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.
On Jan. 26 The Tyee made a freedom of information request to the Housing and Social Development Ministry for the records, including the latest in a promised series of reports created using federal tax data.
“Please be advised that it is the ministry's intention to post these updates within the next 60 days,” said a Feb. 12 letter from Richard Maddia, the ministry's director of information and privacy. Under provincial law, that meant the ministry could refuse to disclose the records through the FOI process.
Counting “days” as business days, that put the deadline at April 22. The date passed without the records being released. The Tyee's request would be treated as a new request and the ministry would have 30 business days to respond.
As of Thursday the government was holding fast to its decision not to set a date for releasing the report. After the Tyee told a freedom of information officer it would go ahead with a story about the suppressed report, this morning that officer's superior, Maddia, informed the Tyee the government's position had changed and it will release the report shortly.
“Clearly it's sensitive to them during the election,” said David Eby, the executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, after being told of the government's refusal to release the records. “If it's got bad news, for example that everyone who got cut off welfare became homeless, that's not the kind of thing they want out there when they're campaigning.”
Many government agencies do what they can to suppress records the public has a right to see, he said. “This kind of gamesmanship around elections with information takes on a different character, which is the appearance of bad faith.”
The minister responsible, Rich Coleman, was not available by posting time.
“The government is adamantly opposed to releasing information when it's not in their interests,” said Darrell Evans, the executive director of the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association. “They're tighter than a frog's asshole now on anything to do with freedom of information. You can quote me on that.”
A long time advocate for greater government transparency, he said this is the first time he's heard of a public body using the planned-release measure to refuse access to a record.
“This has never come up in 18 years,” he said. “This is a delaying tactic. This is one more effort to suppress information that may put the government in a bad light.”
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 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, 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.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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RossK
3 years ago
Sorry To Jump In Here Off Topic Mr. MacLeod, But...
....On his radio show this morning, backed by Mr. Palmer and Mr. Baldrey, Bill Good implied that the 'snickering' in the Press Gallery after his long pause during the radio debate yesteday was because of Ms. James' response, (ie. not because of Mr. Good's pause).
I have a live blog of this morning's segment on Mr. Good's show here.
Perhaps The Tyee could ask some other members of the Press Gallery (ie. members that are not so 'involved/invested' in Mr. Good's show for an 'independent' report on the pause and their fellow media members response? This is not a trivial matter, especially given that so much has been made about how it is reporters' 'impressions' about how a campaign that are, apparently (ie. see reports on the float plane fly over on Earth Day) the key reason for why so much of the media coverage moves (in a pack?) the way it does.
Again sorry for butting in, but I didn't want this item to be lost, given that Mr. Beers earlier post about the pause, and all the comments from readers on it, is now way down the page.
RossK
3 years ago
And sorry for the crummy syntax above...
...was rushing.
seth
3 years ago
talking point for NDP
Suggest that the those booted off welfare end up homeless and then ask Campbell when he sputters why he refuses to release the study.
Skywalker
3 years ago
Surprise. Won't release figures!
Not to stray from your point RossK but is iot any surprise that the Liberals won't release report on welfare leavers. We might find they have cooked the figures before the election. That would make any questions about it a "personal attack". Can't have that, can we Bill?
verso
3 years ago
Best. Quote. Ever.
“They're tighter than a frog's asshole now on anything to do with freedom of information."
RossK
3 years ago
No problem SkyW...
Mr. MacLeod's post is important, and it is of true substance, something that was pretty much entirely lacking in Mr. Good's chat with Messrs Palmer and Baldrey this morning.
(again I apologize for having jumped in off-topic on this thread)
.
morechatter
3 years ago
The Brooth is Thickening
As the Liberals cook up their election platfrom with a whole lot of leftovers from previous campagains. As one thing for sure change is not something that is guaranteed not to happen from the Liberals. However do expect change when it comes to the economy as its takes a nose dive.
I disagree with the Liberals somewhat because there is already change as Liberal supporters cry Campbell's dosen't listen and does what he wants party is cutting it for them as the poor cry Campbell dosen't listen.....
morechatter
3 years ago
Correction: Isn't Cutting It for them
As former Campbell supporters disagree with deficit spending and carbon tax along with Campbell's refusal to hear what they have to say as despite promises does it the Campbell way.
Which is Campbell's way or the highway and he does those to despite commitment to environment.
morechatter
3 years ago
Ha Ha Ha
Leaving for jobs???? BC Farewell not only likes to tell tall tells but also apparently have a sense of humor. What jobs?????????
BC unemployment projected to be continue to be hardest hit as other provinces don't feel the pain quite so much.
And its not those booted of welfare or those who can't get welfare who monopolize the streets its also those on welfare as rates do not permit those on farewell system to rent anything suitable to live in much less find a place to live.
As its more how many of the homeless has died or been injured do to being knifed or slashed or beaten over the head etc? Or better yet how many kill themselves on farewell Wednesday as sirens go non stop as welfare takes its tole and many check out thought drug overdoses? And this last Wednesday the numbers must have been staggering as ambulance sirens go non stop making it one noisey city as one cannot hear over blearing sirens.
fisher
3 years ago
Welfare and homeless
this problem is a huge embaressment for any goverment. A goverment has to care about all citizens which CONLIBS do not .!!!! fisher
morechatter
3 years ago
You What's Strange
I think this Government is more of an embarrassement to the people who elected them in office? Whats the price of embarrassement? I guess for some it really could be something of a misunderstanding or plain ignorance as many lack knowledge of their part in a Democratic system along with the system itself.
Where does it start???
Well lets start with English???
Thats a good start.
Or so you would think, but apparently their are some new citizens along with those who have been here some time who differ with that opinion but only you have to speak their language to find it out.
morechatter
3 years ago
Correction: Something Strange
Something Strange is Going on with our Democratic System as it is yet future compromised for the interests of a few rather than the interests of the majority.
verso
3 years ago
Andrew or David, update?
"...but now is promising to release it today."
Was the report actually released today? Thanks...