Provincial task force to tackle period poverty

The B.C. Government is taking action to end period poverty and remove stigmas associated with menstruation.

The province is assembling a new Period Poverty Task Force, backed by $750,000 in funding, that will be chaired by Nikki Hill, who has experience working with partners to raise awareness and tackle period poverty in B.C.

“Volunteering as co-chair of United Way’s Period Promise campaign since 2018 has taught me how common period poverty is in our communities and how much of an impact a lack of menstrual products has on people’s lives,” said Hill.

“I’m looking forward to taking on this new role with the task force while we build on our work and partnerships to eliminate period poverty and level the playing field for all.”

Period poverty refers to financial struggles that result in someone not being able to afford menstrual products. United Way B.C. stated that these instances often lead to a person missing out on work, school, and social events when they have their period.

The remaining task force members have yet to be selected, but the province said they will include representatives from business, non-profit organizations or people representing individuals with lived experience of period poverty, Indigenous peoples, and student and youth organization.

One of the task force’s key goals will be to develop partnerships with governments, Indigenous partners, businesses, communities and non-profits to understand and find solutions to period poverty.

“Not being able to access period supplies can negatively affect people’s ability to go about their day-to-day activities,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.

“The new task force will explore the various factors that contribute to period poverty and find solutions that can benefit British Columbians.”

Additionally, the provincial funding provided to the task force will help support the continued delivery of free menstrual products to people who need them, including through the United Way British Columbia’s annual Period Promise Campaign, which aims to make it easier for people in need to access products when they need them.

The province also noted that the continued delivery of free period products directly supports the ministry’s mandate to make B.C. a global leader in the fight to end period poverty, and that the task force will be crucial in aiding the mission of developing a long-term, comprehensive strategy to meet that goal.