THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER WELFARE PROGRAMS © FACE DRASTIC CHANGES By THELMA CARTWRIGHT The Federal Government has begun to study a task force report on welfare pro- grams. The report, it is believed, suggests some swee ping changes in existing welfare schemes — family allowances, old age pensions and so on. Among the suggestions being put forward are the abolition of the baby bonus in favour of a negative income tax and the replacing of other welfare payments by a guaranteed in- come. BETTER VALUE What the Federal Govern- ment is after is better value for its welfare dollar. In spite of the existing programs we have still made little impact on the problem of poverty in Canada. No one would argue that we shouldn’t examine the as- sumotions on which our pres- ent welfare programs are based. And’ no one would ar- gue that we have done enough for the poor and underprivi- leged in Canada. Far from it. However, before we aban- don schemes that have pro- vided at least minimal relief for many people, we should consider very carefully what we are getting into in the way of new proposals, and what the new rules of the game are going to be. MINIMUM INCOME Let’s take the proposal for a guaranteed minimum in- come. I have never been im- pressed with this scheme. Apart from the many tech- nical problems. it will pose (such as how and when and on what terms payments would be made) it also raises in my mind the spectre of the old ‘means test’ with its at- tendant indignities and red tape. Those who argue ‘unified’ welfare, argue that money is thrown away by governments when they make transfer pay- ments to people with ade- quate incomes. Millionaires benefit from the baby bonus and old age pensions as much’ as the poor. This is true, of course, ex- cept that the income tax is there to take the money back again. SELECTIVE WELFARE The alternative to general welfare payments is selective welfare and we all know what that means. I, personally, know of one person who never collected the old age pension (though in need of it) during the time it required a means test because of the indignities it involved. We want no return to this kind of ‘selective’ welfare. I am willing to be convinced by a guaranteed income scheme but I will remain skeptical until the details are presented and can be ana- lyzed for their ‘human’ conse- quences. I am not interested in the Federal Government’s book- keeping problems. Perhaps what the Federal Government should examine, before it begins to ‘rationalize’ its present programs, are the inadequacies of the present welfare set-up in Canada. LONG WAY We are still a long way from having a satisfactory medicare plan in this country. We are still a long way frem providing free education for all our citizens. We are still a long way from providing adequate housing for lower income groups, or for middle income groups for that matter. Perhaps when we have solved some of these problems we can begin to look at the mechanics of our overall pro- gram. SHOULD BEWARE We should beware of glib formulas for solving our prob- lems. There is no magic shib- boleth that will vanquish our economic and social ills. If we are ever to achieve the ‘iust society’ in Canada it will be because we are determined to get it and because we are absolutely sincere in wanting it. We will have to attack our problems with all the sophisti- cation and earnestness that their complexities warrant. It requires nothing less than a massive redistribution of wealth in all its forms, and the complete redirection of our social and economic ob- jectives. a WHY THINGS ARE TOUGH The average wage rate in Canadian manufacturing in- dustries in 1968 was $102 a week (Dominion Bureau of Statistics). In the same year (pensioners please note) it took $128 a week a provide the necessities for an average- sized Canadian family in the Metropolitan Toronto area (Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto). The last figure does not include a car. Rent inflation, for example, pushed workers’ costs for shelter to just under one-third of income (32.5%) .- - are now running at an annua dred and ninety-six million dollars . . . over 1967. . NOTE: Corporation profits in Canada 1 rate of five billion, five hun- or, UP 11 percent HANEY BUSINESS GUIDE ESQUIRE MEN’S WEAR (Graham Mowatt) Complete Stock of Work and Dress Clothing “THE STORE WITH THE POPULAR BRANDS” HANEY BRITISH COLUMBIA FIRST BRAVERY AWARD A North Vancouver man, credited with saving the life of a fellow workman in an industrial accident last April, has become the first person to receive one of the recently announced Workmen’s Com- pensation Board’s “Award for Bravery.” William Whittaker, 37, of 978 Westview Avenue, North ‘Vancouver, was _ presented with the WCB’s “Bronze Award for Bravery” for his rescue from drowning of fel- low employee Sergio Fanuc- chi, 31, of 2995 East 43rd Av- enue, Vancouver. The Award, consisting of $750 in cash, a special cast bronze medallion, and a parchment scroll detailing the successful rescue was pre- sented to Whittaker Thurs- day, December 19, 1968 by. Labour Minister Leslie Peter- son at a dinner held in his honor by the Commissioners of the Workmen’s Compensa- tion Board. The dramatic rescue began at 10:30 am. April 1, when Fanucchi apparently struck his head and fell into the waters of Burrard Inlet from a scow the two men were re- positioning at a dredging op- eration. When he noticed Fanucchi was missing, Whittaker who was at the controls of a small tug moored to the side of the scow, ran to the nearby dredge where he spotted Fanucchi floating face down and being carried away by a 4 mph tidal current. Whittaker jumped in and swam about 30 feet to the un- conscious man and after a 20 WILLIAM WHITTAKER (left) of 978 Westview Avenue, North Vancouver, displays Workmen’s Compensation Board “Bravery Award” citation he received for rescuing Sergio Fanucchi (right) from drowning following an accident on the North Vancouver waterfront. The award is the first to be made by the WCB following changes to the Work- men’s Compensation Act which allows monetary awards to be made in recognition of heroic act. minute struggle managed to pull him back to the scow where he successfully applied artificial respiration until an ambulance and further _help arrived. “Tf it wasn’t for Bill Whit- taker and the fact that I was wearing a life jacket I wouldn’t be here today,” said Fanucchi following his recov- ery in hospital. This is the first rescue in- cident to qualify for one of the WCB’s new Bravery Awards, Under the program the awards are broken down into four different categories, a Gold award with a value of $2,000, a Silver with a value of $1,000, a Bronze worth $750, and a Parchment valued at $500. Each award is ae- companied by a medallion and scroll. The plan is administered by the WCB and applications on behalf of individuals or groups for the rescue of a workman must be submitted in writing and be signed by three persons who have knowledge of the circum- stances of the incident. What 9: O Cuftinan’? J Craftsmen are men, who cannot help doing whatever is given them to do better than other men think worthwhile AND WOODWORKERS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS FOR OVER 60 YEARS BY MAKING PARIS BOOTS THEIR NO. 1 CHOICE PIERRE PARIS & SONS 1907 Family 51 West Hastings Street Vancouver 3, B.C. Teamwork in Craftsmanship sinc