A B.C. MLA kicked off a month-long challenge on Sunday to live on the province's welfare rate of $610 a month for a single person during January.
New Democrat Jagrup Brar accepted the dare issued in an open letter to B.C.'s 85 MLAs last May by the poverty advocacy group Raise the Rates.
"I have chosen this path to meet many people living in poverty, listen to their stories and share those stories with the people of British Columbia. By doing so, I hope to initiate a meaningful debate about poverty based on the actual reality on the ground," Brar told reporters at a press conference before starting the challenge.
The Surrey-Fleetwood MLA will be living away from his young family, and plans on spending the first 16 days of the month in Surrey and the remaining days in Vancouver. With him he is taking a backpack of essentials and about 50 cents given to him by his children so he can use a phone in case of an emergency.
"This is not something I'm very excited for, but I'm committed to do it. I am a little nervous and I'm concerned about my health," Brar added.
In 1986, former B.C. New Democrat MLA Emery Barnes lived on welfare for seven weeks in the Downtown Eastside and lost thirty pounds in the process. Afterward he called for a welfare rate of $700 a month, which would add up to more than $1,270 today when adjusted for inflation.
Jean Swanson from Raise the Rates says the situation for welfare recipients is worse today than it was 25 years ago.
"If the welfare rate today had the same purchasing power it had in 1980 it would be $930 dollars a month, not $610," she told CTV News.
Swanson doesn't think Brar will be able to live off of $610 month and wants his efforts to draw attention the plight of many people on welfare.
"I hope it raises awareness to all kinds of people that welfare rates are way too low," she said.
There are currently more than 180,000 people on welfare in the province, according to Ministry of Social Development statistics. Fraser Stewart is one of them who says he can only afford one meal a day.
"Once you pay your rent, your telephone, your bus fare, you're left with approximately $4 a day to eat on, which lasts about a week and a half, and after that you scrounge," he said.
Brar will apply for welfare on Tuesday when offices open following the holidays. In the meantime, he is on the streets and trying to secure a spot in a local shelter. To make sure Brar doesn't take the place of someone in need, donations will be given to people who help him.
The MLA is allowed to visit his family at home once a week, but will be forced to pay for food if he eats there.
With files from CTV British Columbia's Bhinder Sajan
