The number of ready-to-work people receiving welfare grew significantly in March according to statistics delayed for release until after the May 12 election.
The number of cases in the expected-to-work category grew by 5.5 percent from February to March and was up 50 percent from a year earlier.
The largest year-to-year gains were among two-parent families (71 percent), single men (61.3 percent) and couples (53 percent).
“The welfare caseload has not only been increasing, but the increase has been accelerating,” former NDP MLA David Schreck wrote in a newsletter. “That was taking place in 2008 when Premier [Gordon] 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.'”
The monthly statistics were due for release at the end of April, the Tyee reported. The ministry of housing and social development's website says they were released on May 15, three days after the provincial election.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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Van Isle
3 years ago
Even if the stats had been
Even if the stats had been released on time it still wouldn't have made a difference. Reasons; 1)the mass-media would have ignored them. 2)the sheople would be in denial and wouldn't believe it.
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Interesting
The number of people on welfare in 1995 was at a monthly average of 293,710. in 2008 it was 32,609. In the same time, the number of people on disability has gone from 26,708 to 79,873.
The number of new cases is approximately 12,000. Still a fraction of 1995.
Frank
3 years ago
Employment and Assistance Clients
"The number of people on welfare in 1995 was at a monthly average of 293,710"
Actually that was just the number "expected to work". When you add the number "temporarily excused" and the disabled the total was 367,000.
(The following rounds off to the nearest thousand)
1n 1996 that number fell to 344,000
In 1997 it fell to 304,000
In 1998 it fell to 281,000
In 1999 it fell to 263,000
In 2000 it fell to 252,000
In 2001 it fell to 244,000
In 2002 it fell to 210,000
In 2003 it fell to 170,000
In 2004 it fell to 152,000
In 2005 it fell to 140,000
In 2006 it fell to 132,000
In 2007 it rose to 135,000
In 2008 it rose to 142,000
In 2009 it rose to 157,000
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Figures
Yes, it seems the recession actually started to ramp up some time in 2007.
Frank
3 years ago
Gov't policy
Seems to have more of an effect than the economy. After all, 1998 had a growth rate of 1.3% while 1997 had a growth rate of 3.2% yet the number of people on welfare was less in 1998.