A14 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 22, 1995 New welfare plan won't work to help those in most need PROVINCIAL yoverament wants lo create a cheap labour force more suited to the third world, says & local anti-poverty ac- tivist. And it’ _—l do so by cutting - welfare cheques, - forcing people to go to work and monitoring them constantly, says Gerry King of the Ter- race Anti-Poverty Group Society. He made the comments after the release of the provincial © government's newest welfare reform scheme called B.C. Bene- fits. It calls for reductions in monthly benefits but docs provide for training moncy for those sent to school or to other employment prepara- tion programs. | King’s skeptical of the in- creased emphasis on train- ing and job preparation pro- grams, saying several of those kinds of groups al- | ready exist in. Terrace and have met with mixed results, : “A lot of them won't want to go,’ said King of making welfare. recipients go to school to keep their benefits. “They will slow the sys- tem down. The degree of Lit- eracy will be a factor.” King’s main criticism is the cut, effective Jan. 1, of ' $46 a month from the che- ques of single people, “That’s $46 per person that won’t be spent in this community,’’ he said, King added that financial inducements to employers of up to $8,000 over 12 months to hire younger wel- fare recipients will make ex- isting, lower paid workers feel nervous, “Those young guys will be up against a guy at 35 who has a mortgage,”’ said King. He .compared Benefits B.C. to Employment Plus, a LOCAL WELFARE ADVOCATE : Geny King fears that the government's new B.C. Benefits welfare plan is aimed at society's most vulnerable citizens, similar type welfare work program introduced in the 1980s by the Social Credit government. - “Tt never worked and this won't cither,”’ King added. But King did concede that the NDP plan is not as harsh | as workfare programs in New Brunswick, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario. “How will this affect the community itself, There'll definitely be more sickness. We're creating walking time bombs. ' King was equally. critical of other welfare changes — which tighten up crisis grants, call more a virtual drain of a person’s savings before they can claim wel- fare and 2 stop to replacing lost or stolen cheques. He said less capable wel- fare recipients won’t be able lo react to the new seven day limit in which they can appeal a ministry decision, The old limit was 30 days. How It'll work HERE ARE the main points of the provincial govern- ment’s new B.C. Benefits welfare plan. The majority the points take effect Jan, 1, 1996. * A new Youth Works program puts an end to wel- fare for young people, The current rate of $546 a month is cut to $500 after the first month. After seven months without a job, young people will spend two months in a mandatory job search program. After that period, young people will have to take training or education courses, Young people with children won’t have their benefits cut. * Employers who hire young people will seccive $8,000 in subsidies over the course of one year. * Employable adults over the age of 25 will have to . go through the same basic procedure outlined for young people. * Couples without dependents will have their benefits cut from $903 for the first month to $811 therafter. * There are no changes to rates for adulis over 55, to people with disabilities or to seniors. * Starting next April children in low income families will receive basic dental and vision care benefits, fr Try Adult Ba tered ballet FLYNN SCHOOL OF | 3226A River Drive - Something Different? evenings or Saturday mornings. Cail 638-2077 for more info or come by and Check It Out! | BALLET let Classes taught by a regis- |- teacher. 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