the poverty questions and violence against women.”

Earlier this week,  a report  was issued saying the number of children in B.C. living in poverty had grown to  nearly  170 thousand in 2012 ( latest year for which there are states).  That is an increase  from the 153 thousand counted  in 2011.  The report  also  indicates  nearly  half of all children in a single parent family  live in poverty.

Mastromatteo  says Chili Blanket “Helps to support our community. We’ve seen growth in the number of folks that come out to pick up  donations and  have some chili with us each year.  But beyond supporting members of our community who are finding themselves below the poverty line, we are trying to raise a call and force government,  not just the BC Government but  join others in Canada  and the Canadian Government  around  pushing back against regressive social policies and economic  policies that will just worsen these situations.”

She says she would like to see poverty reduction as an election issue in the next  federal election. “I think all provinces, in particular  here in B.C. have a very rational economic argument that talks to the issue of why  it’s cheaper to reduce poverty than  it is to keep ending programs  or reduce funding to programs.”

Poverty in B.C. is said to  cost  this province between $8- $9.2 billion dollars a year,  while  the Northern Women’s Forum says   a poverty reduction plan  would cost $3-$4 billion annually.

The  Chili Blanket event  is still accepting donations of  clean, warm clothing and blankets.  Donations can be made at the College of New Caledonia’s  library, and the UNBC women’s centre or  bring donations to the event.The Chili Blanket event will start at noon on Saturday December 6^th at the Prince George Courthouse.