Last week CBC reported cuts in social assistance services for British Columbia’s most challenged citizens. The story received almost no coverage in most other media, so it is probably worthwhile just to highlight what the government thinks must be cut to pay for their deficit.
On March 4th the government issued a press release with the Orwellian headline, “Province Protects Services for Low Income Clients.” A backgrounder attached to the release, however, makes clear that there is no protection from the government for people on assistance. The backgrounder states the government will:
- Reduce regular dental visits from twice to one a year
- Cut dental X-rays from annual to once every two years
- Slash their budget for funeral services for people on assistance by nearly half
- Eliminate payments for contraceptive devices, pre-made foot orthotics, diagnostic testing devices (such as glucometers), optical, dental or extended therapies including chiropractic and physiotherapy.
- Cut supports that were supposed to help people transition from assistance to other programs
- Cut shelter allowances for people with disabilities and people aged 60 to 64.
- Assistance recipients used to be eligible for nutritional supplements if they had a serious symptom. Now they will need two symptoms to get the supplements.
The government complains in its press release that the cost of social assistance has gone up by $19.8 million a month over the last year. These cuts will save $10 million this year and $15 million next year.
What the government doesn’t say is that the cost of social assistance has gone up because people can’t find work and for many their EI payments have run out. Yet these are also the people who the government says must pay the price for the recession. For a government that has cut taxes year after year there is no sense of sharing the burden.
I don’t consider myself that out of the ordinary, but without pre-made orthotics, chiropractic support and physiotherapy, I wouldn’t be walking around. I am lucky enough to have those services, but I guess the government doesn’t care that much if people on assistance can walk – just as long as they can continue to cut taxes.
Gordon Campbell told the CBC “There are a number of initiatives that are undertaken in the budget to make sure that we continue to put low-income people on the top of the list.” Apparently it is a hit list.
Kim Poirier // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:57 am
Gordon Campbell is evil. Thanks for the post. Less for shelter? Really?
Keith Reynolds // Mar 9, 2010 at 7:31 pm
The shelter cuts are targeted – “The minimum shelter allowance provides $75 a month to persons with disabilities and income assistance clients from age 60 to 64, even if they do not pay rent. This is an out-dated policy that excludes most income assistance clients and will be eliminated.”
and
“Approximately 1,400 clients receive this allowance. The changes take effect June 1, 2010. Estimated savings for two years is approximately $1.9 million.”
Keith Reynolds // Mar 10, 2010 at 9:29 am
Paul Willcocks has written on this. He put it better than I did when he said, “The latest cuts to health services for the poorest British Columbians crossed a line.
The income assistance and disability benefit cuts are cruel, wasteful and petty.” See http://willcocks.blogspot.com/
D. Phoenix // Mar 10, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Meanwhile, Gordon Campbell proudly announces the Canadian Paralympic flag bearer and poses with the Canadian Paralympic Committee. He is such a friend to people with disabilities.
Forget quality of life issues. If the government wants to focus on strictly on money, these cuts will cost more in the long run because people will end up needing more expensive medical care when they have been denied the use of preventative measures like dental check-ups, physio and special diets.
These cuts are cruel. I hope more media picks up on this and that there is a lot of opposition to these cuts.
Susan Craigie // Mar 10, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Shelter cut – that $75. is also something that homeless people get – perhaps to make up for the fact they have nowhere to cook or keep food. It is being cut from them too – perhaps the largest group to loose this benefit yet they forget to even mention it. It is not outdated for the homeless.
Cutting the supports for people with disabilities who are able to work is the worst aspect imo. Until now people with disabilities could return to work and maintain their medical benefits (medication, dental, glasses). Now that will only be possible for a year (maybe 2, but not in the long term). This will actually discourage people from reentering the workforce. I’ll go out on a limb and predict that it will actually cost the govt. more as people will choose to remain on disability to keep their health benefits.
Short sighted doesn’t even begin to describe this nonsense.
Linda // Mar 10, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Just plain inhumane, short-sighted and stupid. Mary Walsh, speaking at the recent BCTF conference made a point that “throwing money” at an issue does work (the Own the Podium program!). Along with Mary Walsh, i challenge the gov’t to decrease poverty, increase human dignity and likely cut long term health care costs by providing people with what they need to (at least!) meet their most basic health care needs.
Jim // Mar 11, 2010 at 12:03 am
I am person living and dealing with HIV. In my benefits I recieve $20.00 per month for clean, safe drinking water. The government also justified this further cut (to me it’s another loss of $240.00 per year) by stating that BC has the best drinking water in North America. Perhaps for a average healthly individual this may be true. To a person though with a surpressed immune system this is a disaster. It’s true that by including this cut people like me and others will get sick, if not now eventually. Many social workers, doctors, advocates do not support this action. Some folks who recieve this benefit are considering launching a human rights complaint as this cut will affect our health and put people in immenent danger to thier own health. Not to mention (in my case), that the cost for 1 day in the hospital ( is just around $1500.00.) I do feel that this cut is unjustified and discriminatory. The one thing that I’ve noticed is that the BC Liberals just love to pick a fight with those who are mostly unable to fight back. And here I thought our society no longer tolerated bullies. So, if an individual wanted to file a human rights complaint, what would be the process?, any advice on this would be much appreciated.
Jim
Jon Hamelin // Mar 11, 2010 at 5:51 am
I don’t know why anyone should be so surprised. Since day 1 of the Campbell government, they have waged war against the disabled.
First they removed protections for disabled persons from legislation and forced everyone receiving benefits to re-qualify. Then they reduced health care coverage and cut supplements. After reducing the average monthly cheque by $121, they generously gave back $40 two years later. Another unpublished cut came when they were giving themselves 20 % raises — a 33% cut to telephone subsidies.
How many suicides will it take among the disabled before society steps up and does something?
Sarah Leavitt // Mar 18, 2010 at 11:59 am
There is more information on the website of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities: http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/cutstomedical.htm
They encourage people to write letters to Rich Coleman and to your own MLA as well. Rich Coleman’s address is HSD.Minister@gov.bc.ca. Here is some sample email text from the BC Health Coalition that you can just cut and paste. Dear Minister Coleman, I am concerned about the about cuts to medical coverage and the shelter allowance for people with disabilities that are contained in the 2010 provincial budget and I ask you to reconsider this decision.
vincent watson // Mar 30, 2010 at 6:38 pm
The new policies of the Liberals are a slap in the face for welfare recepients and for people with dis-
abilities. Many people depend on these services. I
suggest that Liberal MLA’s take a drastic pay cut
and tighten their belts.