British Columbia |
|
See these related Canadian Social Research Links pages also: - British Columbia NGO
Links (A-C) PovNet - friends and kindred spirits in BC --- current and comprehensive site - highly recommended! Percolating Blog - Penny Goldsmith, PovNets Executive Coordinator |
(HINT: Try clicking each media link below and searching
their archive for specific words, e.g., welfare) |
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Alternate Sub-Titles:
Cherrypicking 101 or
Another Reason Government News Releases Should be Taken with Two Antacid
Tablets.
---
From the
British Columbia Ministry
of Children and Family Development:
Child
Poverty Continues its Decline
Factsheet
June 17, 2010
VICTORIA
Statistics Canada released figures (June 2010) showing that child poverty
levels in BC have declined for the fifth year in a row and are now at a nearly
30-year record low for the province:
· Child Poverty in B.C. has declined for the fifth year in a row, according
to figures released today by Statistics Canada.
· The most recently-released child poverty rate is 10.4 per cent. That
is a 20 per cent decline from 13 per cent the year previous and a 46 per cent
drop since 2003.
· The child poverty level (LICO after tax) is now at its lowest level
since 1980.
· The child poverty rate in B.C. fell by 46 per cent between 2003 and
2008.
· Provincially, the median after tax income for families for two or
more people rose 5.7 per cent in B.C.
---
From BC
New Democrats*
(Official Opposition):
REALITY
CHECK:
B.C. Ranks Highest in Canada for Child Poverty
News Release
June 17, 2010
Today the B.C. Liberals are saying theyre proud
of new child poverty figures from Statistics Canada.
But a closer look at the numbers reveals that B.C.
continues to have the highest child poverty rate in the country, for the seventh
year in a row. As the Statistics Canada figures show,
more than one in ten B.C. children live in poverty.
[ * BC New Democrats? What happened to
"New Democratic Party"? More re-branding, I guess...]
---
Action
needed on child poverty
Editorial
June 22, 2010
The political reaction to the latest child poverty statistics was predictably
disheartening. The government's public affairs bureau quickly sent out a news
release headlined "Child poverty rate continues its decline," which
failed to include the fact that B.C. still has the highest child poverty rate
in the country. The New Democrats followed with a news release headlined "Reality
Check: B.C. ranks highest in Canada for child poverty," which didn't
note the province had made progress between 2007 and 2008. Politics as usual.
But surely some issues call for a less partisan approach -- from the government
side, an acknowledgment that far too many children live in poverty, from the
Opposition, a recognition that progress has been made. The situation in B.C.
remains grim. About one in 10 B.C. children lived in poverty in 2008. Statistics
Canada reported B.C. has had the worst child poverty rate among provinces
for seven straight years. And the number of children living in poverty today
is almost certainly higher, given the economic downturn. (...) The
most obvious first step is to develop a plan to reduce child poverty, rather
than relying on a series of ad hoc measures or hoping broad economic growth
will lift families out of poverty. Six other provinces have done that, introducing
detailed plans with specific targets, actions and deadlines. They ensure accountability
and a co-ordinated effort across government, rather than leaving ministries
to act -- or not act -- in isolation.
The B.C. government has refused to take that first
step.
Source:
Victoria Times Colonist
|
|
Province
to cut $25m from income assistance:
15% increase in welfare recipients
By Jonathan Fowlie
March 30, 2010
Many of British Columbia's most vulnerable citizens will see significant changes
to their social safety net beginning Thursday as the provincial government
moves to cut millions from what it hands out in income assistance. From a
reduction in dental visits to a cancellation of the province's minimum shelter
allowance, the government hopes to save $25 million over the next two years
through the reductions -- something it says needs to be done in light of a
recent explosion in demand for income assistance.
Source:
Vancouver Sun
|
|
Outstanding
Warrants (PDF - 34K, 3 pages)
March 19, 2010
Information Factsheet
Effective June 1, 2010, changes to the BC Employment and Assistance Program
will restrict eligibility for income assistance or disability assistance for
persons who have outstanding arrest warrants for indictable offences in BC
or other provinces, as well as arrest warrants under the Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act (Canada).
Source:
Ministry of Housing and Social Development
Related links:
Many
problems found with welfare law
(Cutting off welfare and disability payments
to people who have outstanding criminal warrants)
June 1, 2010
The provincial government's plan to refuse welfare and disability payments
to people who have outstanding criminal warrants has one major flaw: It relies
on the honesty of those charged with crimes to tell social service workers
that they have outstanding warrants. It's not the only problem with this new
law that comes into affect today. This new regulation is punitive, pointless
and counterproductive. It punishes people who may be charged but never convicted
of a crime. It's counterproductive because it is likely it will force some
people to steal just to survive, if they are honest enough to admit that they
have an outstanding warrant and then have their request for welfare denied.
Source:
Canada.com
---
Welfare
crackdown (video, 1:25 )
Pivot Legal Society's John Richardson reacts to the B.C. government suing
hundreds of welfare recipients to try to recover overpayments
[ NOTE: After you've viewed the above video, check the right-hand column next
to the video screen for more poverty-related videos from BC. ]
Source
MSN Canada
|
|
April 28, 2010
New Westminster BC Enacts Canada's First Living Wage
Bylaw
For a collection of links to information about this progressive initiative
in BC and the living wage movement in general,
go to the Living
Wage Links section of the Canadian Social Research Links Minimum Income /
Living Wage Links
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Government
Directory
Government
News Releases
Search/Browse
by Ministry or by Topic
AchieveBC
- includes info organized under the following themes:
Early childhood development
Parenting
Education
Post-secondary
learning resources
Jobs and opportunities
Tools and resources
A celebration
of excellence
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BC Election links
The British Columbia general election took place on Tuesday, May 12, 2009.
Campbell
wins third straight term in B.C.
Referendum on electoral reform fails
May 13, 2009
B.C. Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell has won an historic third straight term
as the province's premier. The results in Tuesday's B.C. election show Campbell's
Liberals leading with 45.7 per cent of the popular vote, ahead of Carole James's
NDP at 42.2 per cent. (...) By midnight Tuesday, the Liberals were ahead in
47 ridings, having been elected in 45. The NDP led in 38 ridings, with New Democrats
declared elected in 34 of those. Six new seats were added to the provincial
legislature in Victoria for this election, raising the total number of seats
to 85. That means to win a majority, a party needs to elect candidates in at
least 43 ridings.
Source:
CBC
Elections
B.C.
- govt. site, includes links to info about parties, candidates, ridings and
other election logistics
NOTE: for an extensive
collection of online BC Election resources,
go to http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/politics_prov_terr.htm#bc
The link immediately above is from the Political
Parties and Elections Links in Canada (Provinces and Territories) page of this
site:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/politics_prov_terr.htm
BC Election Sites
Nodice
Elections: British Columbia (from Nodice
Elections)
Deceive BC:
the Hospital Employees' Union's election web site
BCPolitics.ca
The Tyee Election Central
Single Transferable Vote
- a BIG issue in this BC election...
Ministry
Three Year Budgets - 2002/03 to 2004/05 (PDF file - 9K) - distribution
of cuts across all ministries. Ministry Service Plan Summaries - two dozen ministries and agencies, including : - Children
and Family Development (PDF file, 23K) - children's services |
BC
Progress Board Releases Discussion Paper on Social Condition Entire
Report: Related Links: Sixth
Annual Benchmarking Report Released Building on Our Progress
- Striving for Excellence: Volume
I - External Performance Review: Inter-Provincial and International (PDF
file - 5.3MB, 202 pages) Source: |
|
|
Government
of British Columbia Home Page
Premier's
Speech at the swearing-in ceremony
News
release (June 16)
List
of new cabinet ministers
Summary
of ministry responsibilities
Executive Council of the Government of British Columbia - from the website of the Office of the Premier - new Cabinet with biographies.
Google
News search Results : "British Columbia,
new government cabinet"
Google Web Search Results : "British
Columbia, new government cabinet"
Source:
Google.ca
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Premier
Announces New Cabinet
January
26, 2004
Office of the Premier
"VICTORIA Premier Gordon Campbell
today announced changes to the Cabinet, including the addition of six new members,
a renewed focus on economic development and several new Minister of State portfolios
to advance key priorities in the governments agenda."
Executive
Council (new list of ministers)
January 26, 2004
The new Minister
of Human Resources is the Hon. Stan Hagen.
The new Minister of Children and
Family Development is Deputy Premier Christy Clark.
Related Link:
Trouble
for Campbell with 40 Unhappy MLAs
January 27, 2004
"A
cabinet shuffle in an atmosphere of crisis, two weeks prior to the legislature
opening with the Speech from the Throne, is bad news for Premier Campbell."
Source:
Strategic Thoughts.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AchieveBC
- includes info organized under the following themes:
Early childhood development
Parenting
Education
Post-secondary
learning resources
Jobs and opportunities
Tools and resources
A celebration
of excellence
New
Initiative to Help British Columbians Reach their Goals
News Release
September
19, 2003
"Premier Gordon Campbell today unveiled a new initiative ["AchieveBC"]aimed
at helping all British Columbians achieve their goals, by providing a window to
information from early childhood development to lifelong learning, career planning
and job training.(...) For example, parents of newborns and toddlers have said
they would like advice on nutrition, diet, health and safety. Parents of students
want better information on each public school in B.C., learning standards for
each grade and how they can help their children. Students want easier access to
information on post-secondary institutions, programs offered, financial assistance
and new career opportunities. And workers want to know where they can go for information
on job training or starting their own business."
Source: Office
of the Premier
|
|
Legislative
Assembly
This link is a launchpad to many pages,
including the following : Bills, Debates of the Legislative Assembly (Hansard),
Votes and Proceedings, Orders of the Day, Legislative Committees, Standing Orders,
Speech from the Throne, Revised Statutes of British Columbia, Regulations, Regulations
Bulletins, Provisions in Force, Orders in Council and Ministerial Resumes, Message
from the Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, MLA biographies
including office and constituency information, e-mail addresses, Visiting the
Legislature, Online tour of the Legislative Chamber, Other Canadian Legislative
Assemblies, Statutory Officers of the Legislature, Important Information, Frequently
Asked Questions, etc.
Legislation
: Statutes - Regulations - Orders-in-Council - B.C.
Regulations Bulletins - Order in Council and Ministerial Order Resumes - Act/Ministry
Responsibilities
See also QPLegalEze (the link below this one) - one of these
two may be more current or complete than the other...
QP
LegalEze (Queen's Printer - $)
An internet-based legal guide to the unofficial early consolidation of the statutes
and regulations of the province of British Columbia.
- incl. links to : Revised
Statutes of British Columbia - Complete Listing of Statutes with Associated Regulations
- BC Regulations Bulletins - Order in Council and Ministerial Order Resumes -
Proceedings of Bills - Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
See also:
Quickscribe
Services - law library service (BC) - ($)
"Quickscribe
is a Victoria-based, family owned business offering clients access to provincial
legislation both in hard copy and online formats. We've been in business since
1984 and offer a more affordable alternative to the subscription based Queens
Printer legislation service. Our online service is fully searchable, printable
and includes and email notification service that alerts clients to recent amendments.
|
|
Ministry
of Housing and Social Development
(formerly Employment and Income Assistance)
(formerly Human Resources)
Reports and Publications - links to reports, manuals, books, brochures and other publications
BC Employment and Assistance Programs (Welfare)
Legislation
Employment
and Assistance Act
- Employment
and Assistance Regulations
Employment
and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act
- Employment
and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations
Child
Care BC Act
Child
Care Subsidy Act
- Child
Care Subsidy Regulation
Source:
BC Laws
|
New
B.C. bill could cut off social assistance for minor offences
By Rob Shaw
November 20, 2009
VICTORIA People with outstanding warrants
for relatively minor offences such as shoplifting or property damage
could be denied income assistance in British Columbia under a newly-passed bill
the provincial government had claimed was supposed to focus on serious criminals.The
confusion marks the latest hiccup in legislation that's believed to be the first
of its kind in Canada, but which critics say is almost sure to face a challenge
under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Source:
Victoria
Times Colonist
The legislation, as passed:
Bill
14 2009
Housing and Social Development
Statutes Amendment Act, 2009
Third
Reading Copy
17th day of November, 2009
The
news release from the
Ministry responsible for welfare:
Outstanding
warrants to be ineligible for social assistance
News Release
October
19, 2009
VICTORIA The provincial government will restrict access to
income assistance and disability assistance for people with outstanding indictable
arrest warrants in B.C. and other provinces, as well as arrest warrants under
the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada). Indictable offences are the
most serious types of offences and include a wide range of crimes such as assault,
breaking and entering, drug trafficking, murder, assault with a weapon, and assault
causing bodily harm.
Source:
Ministry
of Housing and Social Development
Related links:
BC
law to deny welfare to some; wording too loose says NDP
By
Andrew MacLeod
October 19, 2009
British Columbia housing and social development
minister Rich Coleman today introduced legislation that he says will prevent people
with outstanding warrants for serious crimes from receiving welfare. But New Democratic
Party critic Shane Simpson says the legislation will also affect people who have
committed only minor crimes. The minister has issued a press release that
says one thing and a piece of legislation that says something very different,
said Simpson. They have a blank cheque on who they can capture with this
and that's inappropriate.
Source:
The
Tyee
B.C.
to deny welfare to alleged criminals
October 19, 2009
.B.C.
Social Development Minister Rich Coleman plans to cut off welfare and disability
payments to people with outstanding arrest warrants. Critics
are raising concerns about a new bill introduced by the B.C. government that would
deny social assistance or disability benefits to anyone with an outstanding arrest
warrant. The provincial minister for housing and social
development, Rich Coleman, said the bill is aimed mainly at people from other
provinces who move to B.C., although it applies to anyone with an outstanding
warrant for an indictable offence anywhere in the country.
Source:
CBC
Welfare
rules won't apply to other benefits;
People who get low-income tax credits
will not have to submit to criminal record checks
By
Justine Hunter
October 20, 2009
While British Columbia seeks to deny welfare
benefits to people who are wanted by police, it does not apply the same standards
to people collecting provincial tax credits. The province does, however, deny
inmates of federal prisons from receiving low-income tax credits, and is currently
seeking to expand that exclusion to include prisoners in provincial jails. The
province offers numerous tax credits to low-income earners, including sales tax
and climate-action rebates. A government official said yesterday there are no
plans to require a criminal background check to screen for outstanding warrants
in those cases.
Source:
Globe
and Mail
Bill
urges criminal checks for welfare seekers
First-of-its-kind law
to weed out those with warrants
for serious crimes based on a principle of
punishment,' civil liberties group says
By Justine Hunter
October
19, 2009
British Columbians seeking welfare and disability benefits will be
denied assistance unless they agree to a criminal background check, under proposed
new legislation tabled yesterday. Housing and Social Development Minister Rich
Coleman told reporters that the law, expected to be in effect early in 2010, is
meant to ensure the province is not paying benefits to people who are wanted by
police in other jurisdictions for serious crimes.
Source:
Globe
and Mail
---
Act
will protect homeless in extreme weather
News Release
October
29, 2009
VICTORIA The Province has introduced the Assistance to Shelter
Act to keep homeless British Columbians safe from extreme weather by giving police
the authority to take people at risk of harm to emergency shelters, announced
Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman. (...) Police will have to
be satisfied people are at risk of harm due to the weather conditions before taking
them to an emergency shelter. Once at the shelter, they have the right to decide
whether or not they want to stay at the shelter. The shelter may provide the opportunity
for individuals to connect with outreach workers, who can help them access medical,
financial and long-term housing supports. (...) The new legislation will apply
to adults age 19 and older when an extreme weather alert has been issued for a
community. It is expected that the legislation will be in place this winter. Youth
are covered by the Child, Family and Community Service Act, which provides the
framework for Child Protection Services.
Source:
Ministry
of Housing and Social Development
The
legislation:
Assistance
to Shelter Act (Bill 18, 2009 - First Reading)
"Explanatory
Note: This Bill establishes a scheme for issuing and cancelling extreme weather
alerts and enables police officers to transport persons at risk to emergency shelters
when extreme weather alerts are in effect."
Related links:
B.C.
introduces controversial homeless law
October
29, 2009
By Darcy Wintonyk
The
B.C. government introduced a controversial law Thursday that allows police to
force homeless people to go to a shelter - but won't give officers the power to
make them stay. Homeless advocates and provincial civil
rights watchdogs have denounced the legislation, saying it is little more than
a veiled attempt to clean up Vancouver streets before the 2010 Olympic Games.
Source:
CTV
---
April
2009 welfare stats:
BC
Employment and Assistance Cases by Program - April 2009
(PDF - 81K, 6 pages)
Posted May 29, 2009
Source:
Ministry
of Housing and Social Services
[ links
to current and earlier welfare statistics ]
Related links:
More
bad news for welfare
May 30, 2009
BC's latest welfare "statistics"
were released mid-afternoon on Friday, May 29th. The "temporary assistance
- expected to work" caseload increased 52.9% between April 2008 and April
2009. The total caseload increased by 14.4%, year over year. "Expected to
work - two parent families" increased by 77.1%. Not only is the welfare caseload
increasing, but the rate of increase is increasing! When the August 2008 data
were released on the eve of the Vancouver by-elections, five months before the
latest budget, the data showed an increase in "temporary assistance - expected
to work" of "only" 20.2% and in the total welfare caseload of "only"
5.5%
[ incl. links to three related resources ]
Source:
Strategic
Thoughts.com
The website of David Schreck, retired NDP MLA and active political
pundit
New
BC welfare numbers show continued climb
By Andrew MacLeod
May
29, 2009
VICTORIA The British Columbia welfare caseload continued to
rise in April, according to government figures released today. The total number
of cases grew by 0.7 percent since March. The number in the expected to work category
receiving temporary assistance was 54 percent higher in April than it was in June
2008. The total number of clients, including those on disability assistance, was
161,780 in April. That's still significantly lower than the 244,821 in 2001 when
the then new B.C. Liberal Party took office and tightened eligibility requirements.
In 1995 there were 367,387 clients on the welfare caseload.
[ incl. links to
three related resources ]
Source:
The Tyee
---
BC
Employment and Assistance Cases by Program - March 2009 (PDF - 80K, 6
pages)
Source:
Ministry of Housing and
Social Services
Related link:
Welfare
in BC Up 49.8% - Revealed Post Election
May
15, 2009
The first crumb of what will likely be a lot more previously hidden
bad news came out three days after the election when the Ministry of Housing and
Social Services released welfare statistics (see "Related links" below)
that should have been released by the end of April. The statistics for March 2009
show that for the category of "temporary assistance expected to work"
the caseload increased by 49.8% between March 2008 and March 2009. The total welfare
caseload is up 13.6% relative to a year earlier, and stands at the highest level
since 2002. The welfare caseload has not only been increasing, but the increase
has been accelerating. That was taking place in 2008 when Premier Campbell was
still claiming that BC would duck the worst of the recession. It was worst yet
during the election campaign when Premier Campbell was saying "Keep BC Strong".
Thousands of British Columbians aren't looking at "keeping" BC strong,
they just desperately want to regain their own strength.
Source:
Strategic
Thoughts.com
Income
Levels of BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) Clients after They Leave Income
Assistance (PDF - 279K, 16 pages)
2009 (PDF file dated April 24/09,
2pm)
The analysis in this report uses tax data from Statistics Canada to examine
the income of clients that left assistance and never returned. It is a followup
to a previous report, Outcome of those Leaving Assistance, which found
that over 80 percent of employable clients who left assistance had employment
income.
Specific findings of the report:
· Median total family income
of clients, defined as aftertax aftertransfer income including employment income,
is higher after clients leave income assistance and increases over time.
·
Clients who left income assistance have income significantly higher, in some cases
two to three times higher, than they would have receiving income assistance for
the entire year.
· Most of the increase is attributable to increases
in employment income.
· More...
Source:
Ministry
of Housing and Social Development (HSD)
[ Ministry
reports ]
Related link from HSD:
Outcomes
of Those Leaving Assistance (PDF - 61K, 6 pages)
February 2007
"(...)
Since 2002, 88.2% of Expected to Work (ETW) clients who have left assistance and
have not returned as of 2005 have employment income, are attending education or
have other income in the year following their exit from IA."
Province
refused to release report on welfare leavers
By Andrew MacLeod
April 24, 2009
The British Columbia government has suppressed a report
on what happens to people who leave the province's welfare system, but now is
promising to release it today.
(...) The province has insisted that the rapidly
declining welfare caseload has been the result of more people finding employment.
Other research, including a landmark
study (PDF - 599K, 8 pages) by Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
researchers, and past
Tyee coverage, suggests tightening eligibility rules in 2002 played a
large role in the decline. A recent report by provincial Ombudsman Kim Carter,
Last
Resort (PDF - 2.2MB, 132 pages) , noted, The ministry lacks
evidence to support its conclusion that the reduction in the income assistance
caseload is a result of people leaving assistance for employment.
NOTE:
The above article was posted in the morning on April and the Ministry posted its
report (below) at 2pm (the timestamp on the PDF file).
The Tyee will quite
likely have a followup article early in the coming week; check the Tyee home page
for updates.
Source:
The
Tyee
|
2004/05 2006/07 Service Plan: Ministry of Human Resources
2005/06
Annual Service Plan: Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance
July 17, 2006
- includes : Message from the Minister and Accountability Statement
* Highlights
of the Year * Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values * Strategic Context * Service
Delivery and Core Business Areas * Report on Performance * Goals, Objectives,
Strategies, and Performance Measures * Deregulation * Report
on Resources * Appendix A: Values and Service Code * Appendix B: Glossary
of Terms
- highly recommended reading, especially the three links that
you can click in the two lines above --- that's where you'll find (under "Core
Business Areas") a good description of how Employment and Income Assistance
(welfare) works in British Columbia, along with what they've accomplished and
what they've spent in the past year, compared with what they said last year they
would do and how much they planned to spend. There's much more info in the service
plan, definitely worth checking out. You might also want to go to the service
plan page for all Ministries to explore the plans for Children
and Family Development and Health,
among others.
NOTE:
In the interest of balanced reporting, you might also want to read some of the
reports about social programs in BC by a few of the non-governmental organizations
that are the social justice watchdogs of the West Coast. Below, you'll find links
to three such organizations, the BC Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
and the Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC) of British Columbia, and
PovNet, a BC-based "online resource for advocates, people on welfare, and
community groups and individuals involved in anti-poverty work." |
BC
Welfare Caseload Up
February 5, 2008
The Campbell government
continues to suffer from the excesses of its first term. Time will tell whether
the bungled sale of BC Rail, details of which are unfolding in the courts, will
inflict damage before the May 2009 election. It still has not escaped the consequences
of cutting the Ministry of Children and Family Development as if it were any other
government department, and this week it is being reminded of its 2001 decision
to cut the Mental Health Advocate. For a surprise on the list of memories, who
would have thought that under the hard-hearted Campbell government the welfare
caseload would increase?
Source:
Strategic
Thoughts
------------------------------------------------------------
January
31, 2008
Province
invests $200,000 in Direct Deposit initiative
News Release
VICTORIA
The Province is offering an incentive package that consists of a knapsack,
warm socks, a toque and a pair of gloves to encourage income assistance clients
to sign up for direct deposit, announced Claude Richmond, Minister of Employment
and Income Assistance.
Source:
Ministry
of Employment and Income Assistance
<...and, if the writers of This Hour has 22 Minutes were writing the next line of the above news release, it would read : "Minister Richmond is pleased to report that the initial response to the direct deposit incentive has been quite positive among those Income assistance clients who would prefer to not freeze their feet, head and hands this winter.">
------------------------------------------------------------
B.C.
to put welfare payments on government debit cards
System to free recipients
from cheque fees and carrying cash
December
06, 2007
VICTORIA -- Low-income British Columbians may soon get government-issued
debit cards so they can manage assistance payments without facing hefty cheque-cashing
fees or other problems. The project -- which follows a similar program in Alberta
-- is meant to target the 24,000 low-income earners in the province who either
don't have bank accounts or are otherwise ineligible to receive payments by direct
deposit.
Source:
Vancouver
Sun
Source: Related Link: JobsNow
(Ontario) - "Brighter Futures, Stronger Communities" ------------------------ New
Employment Program Means More Job Success July
12, 2006 Related Link: Budget
2006 - Focus on Children (video) |
From BC Stats:
Social
Statistics
Labour
and Income Statistics - from BC
Stats
---
BC
Employment and Assistance (welfare) Rate Tables
Income
Assistance rates - (effective January 1, 2005)
Disability
Assistance rates - (effective January 1, 2005)
Source:
BC
Employment and Assistance Rate Tables
- also includes the latest rates
for the following: Child in Home of Relative - Hardship Assistance - Hardship
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities - Assets - Payment of Assistance [special
needs] - General Supplements - Health Supplements and Programs - Fees for Medical
Practitioners - Seniors Supplement
Source:
Ministry
of Human Resources (MHR)
Related links:
March
23, 2005
Increased
supports for people most in need
"VICTORIA The Province
will invest another $1.25 million to boost supports to two existing programs for
British Columbians who are most in need including persons with persistent
multiple barriers and persons with disabilities."
March
21, 2005
Province
promotes health for moms and babies
"VICTORIA The
province will spend close to $400,000 this year for expectant mothers in need
and their babies, Minister of Human Resources Susan Brice announced."
March
14, 2005
Enhanced
dental program benefits British Columbians
"VICTORIA
Government is investing over $47 million over three years to improve access to
dental treatment for young children and low-income families, Health Services Minister
Shirley Bond and Human Resources Minister Susan Brice announced."
Outcomes
of those Leaving Assistance (PDF file - 64K, 6 pages) Related link: B.C.'s
welfare state must still tackle snags |
Ministry
of Employment and Income Assistance
Online Resource - British Columbia
"Effective
March 27, 2006 the BCEA (welfare) Manual has been retired and replaced with an
exciting* new information source the
Online Resource. The Online Resource incorporates information from a number
of different sources into one user-friendly website, which will save time spent
searching for up-to-date information and resources."
*"Exciting" isn't the first word that pops into most people's heads when they hear the expression "welfare information", but I, for one, found the old BC welfare manual more "exciting" because I could actually "find information" in there. The new manual has no hyperlinked table of contents - in fact, you have to open a PDF file to see the table of contents. And someone should tell the web design team that the plus sign to the left of a directory item (e.g., on the front page) is usually a simple piece of javascript that opens sub-directories, not just a graphic used in lieu of a bullet or a dash in front of each item in a list...
"Retired"
BC Employment and Assistance Manual (Oct. 2004) - from The
Internet Archive
NOTE: Do spend some time exploring The Internet Archive
--- you'll find it has not only obscure Canadian provincial welfare policy manuals,
but also large collections of links to events, people and places...
-------------------------------------
Changes
Modernize BC Employment and Assistance Act
News
Release
April 3, 2006
"VICTORIA Amendments to the B.C. Employment
and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
Act introduced today in the B.C. legislature modernize eligibility
criteria, obligations for income assistance clients, and conditions for sharing
information. 'These amendments reflect our commitment to
provide British Columbians with an income assistance system that is fair, caring
and sustainable,' said Claude Richmond, Minister of Employment and Income Assistance.
'They will increase our ability to better serve our clients while at the same
time strengthening and protecting the integrity of the British Columbia Employment
and Assistance program.'
The amendments affect
three areas of the legislation:
· definitions
of dependant and spouse;
· sanctions for inaccurate
reporting of circumstances; and,
· information-sharing
agreements.
Source:
Ministry of Employment
and Income Assistance
|
$80 Million Budget Lift |
Time
Limit Policy to Protect People in Need Fact
Sheet: Time Limits Update NOTE:
|
Persons
with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB)
Fact Sheet
Effective September
30, 2002
Updated August 3, 2004
The PPMB category of the BC welfare caseload
applies those individuals who are unable to achieve financial independence because
of specific barriers to employment.
Related Links:
Persons
with Persistent Mutiple Barriers
Persons
with Disabilities
[ BC Employment
and Assistance Program ]
July 27, 2004
Fact
Sheet: Sponsorship - Obligations and Responsibilities
Fact
Sheet: Sponsorship Default - Next Steps
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Workforce
Adjustment: Ministry of Human Resources Related Link: |
June 11, 2004
Updated
Brochure: Assignment of Benefits for People Waiting for Employment Insurance (EI)
Canada
and British Columbia sign an agreement to assist people with disabilities
News
Release
May 17, 2004
"VICTORIA - British Columbians with disabilities
will be able to participate more easily in the labour market because of an agreement
announced today by the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment,
on behalf of the Honourable Liza Frulla, Minister of Social Development, and the
Honourable Stan Hagen, British Columbia Minister of Human Resources. 'Helping
people with disabilities to participate fully as citizens of this country is a
priority for all governments,' said Minister Anderson. 'Every British Columbian
must have the opportunity to make a contribution to our economy and our society.
I am so pleased to work with British Columbia on this national priority.'"
Source:
Social
Development Canada (SDC)
This agreement
was signed under the Multilateral
Framework for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities,
which replaced the Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities initiative
in April 2004.
For more info about the national framework and the agreements
signed with other jurisdictions to date, go to the Disability Links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/disbkmrk.htm
New
Exemptions for Caregivers of Disabled Children
June 30, 2003
"Children
with disabilities in British Columbia will benefit from changes to vehicle and
earnings exemptions being provided to their caregivers."
Eye
Exams Focus on Those in Need
June 30, 2003
"Adult Income
Assistance clients are now covered for routine eye exams as part of a new optical
program."
$20
Million Helps People with Disabilities Access Jobs
News Release
April
23, 2003
"Government is establishing a $20-million endowment fund with
Vancouver Foundation to help British Columbians with disabilities find and keep
jobs, Human Resources Minister Murray Coell announced today.(...) The Ministers
Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities will provide advice to the
Vancouver Foundation on the disbursement of funds."
Backgrounder
Counterpoint: Making
the Disabled Beg Related Link: |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minister's
Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities
"The principal
goal of the Council is to advise the Minister of Human Resources on solutions
and strategies for increasing the employment, employability and independence of
persons with disabilities, particularly through partnerships with business and
industry throughout British Columbia."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater
Supports for People with Disabilities
March 27, 2003
"People
with disabilities will be able to keep more of what they earn with an increase
to the earnings exemption from $300 to $400, Human Resource Minister Murray Coell
announced today."
Job
Placement (JP) Program Successes
"The Ministry of Human Resources
is spending more than $300 million over three years on job placement and training
for jobs programs. It's working. Since this government took office over 15,000
income assistance clients have been placed in jobs through ministry contracted
job placement agencies."
- incl. links to success stories for each program
Related
Links: ASPECT
The Other Perspective: The Job Merchants :
Meet the people who make money getting British Columbians off welfare |
From
the Ministry of Employment and Income
Assistance Evaluation
of the Job Placement (JP) Program and Training for Jobs (TFJ) Program Pilot Summary
Report (PDF file - 141K, 35 pages) Update
to the Summary Report (PDF file - 91K, 19 pages) Related Link: Libs'
Welfare-to-Jobs Program a Bust, Reveals Delayed Report |
Ministry
on Track with Commitment to Sound Fiscal Management
March
3, 2003
Murray Coell, Minister of Human Resources, responds to the provincial
budget.
- link to the full text of the Minister's speech.
Income
Assistance Changes Support People in Need
Opinion Editorial
By
Murray Coell
Minister of Human Resources
March 5, 2003
Feb.
26, 2003
Leaving
Welfare for Work Triples Income
"British Columbians leaving
income assistance for work are almost tripling their income, according to the
Ministry of Human Resources third exit survey of 1,512 former clients who
have been off assistance for six months. This survey continues the trend
that sees the majority of clients moving into sustainable jobs, earning solid
wages and becoming self-reliant, said Human Resources Minister Murray Coell.
This is precisely the goal of B.C. Employment and Assistance: to assist
people to move away from dependence and take control of their lives.
More
Income Assistance Clients Finding Jobs
December 11, 2002
"More British Columbia income assistance clients are successfully leaving
assistance for work, according to the Ministry of Human Resources second
exit survey of nearly 1,000 former clients."
Source : Ministry
of Human Resources
This is the second report in a new series of quarterly
welfare exit surveys conducted by the Ministry. It's also the second time the
Ministry's numbers and conclusions will be called into doubt by advocacy groups.
"Completed between July and September, the survey found 92 per cent
of individuals left income assistance for employment, educational opportunities,
other sources of income, or because of a change in family or financial status.
The majority 66 per cent left income assistance for paid employment.
"
- Encouraging results they *would* be, except that the 92 per cent and 66 per cent figures are based only on the 994 people who replied, not the 2,000 who didn't. From a survey "cohort"(clients who were identified as having left the system between December 2001 and June 2002) - of 3,110 clients, over 2000 did not participate in the survey, and almost three-quarters of those because their phone was not in service. If their phone wasn't in service, social advocates would say that chances are greater that they would not have a job or other sources of income. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be : "...the survey found that 92 per cent of the one-third of the survey cohort who actually responded..."
Related Links:
Exit
Surveys of "Welfare Leavers" Research
Report - Ministry of Human Resources Exit Survey Results (PDF file
- 48K, 7 pages) Survey Questions (PDF file - 65K, 16 pages) Editorial
: The number of completed surveys (1,833) represents just under 33% of the total
"cohort" (the group of people who left IA after September 2001 and hadn't
returned by April 2002), which was 5,578. The report says that the main reason
others (over 2,200 people) didn't participate was because their contact numbers
were found to be "Not In Service", showing "that many people move
when they leave income assistance." Studies of welfare reforms since the
mid-nineties in Alberta by the Canada West Foundation and by the municipal governments
of Ottawa and Toronto in Ontario have shown that when they leave social assistance
during welfare reforms, many people simply cannot afford a telephone... After
Welfare - Contrasting Studies (British Columbia) Life
after welfare : 1994
to 1999
|
BCEA
Web Orientation Session - As a prerequisite to applying for income assistance,
applicants are required (among other things) to complete a BC Employment and Assistance
Orientation Session no more than 60 days before the date of their application.
They can arrange to attend a session in person at an office of the Ministry, or
complete this web session.
Income
Assistance Estimator (Calculator) - key in some personal (or theoretical)
numbers and this online calculator will tell you if you're eligible for income
assistance and roughly how much you might expect to receive.
Information for Persons with Disabilities
Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities
See
also:
BC
Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
Training
for Jobs Program Pilot
Ministry of Human Resources
Oct. 3, 2002
"A
total of 15 companies were chosen for the Training for Jobs pilot program that
will support 5,000 BC Employment and Assistance clients across the province by
providing them with the specific skills training and job placement leading to
sustainable employment. Payment will be based on clients completing their training
and staying off income assistance for a year."
Income
Assistance Changes Protect Disabled, Promote Jobs
September 30,
2002
Information Bulletin
"Two new
acts designed to ensure income assistance is available for people who need it
most, while creating greater opportunities for employment, come into effect today."
NOTE: The two acts were actually proclaimed at
the end of May, but the regulations under both acts have just been gazetted and
are coming into effect now.
June 28, 2002
Policy
Manual Manual Amendment #2
- incl. descriptions of changes to the following
policies : Job Placement Program - Assets - Shelter Changes - Pharmacare - Medical
Transportation - Diet - Medical Equipment & Devices - Hearing Aids - Orthotics
and Bracing Devices - Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Massage Therapy - Optical -
Dental - Medical Services Plan - Health Benefits (Eligible Items, Non-Eligible
Items)
June 25, 2002
Income
Assistance and Disability Benefits Rates
Shelter Allowance eff.
July 1, 2002
Support Allowance eff. April 1, 2002
Incl. max. benefit levels
for :
- Income Assistance
- Disability Benefits
- Hardship Assistance
-
Child in the Home of Relative Benefits
- Youth Works Living Allowances
Welfare
Bills Passed Into Law
Both the Employment and Assistance Act and
the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act were tabled
for first reading in the BC Legislature on April 15 (2002), and both were passed
at the end of May.
Links to the final (Third Reading) version of each bill
appear below
Employment
and Assistance Act (May 28, 2002)
BILL 26 -- 2002
(Third Reading)
Employment
and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act (May 29, 2002)
Bill
27 -- 2002
(Third Reading)
NOTE: these two bills were passed into law at
the end of May 2002. The legislation appearing below will be repealed when the
two bills come into force (by regulation)
BC Benefits
(Income Assistance) Act and Regulation - BC
Benefits (Youth Works) Act and Regulation - Disability Benefits Program
Act and Regulation - BC Benefits (Appeals) Act and Regulation - BC
Benefits (Child Care) Act and Regulation [NOTE: this last statute will
not be repealed, but rather re-written and re-named Child Care Subsidy Act]
Progress
of Bills - this BC Legislative Assembly page offers links to all 14 debates
on the Employment and Assistance program bills introduced by the Campbell Government.
Click on the Progress of Bills link and scroll down the page to numbers 26 and
27 for links to the debates in the BC Legislature.
You'll find hours of reading
and tons of detail about welfare reforms in BC in these debates.
Here's just
one sample of what you'll find here - proceedings from the final Committee debate
on the proposed Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act:
May 29 Committee
Debate proceedings (Hansard) - final debate before
the Bill was passed (you have to scroll about two-thirds of the way down the page
(or use Ctrl+f to find the relevant section in this issue of Hansard
[Note:
PovNet has close to 80 links to NGO
critiques of the BC Government cuts.]
Child
Care Subsidy - New Policy
May 9, 2002
Ministry of Human Resources
"This program has been carefully reviewed to ensure
that the subsidy is available to families who are most in need. The subsidy now
reflects the principles guiding the BC Employment and Assistance program by targeting
the subsidy primarily to working parents with low to moderate incomes and parents
who are actively looking for work."
New
Acts Provide Assistance, Opportunity, Independence
News Release (incl. backgrounder)
Government of British Columbia
April
15, 2002
"Income assistance in British Columbia is being redefined
to focus on employment and self-sufficiency with the introduction of two new bills,
the Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance
for Persons with Disabilities Act. The two acts replace four BC Benefits acts."
Work
Search Guidelines
"The Ministry of
Human Resources is committed to increasing independence through employment and
providing services that support clients. As part of this shift to employment and
active participation, you are required to carry out a three-week work search prior
to applying for assistance."
Other
versions - includes a PDF file and translations in nine other languages
- See the BC NGO Links page of this site for related links
Employment
and Assistance Act
BILL 26 -- 2002
First
Reading version (April 15, 2002)
Third
Reading version (May 28, 2002)
Employment
and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act
Bill 27 --
2002
First
Reading version (April 15, 2002)
Third
Reading version (May 28, 2002)
NOTE: See the British Columbia NGO Links page for reaction to the new legislation
BC
Employment and Assistance Initiatives Effective April 1, 2002
Fact
Sheet
March 15, 2002
NOTE: this fact sheet is no longer available on
the BC Human Resources website; the highlights below were copied directly from
the fact sheet.
Some salient points
:
- three-week wait from first contact until intake review
- child care
subsidy reductions
- children living with relatives who are their legal guardians
are considered to be part of that family and thus no longer eligible for "Child
in the Home of a Relative" assistance.
- monthly limits on crisis grants
for food, shelter, and clothing
- discontinuation of the the 25-per-cent earnings
exemption
- elimination of the earnings exemptions for employable clients
and people with level one disabilities
- increase in earnings exemption for
clients with level two disabilities ("DB2")to $300/mo. (up from$200)
- discontinuation of exemptions for family maintenance payments and orphans' benefit
from CPP and income from other specified sources
- full-time non-disabled
post-secondary students in programs eligible for BC Student Financial Assistance
(SFA) are not eligible for income assistance through the BC Employment
and
Assistance program
- discontinuation of homemaker services; short-term, emergency
home-support services are provided by local health authorities and other ministries.
- revised (downwards) asset limits
- security deposits will be recovered from
BC Employment and Assistance cheques at $20 per month; all BC Employment and Assistance
clients are limited to a maximum of two
outstanding security deposits (except
where the recipient is fleeing domestic abuse or has to move as a result of sale
or demolition of the residence)
[NOTE : BC is the first Canadian jurisdiction
to impose a time limit for receipt of welfare]
- employable single parents
receiving BC Employment and Assistance are expected to seek work when their youngest
child reaches age three
- support rates reduced ("The support rate has
been simplified to create standard rates for people under 65 years.")
- employable clients will be limited to a cumulative 24 months
(two years) of income assistance out of every 60 months (five years); after receiving
assistance for a total of 24 months in a 60-month (five year) period, eligibility
will cease for single people and rates will be reduced for families with children
- work entry assistance is discontinued and clients' requirements for items such
as work clothes will be considered through the new job-placement programs
- ongoing transition-to-work assistance is discontinued.
February
19, 2002
- Ministry
of Human Resources Service Plan, 2002/2003 - 2004/2005
- Employment
Programs - Contract Planning Fact Sheet
Ministry
of Human Resources Service Plan Summary (PDF file, 22K) - January 17,
2002
- Major overhaul of the BC Benefits (welfare) program
Seniors
Supplement
July 2001
Information for those 65 years and over receiving
federal Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS) and for those
receiving federal Allowance (SPA).
Annual
Performance Report 2000/2001
Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security
The Self-Sufficiency
Project (SSP)
|
|
BC
Human Rights Tribunal
- incl. links to the Attorney General's unofficial
Consolidated Code including Bill 64 - the Tribunal's new Rules of Practice and
Procedure effective March 31, 2003 - Human Rights Code
- Rules of Practice and Procedure - Hearing Schedule - Decisions - Decision Index
by year - Decision Index by ground - Tribunal Members - Judicial Reviews of Decisions
- Practice Direction
|
|
Ministry of Children and Family Development
Funding
Creates Child Care Spaces, Supports Providers
August 10, 2005
"RICHMOND
Child care providers will benefit from an $8.1-million investment in child
care supporting the creation of more quality child care spaces, staff training
and other service improvements, Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid announced."
Backgrounder - list of projects, number of spaces created and funding amounts
Related Link:
Child Care in British Columbia
Governments
of Canada and British Columbia sign an Agreement on Early Learning and Child Care Early
Learning and Child Care Agreements in Principle Source: Related Links: Child
Care in British Columbia Government
of Canada announces funding for six new Understanding the Early Years (UEY) communities
in British Columbia Government
of Canada announces funding for Understanding the Early Years North Shore in British
Columbia Related
Links: Source: Google News search Results
: "Child care, British Columbia " Since April 2005, the Government of Canada has signed agreements with the governments of (in reverse chronological order) British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. For an excellent, comprehensive collection of resources related to the 2005 ELCC Agreements prepared by the University of Toronto's Childcare Resources and Research Unit, go to the Government Early Learning and Child Care Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd.htm |
Early
Childhood Development Related Links: |
|
|
Office
for Children and Youth
The Children's Commission and the Office of the Child, Youth and Family
Advocate were eliminated in February 2002 and replaced by the Office
for Children and Youth, which was established on September 30, 2002 "to
consolidate key oversight and advocacy functions."
- incl. links to : Home | Contact Us | Crisis Hotline | Key Functions | Advocacy
Information | Legislation| Public Reports
Administrative Justice Project Reports - links to almost two dozen online documents - Core Services Review Reports, Administrative Justice Project Reports and workplan
|
|
Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
Pathways
to Health and Healing (PDF - 8.9MB)
Second Report on the Health
and Well-being of Aboriginal People in British Columbia
Provincial Health
Officer's Annual Report 2007
Release date June 25, 2009
This report
contains eight chapters encompassing discussions on determinants of health, pregnancy,
infants and children, diseases and injuries, physical environment, and health
services, with a chapter devoted to recommendations on improving the health of
the Aboriginal population in BC. In addition, with the availability of the 2006
Métis Nation BC Survey, a chapter is also provided on the health and wellbeing
of the Métis population in the province. The report also includes examples
of best practices, programs, and success stories in various Aboriginal communities
in the province.
Appendix
(PDF 1MB, 211 pages)
- extensive collection of vital statistics and demographic
tables, including some comparisons of mortality and morbidity between status Indians
and non-Aboriginal people.
Source:
Office
of the Provincial Health Officer
[ Ministry
of Healthy Living and Sport ]
[ Government
of British Columbia ]
|
|
From the Office of the Ombudsman, Province of British Columbia:
Ombudsman
recommends improvements to Income Assistance (PDF - 40K, 3 pages)
News
Release
March 23, 2009
VICTORIA Today Ombudsman Kim Carter released
her report, Last Resort: Improving Fairness and Accountability in British Columbias
Income Assistance Program. All but one of the reports 28 recommendations
has been accepted by the Ministry of Housing and Social Development. (...) As
a result of the Ombudsmans investigation, the ministry agreed to make several
practical improvements to income assistance programs that will benefit individuals...
Complete report:
Last
Resort: Improving Fairness and Accountability in
British Columbias Income
Assistance Program (PDF - 2.2MB, 132 pages)
Public Report No. 45
to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
March 2009
- 28 recommendations
covering:
* Applying for Income Assistance * Persons with Persistent Multiple
Barriers to Employment * Medical and Other Documentation Requirements * Implementation
of Previous Commitments
Source:
Office
of the Ombudsman, Province of British Columbia
Related link:
Welfare
application process 'unduly complex': Ombudsman
By Andrew MacLeod
March 23, 2009
The British Columbia government agrees with most of the
Ombudsman's recommendations for fixing the welfare system, but says it may be
delayed by the worsening economy. (...) The report is the result of a systemic
investigation into the provincial welfare system sparked by a 2005 complaint from
the B.C. Public Interest Advocacy Centre.
Source:
The
Tyee
Ombudsman
report reveals underlying problems in welfare ministry (PDF file -
55K, 1 page)
News Release
March 28, 2006
(Vancouver) Fifteen anti-poverty
groups across BC are welcoming the Ombudsmans report, released today, into
complaints about unfairness at the BC Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance.
As a result of the Ombudsmans investigation, the Ministry has been making
sweeping changes to policies and procedures, including to the application process
and three week work search, reconsideration and appeal rights, and Ministry home
visits.
Source:
British
Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre (BCPIAC)
Fairness
and Accountability in Public Administration Remain Paramount in Victoria
(PDF file - 127K, 1 page)
Press Release
July 5, 2004
"B.C. Ombudsman
Howard Kushner released his 2003 Annual Report, which outlines the achievements
of his office for 2003. The report highlights achievements that occurred during
a year of immense challenge and change for the Office of the Ombudsman. Downsizing
of staff, relocating the Victoria office, sharing space and services with other
legislative officers, restricting investigative activities as a result of severe,
cumulative budget cuts, and the planning for the closing of our Vancouver Office
were some of the changes and challenges faced by the Office of the Ombudsman during
2003, stated Kushner. Mr. Kushner noted that the processing of approximately
10,000 intakes and the closing of over 2,000 investigative files, all with fewer
staff and less resources than in 2002, is a reflection of the hard work of his
staff and of the offices commitment to administrative fairness. Individual
case summaries included in the report provide a sample of the results of some
investigations."
Office of the Ombudsman Service Plan 2004/05 2006/07 (PDF file - 1.9MB, 35 pages)
|
|
|
|
News Releases
Budgets, Public
Accounts, Economic Review
_____________________________
|
The Harmonized Sales
Tax
April 6, 2010
On July 1st the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) will be eliminated. A 7% B.C. rate
will be added to the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) forming a combined HST
of 12%, the lowest in Canada. The HST approach is far simpler, more transparent
and fair than the PST system. And for the majority of goods you use, you wont
pay a penny more tax because of the HST.
How it works - more detail
Some of the benefits of the HST initiative:
* MORE JOBS & HIGHER WAGES
The HST is expected to create 113,000 jobs in British
Columbia. With reduced costs for employers, they can expand their business
and pay higher wages.
* SAVINGS PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS
The HST will remove hidden PST that is paid and compounded
at every stage of a manufactured product.
* INCREASED INVESTMENT IN B.C.
The HST puts B.C. on a level playing field with 130
other countries and five provinces that have already moved to a similar tax
structure.
* REBATES FOR FAMILIES, BUSINESSES & INDIVIDUALS
1.1 million British Columbians will receive the B.C.
HST Credit, businesses will save more than $2 billion and many items will
be exempt.
Frequently-Asked Questions about the HST in British Columbia
Source:
BC Ministry of Finance
---
B.C.
to give some HST rebates
January 14, 2010
The B.C. government is offering schools and hospitals a break on the harmonized
sales tax, which takes effect July 1.
Source:
CBC
---
Say
No to HST in BC!
The Liberal Government in British Columbia is going to implement a new tax
beginning on July 1 2010. H.S.T. stands for Harmonized Sales Tax, and is the
combination of Provincial Sales Tax (P.S.T) of 7%, and Government Sales Tax
(G.S.T.) of 5%, into one new tax, H.S.T. of 12%. The HST disproportionately
impacts lower income earners because far more of their limited income will
be spent paying the now extra 7% tax than higher income earners. How will
this affect the average British Columbian?
--------------------
From the
Canada Revenue Agency:
Harmonized
Sales Tax (HST) for Ontario and British Columbia
The HST would replace existing provincial sales taxes and
the Goods and Services Tax in those provinces beginning July 1, 2010.
The Government of Canada is committed to developing partnership agreements
with the provinces to improve the competitiveness of their tax systems and
deliver services on behalf of its federal, provincial, and territorial partners.
Everything
you want to know about
the Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax
- organized by topic, applies to all of Canada
Harmonized
Sales Tax for Ontario and British Columbia:
Questions and Answers for Public Service Bodies (PDF - 267K, 18
pages)
GST/HST Notice No.P P253
April 2010
This publication provides questions and answers that reflect the proposed
tax changes as announced in the 2009 Ontario Budget and Ontarios Tax
Plan for Jobs and Growth issued on November 16, 2009, as well as the News
Release issued by the Government of British Columbia on July 23, 2009, the
British Columbia Budget, and Information Bulletin 2010FIN0002-000026 issued
by the Government of British Columbia on January 14, 2010.
Taxable
or exempt?
Most supplies or importations into Canada of
goods and services are taxable. A small number of goods and services are exempt
from GST/HST (this means no GST/HST applies to them). It is important to know
which goods and services are taxable and at which rate. You also need to know
which goods and services are exempt from GST/HST. However, the rules for charities
are different in that most supplies made by charities are exempt. To know
more, see Taxable
or exempt for charities.
Source:
Canada Revenue
Agency
Related link:
HST
arrives in Ontario and B.C.
Taxpayers in two provinces begin paying HST on services
May 1, 2010
(...) The tax, which combines the five per cent federal goods and services
tax with the provincial sales tax, has met with opposition from those who
fear it will drive up the cost services that were previously exempt from provincial
sales tax. (...) And many taxpayers in Ontario don't know they'll receive
"transition" cheques of up to $1,000 per family starting in June...
Source:
CBC Toronto
|
|
Ministry of Small Business and Revenue
BC
Family Bonus and Earned Income Benefit - Frequently
Asked Questions
|
|
Ministry of Advanced
Education
- incl. links
to : The Minister - Ministry News - General Responsibilities - Ministry Service
Plan - Annual Service Plan Report - Reports & Publications - Ministry contacts
- 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - BC Council
on Admissions & Transfer - Career Awareness - Ministry of Education - Ministry
of Skills Development & Labour - Search for post-secondary programs - Apply
for post-secondary institutions - Career Planning
|
|
Ministry of Skills Development and Labour
|
|
Industry
Training Authority (ITA) is "the provincial government agency with
responsibility for apprenticeships and industry training programs in B.C. The
ITA is working to support existing apprenticeship options, and to identify new
training approaches. This will lead to a training system that provides expanded
opportunities for British Columbians, and better meets industry and labour-market
needs."
|
|
Government
moves to improve the BC Medical Services Plan and Pharmacare services
November
4, 2004
"VICTORIA The Province is moving to modernize and improve
the administration of the Medical Service Plan and PharmaCare, Health Services
Minister Colin Hansen said today."
Backgrounders (3) from the Ministry of Health Services:
Improving
MSP and Pharmacare Services
Improving
Privacy and Confidentiality
Maximus
BC / Alternative Service Delivery
Government
moves to improve the BC Medical Services Plan and Pharmacare services Backgrounders (3) from the Ministry of Health Services:
Improving
MSP and Pharmacare Services Related Links: MAXIMUS - "Helping Government Serve the People"
British
Columbians double-crossed over MSP contract with American corporation : B.C. Government
and Service Employees Union |
Changes
to health benefit plans to achieve cost savings and fairness
Health
Services
December 6, 2001
VICTORIA - Effective
Jan.1, 2002, the provincial government will make changes to British Columbia's
Pharmacare and Medical Services Plan Supplementary Benefits programs in order
to ensure British Columbians have the most vital health services while protecting
access to those with lower incomes, Health Services Minister Colin Hansen announced
today.
---------------------------------------------
Office of the Provincial Health Officer
A
Better Diet Will Reduce Health Care Costs
News Release
Oct.
4, 2006
VANCOUVER The Provincial Health Officers
2005 annual report finds B.C.s commitment to a healthier, fitter population
is the best way to reduce future health-care costs and provide British Columbians
with the benefits a safe, nutritious diet can bring to their lives. We can
reduce health-care costs and broaden the ability of all British Columbians to
access safe and nutritious food if we pay more attention to what we eat, reduce
our portions and remain physically active. These are all basic health tenets,
said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall.
Complete report:
Food,
Health and Well-Being in British Columbia:
Provincial Health Officer's Annual
Report for 2005:
October 2006
(PDF file - 4.6MB, 166 pages)
Related link from StrategicThoughts.com: Lower
Health Costs by Helping the Hungry (British Columbia) |
Related link from Public Health Special Reports (Ministry of Health):
Joint
Special Report:Health and Well-Being of Children in Care in British Columbia:
Report
1 on Health Services Utilization and Mortality
September 2006
Children
in care are known to have generally poorer outcomes than children who have never
been in care. As the guardian of these children (through the Director under the
Child, Family and Community Service Act), government has a special responsibility
to develop strategies to improve these outcomes.
- incl. links to the complete
report, an executive summary, highlights,
Source:
Annual
Reports
[ Office of
the Provincial Health Officer ]
[ Ministry
of Health ]
- see also Ministry
of Health Publications
|
|
Reports to the Legislative Assembly - Reports by year - Reports by subject - Search this Site - Upcoming reports
Homelessness
: Clear Focus Needed (PDF - 3MB, 44 pages)
March 2009
"(...)
Given the complexity of the issue, reducing and preventing homelessness requires
all levels of government to form a clear focus, a long-term commitment, and a
coordinated effort.(...) We recommend that government develop a comprehensive
plan to address homelessness."
Source:
Office
of the Auditor General of British Columbia
Related links:
BC
auditor confirms that province's homeless programs "not successful"
March
6, 2009
By Michael Shapcott
John Doyle, the British Columbia auditor, has
just released a sobering review of homelessness programs that concludes
that the provincial government has not been successful in reducing homelessness.
Clear goals and objectives for homelessness and adequate accountability for results
remain outstanding. Government also lacks adequate information about the homeless
and about the services already available to them this hampers effective
decision making. Finally, government has not yet established appropriate indicators
of success to improve public accountability for results. The auditors
report echoes many of the themes raised by the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing in the final report on his fact-finding
mission to Canada (See the links immediately below), which will be tabled
at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday. The auditor calls for a much more thorough
and pragmatic plan to end homelessness in British Columbia, and notes that many
other jurisdictions have already adopted solid plans.
Wellesley
Institute Blog
[ Wellesley Institute
]
The
stench of vanishing money:
How Downtown Eastside welfare fraud adds to the
area's misery and squalor
By Ethan Baron
March 6, 2009
"(...)
More than 7,000 of the Downtown Eastside's 16,000 residents are on welfare, many
living in the 3,500 single-room-occupancy (SRO) rooms owned by private landlords.
These SROs are in effect government-subsidized housing, with profits going in
many cases and I'm not pointing a finger at the Brandiz, revolting as it
is to some landlords and managers who scam tenants out of their welfare
money.
Source:
The Province
[Comment
: curious, isn't it, how this headline leads one to believe that the article might
be about
welfare fraud, when in reality the fraud is perpetrated by unscrupulous
private landlords ripping off welfare clients. Curious...]
See
also:
Operation
Phoenix : a year-long project by The Province, CKNW 980 and Global B.C.
We hope to engage the community in seeking solutions to the issues facing
our most vulnerable citizens in the Downtown Eastside.
[ more
about Operation Phoenix ]
|
|
Ministry of Community Development
- Seniors
BC Seniors' Guide - 8th edition (2006)
HTML
- click on links in the left column: Health Services * Housing * Transportation
* Finances * Lifestyles * Personal Security * Other Services * Directory
PDF
(1.8MB, 120 pages)
|
|
Labour
and Social Statistics
Income
Assistance (BC Benefits) and Employment Insurance Recipients
-
latest month
Population
Statistics
|
|
Finding
Our Way Home: Source: Campbell's
Record on Homelessness an Abysmal Failure, Says NDP Related links: July
25, 2008 January
17, 2008 Homelessness
Action Week |
Province
Expands Homeless Shelters, Housing Supports
October
12, 2007
On the first anniversary of B.C.s Housing Matters strategy,
Premier Gordon Campbell and Housing Minister Rich Coleman today announced new
and expanded measures to help break the cycle of homelessness with an added $41
million. (...) As part of the provincial housing strategy,
Housing Matters BC, and building on the work of the Premiers Task Force
on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions, the four new and expanded measures
are:
· Increase funding for emergency shelters
so they can be open 24 hours a day/seven days a week to provide better services
and assistance for those who are homeless;
·
Expanding homeless outreach services to 27 new and existing communities to connect
homeless people to housing and support services, including a new Aboriginal component;
·
Provide 750 rent supplement units to assist the homeless in the private market;
and,
· The Province will fund pre-development
costs to ensure city-owned sites will be ready for the start of construction of
new supportive housing within a year. Pre-development costs include costs for
third-party work, such as architectural, geotechnical and environmental plans
and studies.
Source:
Government of British
Columbia
Related links:
Housing
Matters BC
Premiers
Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions
No
New Homes in Premier's Homelessness Plan
Coleman challenges cities to "step
up."
October 12, 2007
Premier Gordon Campbell has constructed
an intricate array of innovative responses to B.C.'s sprawling homelessness crisis
-- but he's not building more housing.
Source:
TheTyee.ca
New
Strategy Improves Housing for Families, Homeless
News Release
October
3, 2006
VICTORIA Housing Matters BC, an innovative and comprehensive
housing strategy to help British Columbians access affordable housing, was unveiled
by Minister Responsible for Housing Rich Coleman today. This strategy will
immediately assist approximately 15,000 low-income working families and homeless
individuals, said Coleman. Its also a new direction for housing,
designed to provoke discussion about long-term solutions. We can only address
homelessness and housing affordability if we all work together long-term
solutions require the co-operation of all levels of government, as well as organizations
and volunteers dedicated to housing.
NOTE: this news release includes a detailed backgrounder on all aspects of Housing Matters BC and links to more info for each component of the strategy--- the Rental Assistance Program (see the link below), the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, Homeless Outreach Projects, Independent Living BC, Home Ownership and Affordable Housing, and Modernization Strategy
Rental
Assistance Program
The Rental Assistance Program provides direct cash
assistance to eligible low-income, working families with children under the age
of 19 and a household income less than $20,000 per year. The families must have
lived in British Columbia for the last 12 months.
Related links:
B.C.
subsidies aim to help families pay rent
VANCOUVER -- In an effort
to ease British Columbia's swelling crisis in affordable housing, the provincial
government is opting to give low-income families cash to better afford their rent.
"This is not about building more [housing] units. This is about helping more
people immediately," cabinet minister Rich Coleman said as he announced a
$40-million rental aid program aimed at helping an estimated 15,000 families with
annual incomes under $20,000.
Source:
The
Globe and Mail
|
|
QP
LegalEze (Queen's Printer)
An internet-based legal guide to the unofficial
early consolidation of the statutes and regulations of the province of British
Columbia.
- incl. links to : Revised Statutes of British
Columbia - Complete Listing of Statutes with Associated Regulations - BC Regulations
Bulletins - Order in Council and Ministerial Order Resumes - Proceedings of Bills
- Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
|
|
Media
(HINT:
Try clicking each media link below and searching their archive for specific words,
e.g., welfare)
Victoria
Times-Colonist
Vancouver
Province
Vancouver
Sun
Georgia
Straight - "Canada's Largest Urban Weekly"
[Vancouver]
TheTyee
Monday
Magazine
Columbia
Journal
Service
Canada Regional Information:
British Columbia and Yukon
This
page provides information on region-specific services for Individuals, Business
and Organizations.
Services include: Jobs * Financial Benefits * Employment
Insurance * Taxes * Training and Careers * Identification Cards * Travel and Passports
* Health * Consumer Information * Canada and the World * Environment and Resources
* Economy * Public Safety * Culture and Recreation * Science and Technology.
Source:
Service
Canada
Human Resources and Social Development
Canada
The
West Coast boom, 2005
May 2006
British Columbia's economy has
rebounded sharply from the doldrums of the 1990s, according to a new study published
today in Canadian Economic Observer. But the boom in this province is quickly
creating shortages, notably for labour. This article looks at the current boom
in BC differs from Alberta and what can be learned from Albertas experience.
Source:
Canadian
Economic Observer
[Statistics
Canada]
| List
of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the third periodic
report of Canada : United Nations Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights - Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (June 10, 1998) - British Columbia Government Response to the U.N. List of Issues (November 1998) |
Amazing
Time Machine
"The BC Archives Amazing Time Machine features eleven
educational galleries covering BC. History topics drawn from the Province's K-12
social studies curriculum. The galleries have been designed for use by school
children, their teachers and parents; however, the content will also appeal to
anyone interested in British Columbia's history."
Source:
BC
Archives - BC Royal Museum
B.C.
Centre of Excellence for Women's Health
- Incl.
links to : Who we are and what we do - Our research program - Supporting organizations
- Centres of Excellence for Women's Health Program - Gender and Health Institute
- Press Releases - New Projects Funded - Frequently asked questions - Publications
- Grants - Resources - Health related links - Listservs - Meetings - Speaker series
- and more
Northern
FIRE : Northern Secretariat of the BC Centre of Excellence for Women's Health
"Before becoming Northern FIRE, the Northern Secretariat
was part of a national network of Centres of Excellence that began in 1996. Under
the Women's Health Bureau of Health Canada, these Centres of Excellence were established
to address the imbalance of health care and health status faced by women, particularly
those who are socio-economically marginalized. Through policy-oriented research,
the Centres of Excellence contribute to evidence-based decision-making about women's
health, health care and health promotion."
-
incl. Women's Health in a Northern Context - Our Community Activities - Our Research
Publications and Activities - Links to Other Women's Health Sites
Women's
Health Links - 40+ links!
-
Go to the website of the Centres
of Excellence for Women's Health (Health Canada website)
- Go to the Canadian Social Research Links Women's
Social Issues page
The
Changing City
Vancouver in 1978 and 2003
It's
not social policy, but this collection of seven (times two) breathtaking panoramic
photos of Vancouver in 1978 and 2003 is very impressive, and definitely worth
sharing.
Clicking on one of the links opens a page with a photo of a particular
section of the False Creek area in 1978; this photo slowly transforms into the
same scene in 2003. Be sure to move the scroll bar at the bottom of the browser
to the right as the photo changes to see the entire scene. If you use Netscape,
this effect doesn't work, so you'll have to click "Rollover" and click
on each of the two dates to see both photos. [You'll see what I mean when you
try it.]
Excellent photographic evidence of the transformation of Vancouver
in the last 25 years...
Source: City
of Vancouver website
|
|
See
also:
- British Columbia NGO Links (A-C)
- British
Columbia NGO Links (C-W)
| PAGE D'ACCUEIL - SITES DE RECHERCHE SOCIALE AU CANADA |
| TIP:
How to Search for a Word or Expression on a Single Web Page Open any web page in your browser, then hold down the Control ("Ctrl") key on your keyboard and type the letter F to open a "Find" window. Type or paste in a key word or expression and hit Enter - your browser will go directly to the first occurrence of that word (or those exact words, as the case may be). To continue searching using the same keyword(s) throughout the rest of the page, keep clicking on the FIND NEXT button. Try it. It's a great time-saver! |
Site
created and maintained by:
Gilles Séguin
(This link takes you to my personal page)