January 31, 2002

Questions for the Ministry of Human Resources
(click for government's pdf file containing the ministry quotes cited below)

Documents available on the government website as part of the Black Thursday announcements raise more questions than they answer. Here are a few excerpts from the Ministry of Human Resources that require explanation. Cuts to the Ministry are so drastic that these excerpts do not begin to canvass the extent of the change. Please see the Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC) of BC for more information.

Ministry: "New legislation will enable the ministry to provide services and programs for individuals and families in need. BC Employment and Assistance will replace BC Benefits and four existing BC Benefits Acts will be consolidated."

Question: When you say the emphasis will be on employment, do you appreciate the difference between "employable" and "hirable" (likely to be hired) as raised by some of your colleagues in the November 7, 2001, staged cabinet meeting?

Ministry: Clients will have access to a fair and impartial appeal system. A new streamlined appeal process based on independent, regional tribunal will result in timely and transparent decision-making. The new appeal process will replace the BC Benefits Appeal Board."

Question: The courts will ultimately determine how fair and impartial the new appeal system is. This announcement indicates the outcome for one of the quasi-judicial bodies (BC Benefits Appeal Board) that is part of the Administrative Justice Review (Click and scroll down to Appendix 1). Does this mean that the conclusions are predetermined for other bodies that are part of that review?

Ministry: "Individuals will participate in an employment orientation and three-week self-directed job search prior to completing an application."

Questions: Are you aware that most applicants exhaust all of their assets before applying? How will they get by for the extra month? Why would you presume that they haven't been seeking employment? Are you aware of how many applicants are constantly off and on assistance because of difficulty in holding a job?

Ministry: "Employable single parents will be expected to work when their youngest child turns age 3."

Question: Will the Ministry assist with appropriate, affordable childcare?

Ministry: "Dependent children of clients will now be required to attend school as a condition of the family's eligibility for assistance."

Question: Will benefits be cut off if an acting out teenager runs away? Will the Ministry's policies encourage such incidents?

Ministry: "Shelter rates will be restructured for families with two or more children, with payments based on lower unit rates."

Question: Is this another way of saying that families will get a cut in their shelter allowance?

Ministry: "Eligible employable singles and couples will receive assistance for a maximum of two years out of every five years. Eligible employable parents with dependent children will receive full income assistance for a maximum of two years out of every five years, after which their rates will be reduced by an average of 11 per cent."

Question: Does this mean that those who have the most trouble staying employed will be penalized for their disability?

Ministry: "Earnings exemptions will be eliminated for clients, except persons with disabilities."

Question: Isn't this the same as saying clients will have a 100% marginal tax rate effective with the first dollar earned? How does that get reconciled with the tax cuts for high income groups so as to encourage positive behaviour?

Ministry: "Efficiency measures will result in a 15 per cent reduction of 459 FTEs across all ministry programs, and 36 offices will be closed."

Question: Is efficiency the same as kicking people off benefits?

Ministry of Human Resources: Ministry Resources

	Fiscal Year
	2001/02 (restated Estimates)	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	Percent Change 2001/02 to 2004/05
Operating Expenses (million $)	1,937	1,789	1,550	1,356	-30.0%
FTEs	3,006	2,799	2,547	2,547	-15.3%