The group, ”Raise the Rates”, wants welfare rates doubled in British Columbia. They want the Gordon Campbell government to pony up $1,300 per month for each welfare recipient. That figure is based on the Market Basket Measure, anti-poverty activist Rolph Auer wrote in the Jan. 15th Carnegie Newsletter. The MBM calculates the cost of food, shelter, transportation and other commodities a person needs just to get by.
Regardless of the current low welfare rate which, according to Auer is $610 per month for a single person, there is a healthy demand for welfare judging from Wednesday’s line ups. There were two line ups at one Downtown Eastside welfare building at Powell & Main St., one line up along Powell St. and another along Main Street. There are two welfare offices in the same building, one upstairs and one downstairs. Most clients lining up for a welfare cheque are male, and one client pointed out that many in the line ups this month were young. The above photo of a line up was taken around 3:30 p.m. and there was still a line up. It lasted until after 4 p.m.
At least one line up at the welfare office continued all day Thursday. [Update: Again on Friday, there was a line up.
Welfare day on Wednesday ended a “five week month.” That means welfare recipients had to make their December cheque last five weeks, rather than the usual four weeks. But the amount of the cheque is the same whether it’s a four or a five week month. Anti-poverty advocates would like the government to put an end to five week months.
The long line ups at the welfare office this month are a mystery as Vancouver’s pre-Olympic economy is going full tilt and employers are begging for workers.
Read the complete original article at Downtown Eastside Enquirer
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5 users commented in " ‘Raise Welfare Rates to $1,300/Month’, Says Activist Group "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI am a powerful supporter of increasing welfare rates
for all recipients in the province of BC.
I agree that it is time NOW to increase the rates
as all the people want this and they are citizens
of BC. Many persons with disabilities have an education
of some sort and have worked many years in Canada.
The rates both shelter and support must go up to be able
to eat well, rent decent accomodation, transportation, personal
care, entertainment (yes they have a RIGHT TO Live Life) and
receive a reasonable income support cheque.
The Cheap embarrassing $50.00 in 2007 was a joke the government
is laughing but we are not. We want an increase and each
january an increase in the cost of living.
And increase the exemptions to 1500.00 with $400.00
for a pair of decent glasses and not $170.00.
Pay our dental care all of it. Get your bucks out
cut back on your wages and the 2010 Olympics. I give
a DAM and I paid my taxes in this country.
In addition there is nothing to fear about this government
stand up for your rights no one else will do it for you.
Nice letters do not do the job but action does
and demands. It is the only way this government
seems to understand!!
I cannot respect a government who increases the accomodation
rates by $50.00 after a decade. This is showing a total
lack of respect for welfare recipients.
February 21, 2008
It is happening once more Campbell and Taylor are once more
misplacing their priorities and being careless we are know this
about not wanting to respect persons on Welfare in BC and
increasing their shelter and support rates after 12 years.
Many people influential people are standing up to these CREEPS
to raise the assistance rates like the people want and need.
It is obvious after the raise in 2007 50 bucks that they
don’t give a dam.
Welfare recipients are not interested in Campbell either but
interested in their own well-being and many of these citizens
are educated and have worked hard and do you hear me campbell
they have a RIGHT to an INCREASE NOW - THEY DO NOT WANT
TO WAIT TEN MORE YEARS!
RAISE THE RATES IN THE 2008 BUDGET!
They want to get re-elected so they are giving each person
in BC a $100 cheque to go Green.
Some of us are way ahead we went Green a Decade ago
do we get a $1000.00 cheque.
When are you going to increase the welfare rates and send us
what we want and need??
$50.00 after 12 years your priorites are misplaced and we
clearly see this.
$50.00 was that to get re-elected too??
The Truth is that you don’t care we all know that and
let it been heard and seen on this site.
What about the increase in minimum wages to $10.00, you do
not care one bit.
What about the high tuition fees and the debts students
are having to pay after graduation??
You do not care one bit.
WHY VOTE FOR SUCH A GOVERNMENT WE HAVE CHOICE!
I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR YOU AGAIN!!
We are in May 2008, Richmond does not
want to increase the welfare support rates
after all the evidence presented to him.
It is obvious he does not want to change.
He is not the right man for the job.
There is a problem as you see after
all the evidence stating welfare reciptients
are receiving low-income way below
what they should be getting.
It’s become a serious problem, and I
suggest a new Minister who wants to
help these people and one who understands
as a human being.
Time for a change of Minister that is
my best suggestion.
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