Opinion

Disabled again on BC Liberals' Hit List

The poor and people with HIV and chronic illnesses whacked with more cuts to income and health support.

By Bill Tieleman, 9 Mar 2010, TheTyee.ca

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Making the most vulnerable pay for BC's deficit.

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"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." -- Premier Gordon Campbell, March 5, 2010


The poor and the disabled are definitely at the top of the B.C. Liberal government's list -- the hit list for more suffering, that is.

Last week -- with tens of thousands of British Columbians having lost their jobs and thousands more dependent on meagre disability benefits to survive -- the government slashed social assistance to save $25 million over two years.

At the very top of the Campbell hit list -- people with disabilities who have no home or with chronic serious illnesses like HIV/AIDS or diabetes.

And yet the government's Orwellian headline for its news release actually reads: "Province protects services for low-income clients."

God help the poor from more B.C. Liberal "protection" -- they can't take it!

In fact, they are "protecting" people with disabilities and those on income assistance between the age of 60 and 64 who don't pay rent by taking away their minimum $75 monthly shelter allowance.

That will leave those who might be staying with a friend or family member without paying rent -- or are simply homeless -- just $531 a month to live on.

More 'protective' moves

The B.C. Liberals are also "protecting" persons with AIDS and other serious illnesses by making it harder to obtain the Monthly Nutritional Supplement intended to provide vitamins and healthy foods like fruit, vegetables and special meals.

Previously anyone with disabilities on assistance who was suffering from any one of the following conditions was eligible for the supplement:

Malnutrition

Underweight status

Significant weight loss

Significant muscle mass loss

Significant neurological degeneration

Significant deterioration of a vital organ

Moderate to severe immune suppression

Now the government will require having at least two of those conditions to qualify -- apparently just "malnutrition" or deterioration of a vital organ alone wouldn't be enough!

And the government shamelessly used a $20-a-month "bottled water supplement" that it will now eliminate as cover for the cuts.

The reality is that only those with compromised immune systems, when their doctors advise it, could get bottled water to avoid possible health problems.

But this government wants you to think those on income assistance sit around drinking Perrier at your expense. It's a disgustingly unfair attack on the sick.

Cuts 'will cost the health system more'

The B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities is stunned by the government cuts, and knows they won't save any money.

"Already inadequate support for people with disabilities is being cut further," the Coalition's Robin Loxton said in an interview Friday. "In the long term it will cost the health system more and will not save money."

Why? Because poor people and those with disabilities who are deprived of healthy food and shelter get sick -- so sick they end up in hospital for expensive treatment.

Coalition executive director Jane Dyson says things are already bad enough for those on disability benefits.

"People are using part of their food money to pay for housing, so they are already unhealthy," Dyson said, adding that many people receiving disability support have diabetes, which is further aggravated by eating low cost food.

1,400 people shoved further to margins

The $75 shelter cut will affect about 1,400 people, according to the government, and Loxton says that will particularly hurt the homeless.

"Homeless people have shelter-related costs," he said. "I don't know how people do it -- the cost of everything is going up and they can barely afford to live."

But the cuts don't stop there. Also being slashed are glucometers for diabetics, and pre-made foot orthotics, while dental services and x-rays will be reduced and chiropractic and physiotherapy services eliminated unless required for a "life threatening health need."

Presumably for this government not being able to walk isn't life threatening.

But these cuts most certainly are, not to mention utterly rotten. [Tyee]

Bill Tieleman is a regular Tyee contributor who writes a column on B.C. politics every Tuesday in 24 Hours newspaper. E-mail him at weststar@telus.net or visit his blog.

20 Comments:

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  • Whiskey River

    1 year ago

    Dirty rotten sleazebags

    Gordon Campbell is a Liar,a HABITUAL LIAR...Gordon Campbell is a LAWBREAKER.

    That is not my opinion.

    THAT IS FACT!

    Gordon Campbell is the WORST GOVERNMENT in the HISTORY of CANADA.

    No wonder his wife left him!

    And EVERY BC LIBERAL is COMPLICIT IN GORDON CAMPBELL`S CUTS and ATTACKS ON the POOR.

    "Revenge is a dish best served cold"

    Of course BUFFOONS LIKE AGT DON`T CARE ...HE LOVES the BC LIBERALS..

    It`s all about industry,just change the leader of the BC Liberals and all is well!!!

    AGT and ALL the BC LIBERALS CAN GO TO HELL!

  • circle A

    1 year ago

    They play rough...

    When they`re dealing with those who can`t defend themselves but they suck-hole to money and power like their life depends on it,No shame! no guts! Thats campbell.

  • Whiskey River

    1 year ago

    Lying sleazebags

    Thanks Bill Teileman...Sure miss you on the Monday morning quarterback show on cknw.

    Monte Paulson is absolutely useless on the show,Monte has a friendly voice but no substance,nothing at all, an orange pilon would be more effective on that show, Monte Paulson never mentions the stories from fellow writers on the Tyee,like Will McMartin`sstories,never mentions BC Ferries are bankrupt,never mentions anything, he is nothing but a bobblehead.

    Nothing personal Monte Paulson,I think you are a nice guy,quite knowlegble,I guess we all need to make money,desperate times, like the prostitutes on the street,they sell themselves too.

    http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2010/03/hst-shell-game-continues.html

  • Takuan

    1 year ago

    they have a plan

    Gord the Impaler will invite them all to a feast in a former owe-lympic venue. The boards, nails and gasoline have already been ordered. As usual, business finds a way!

  • stver

    1 year ago

    Liberals Hit List

    When will you finally realize Bill that making a sacrifice of twenty years of right wing rule just to get four years to try to do what you would like to have done is not a formula for a successful society.
    Proportional Representation would get rid of these bums in a heartbeat. But,as I recall, you worked hard to kill that opportunity last May.
    Thanks Bill.

  • freebear

    1 year ago

    The poor and people with HIV and chronic illnesses whacked with

    ``The poor and people with HIV and chronic illnesses whacked with more cuts to income and health support``

    Because they can`t fight back!

  • Skywalker

    1 year ago

    No, stver but...

    ...neither is a very flawed STV proposal.

  • jim1966

    1 year ago

    Recent Cuts

    Well is any of this any surprise to your readers. I am one of the citizens who recieves this benefit as I have HIV. Big deal right?, wrong. Overall this paticular cut will elimiate (over an annual basis) $240.00 per year on an already overstressed personal budget, compound this with the upcoming HST and well folks, it just does not look good. I gave up on the BC Liberals a long time ago. I want your readers to know the facts. First I am grateful that we live in a place that even has some support. That's a given. But it's very difficult living on a food budget for an entire day for just over $9.00. My food/clothing personal needs allowance for an entire month is $561.00. Rent allownace is $375.00, Vitamin allowance is $40.00 per month and Nutrional Supplement (I recieved this a few years ago)is an addtional $165.00 per month. That's all good. Alot of people that I know in the same situation are wondering if the will axe more benefits sooner rather than later. My solution, sad as it is is to move out of BC this being my home and where my life is. I can't speak for everyone else but it's not a fair and just society that allows this sort of government to rule in this way. I wrote to the oppostion critic regarding these cuts (Shane Simpson) and he told me that the NDP is studying the cuts. He suggested that people need to start speaking up and telling thier stories. Hence my letter/comment here. I see something morally wrong with any government that takes much needed resources away from people like me and others, families, seniors etc. I am glad that at least I get to keep my soul I wonder if Gordo and his gang feel the same way?-You decide.

  • Perry

    1 year ago

    House the disabled in Harper's new and improved prisons!

    Anyone on disability assistance that isn't already homeless is just one short step away from the streets. No matter where you live in this province, in the cities or small towns, it is impossible to find a place to rent for just $375/month, which is the housing support amount. Many on disability, such as myself, do not qualify for supported housing (e.g. for addicts or the mentally ill), which is usually the only housing you can find for that amount. This leaves only three options: use your food money to pay rent; live in sub-standard housing that is not fit for humans; or live on the street and in shelters.

    This morning I just read that Harper has provided us another option. The federal prison system is going to get a 43 per cent increase in penitentiary capital costs to make room for all the 'criminals' Harper's proposed new laws will make. Maybe Campbell can work out a deal to house disability pensioners in some of those new and improved prison cells. After all, prisoners in this country have far more housing security than the disabled. Now that's a solution Swift would approve of.

  • Bob Watts

    1 year ago

    The Bill for the Olympics Please.

    Oh just give the bill to the Disabled guy on the sidewalk over there! Thanks Gordon!
    I'm disabled and I saw this coming. I'm diabetic on top of a few other fun things God blessed me with.
    Before I got the MNS (monthly nutritional supplement) my Doctor wanted to put me in the Hospital for a couple of weeks, just so I could eat a proper diet, cost ($1,500 per day?) or $21,000 dollars for 2 weeks! This is happening all over BC, other government ministries are compensating for the welfare cuts at a rate for lets say caring for a disabled person in the Hospital is 166 times more expensive than providing welfare funds for a healthy diet.
    THE Thing That Really Stands Out For Me, Is That A Dead Disabled Person Is Cheaper Than A Non Dead Disabled Person! THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH or UNDER IT!!!
    There are thousands of disabled in BC that are not classed as disabled, and never will be.
    The disability application is 23 pages long and filled in by a Doctor and a Registered Social Worker. The welfare office has Judges or Adjudicators to see if a person is truly disabled. The Adjudicators must have (Grade 12) and are given the power to over rule a Ph.D. Medical Doctor or any every other type of Medical Specialist.
    When and if you get classed as Disabled these Grade 12 grads have the power of life and death, they’ll judge if you get medical supplies, transportation costs to just see a Specialist, wheelchairs, disposable badges, adult diapers, hospital beds (cheap ones).
    If your disabled in BC you better have an Advocate (legal aid cancelled) a great Doctor who loves you, cause so many Doctors can’t stand dealing with welfare.
    98% of Dentist’s in BC will not except the welfares under funded Dental Plan, I get my Dental work done in a fantastic Dental Clinic…no names due the fear Campbell will build another brickwall to me staying healthy and alive.

  • ASKBiblitz.com

    1 year ago

    Time for Gosselin Redux

    Alas, the legion of fifth-rate law professors who got hold of the Gosselin file several years ago - the case involving Quebec's paltry social assistance program - made the claim for relief so outrageous the Supreme Court of Canada had no choice but to reject plaintiff's argument. Their stupidity, unfortunately, has made it considerably more difficult to raise such a claim today.

    ... Until today.

    These latest cuts could finally be enough to bring about a class action like the one still under way in Ontario http://www.bcdisabilities.com/bcdisforum/viewtopic.php?p=295#295.

    For a LONG! time now, many of us have been concerned about the opacity of B.C. decisions to allow or more often decline disability benefits. Aside from the unconstitutionality of deliberately concealing the information w/o a lengthy Freedom of Information requirest, few taxpayers have any idea how little the tax money supposedly we imagine to be allotted to care for our most vulnerable citizens is actually spent on them. Few of us have any idea how HARD and LONG applicants have to fight to get basic life necessaries - a wheelchair repair, the cost of presctiption drugs so they don't have to decide each whether to eat or medicate!

    Even scarier, how many new applicants are injured workers who somehow didn't qualify for benefits under the equally mysterious Workers Comp (BC WorkSafe) scheme?

    Leo Biblitz

    http://www.askbiblitz.com/disability.php

  • crh

    1 year ago

    Herr Hitler didn't like

    Herr Hitler didn't like disabled people either....

  • NooR

    1 year ago

    BC CUTS

    This CLASS WAR is being waged around the globe by the elite. They have been doing this for a long time; now they are seriously tightening the screws and sweeping out all of they can. They steal the homes and render them homeless. How much more can they steal? They will try to find more.

    These things are created by the money kings of Wall Street and London.The goal of these people is to remove from earth all "useless eaters". Once you cannot work, produce, purchase, pay taxes, you are of little value.

    This nasty agenda was set in place in various governments with the assistance of Kissinger, at the bequest of his bosses, the Rothschild family, head of the international banking cartel.

    The increase in cancers, blood diseases, immune deficiencies, autism, etc etc etc. The chemicals in our food and water are there to lower planet population while making money for big pharma.

    Nothing personal, it is just that money is of more value than a bunch of "losers" like myself who are disadvantaged and unable to find work because of health issues.

    I am a lucky one with affordable housing. But by the time my rent & bills are paid, I have $40 dollars for the month.Like so many, I am only on welfare because of circumstance, certainly not desire.

    This is CLASS WAR. It is being waged on all fronts around the world. And yes, these people are totally bloodthirsty, chasing a pack of animals, pulling down the weakest, the sickest, etc etc and calling it "survival of the fittest" while attaching a dollar value to the very air we breathe.

    PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP TO THE DANGERS AROUND US. I RESEARCH AND WRITHE OF THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND SEE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. CANADIANS UNITE AND GRAB OUR FREEDOMS BACK. SPURN THE CAMPBELLS AND THE HARPERS AND LOOK BEYOND THE ALLOTTED POLITICAL CREATURES.

  • crankypants

    1 year ago

    Bullies

    It should come as no surprise that Campbell and Co would go after those least able to defend themselves. This tactic is the hallmark of bullies, always has been, always will.

    The sad fact is that a great number of BC Liberal supporters will applaud the choices that are being made. This is truly a sad testament as to what our society has become. As long as I'm alright Jack, f**k you.

    If this is the best place on earth then I'm ready for hell as I cannot discern the difference between either one.

  • greengreen

    1 year ago

    Golden Decade

    I somehow knew that when this was dubbed "the Golden Decade" it was only to be for some.
    Why no mention of Kevin Falcon...isn't he the Minister of Health? I believe he is the least humane of all the Liberals...and that's saying a lot.
    Surely, something more than words and name calling is needed to publicize Campbell's lie(as stated at the beginning). Are those associations who represent the disabled just going to let this go?

  • nutsnbolts

    1 year ago

    Where the hell is labour?

    Time to rumble, this province is governed by organized crime.

    WAY PAST TIME FOR A GENERAL STRIKE. Get busy CLC, BCFL and unions. It's your job you are very well paid to do.

    GENERAL STRIKE NOW.......

  • Ramona777

    1 year ago

    Where's the Facebook Group?

    Maybe it will accomplish as much as the Proroguing Parliament group did ....

  • Takuan

    1 year ago

    keep watching

    you may notice that no one in a wheelchair is permitted close to any of the Campbell Family dons.

  • paperazzi

    1 year ago

    Survival of the fittest indeed

    Campbell is becoming increasingly bold about his contempt towards the weak and the poor (although he still hides it with his version of Orwellian newspeak). It is becoming more clear every day that this government fully intends to either drive the "leechers" out of BC or kill them off by denying life's basics. After all, slaves..ahem, I mean, service workers...for the wealthy are no longer useful or required if they require medical treatment or social services, are they? Masters usually don't have loyalty to their slaves once they're done with them.

    If the measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest members, then those of us in the bottom half of this now two-tiered society are in big, big trouble.

  • Bob Watts

    1 year ago

    What to do?

    Hi if your diabetic and can't afford a glucose testing meter, Well you must test your blood so go to your local Hospital 3 times per day!!! It's cheaper than going into a coma!!!
    If your dieing or anyother type of problem, then go to your nearest Liberal MLA's office and ask for help!!!
    Liberals should have first hand contact with their VICTIMS!!!
    Never give up, if the Liberals kill you without a fight, then they win!!!
    If your homeless they are going to take away that $75 you've been getting, leaveing you with $0 per month for shelter. My advice is, go find someone..anyone to charge you the $375 shelter allowance you would get for a roof over your head.
    Make sure the Liberals ideas backfire on them.
    To you taxpayers, which is every one of us! It's cheaper to give a person a little welfare ($610 per month) than allowing a person to become homeless at a cost of $55,000 per year.
    Business people running social programs is a oxymoron!!! Save a penny...spend a dollar!!!

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