July 26, 2008

Coleman's Tricks on Voice of BC

Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman appeared on Voice of BC, hosted by Vaughn Palmer, on Thursday, July 24th. If Coleman ever retires from politics he could always get a job at a carnival. His rapid fire style of delivery is reminiscent of the person who runs the game about which shell is hiding the pea. Coleman got away with at least a half dozen inaccurate or misleading claims during the hour long show. That's not Palmer's fault as not everyone can be instantly on top of every aspect of Coleman's vast ministry.

In one of the questions I pre-recorded for the show, I asked Coleman if it was true that he had said that welfare rates wouldn't go up as they didn't get enough credit last time they were raised. Coleman denied saying that and insisted rates would be reviewed relative to other jurisdictions, and considered in the budget cycle. I have an email from a reporter who was in the scrum when Coleman allegedly made the remark I questioned; I'm checking to see if anyone still has a tape of that scrum. Nevertheless, it is a good thing that as part of a government that announced a surplus of almost $3 billion last year, Coleman backed away from asking for thanks for spilling a few crumbs off the table to those most in need.

Much of Coleman's hour long interview focused on housing issues, a responsibility he carried with him from his last assignment in cabinet. He said that 6,000 families are currently receiving the rental assistance program. Just five months ago, the Speech from the Throne noted that over 4,300 families have been given support through the rental assistance program. The program was first announced on October 3, 2006, when Coleman's news release said: "The Rental Assistance Program, estimated to help up to 15,000 British Columbian families, comes into effect immediately." I guess the key words were "up to" because the program has failed to reach those who need it. In her February 2007 budget, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced an expansion of the program; her news release said her budget was: "Expanding the Rental Assistance Program by raising the income threshold to $28,000 a year. This means 5,800 additional working families - more than 20,000 in total - will be eligible to receive up to $563 a month to help with their housing costs." In February 2008 another expansion was announced for the program, yet according to the figure Coleman gave Palmer, the government is 14,000 families short of their 2007 claim. Coleman has some explaining to do. Perhaps the government is more interested in running ads like you see on bus stops about the program, rather than actually assuring that those who qualify are contacted and enrolled in the program.

When asked about eligibility criteria for the Community Living Program, another of Coleman's new responsibilities, he failed to say anything about the controversial re-introduction of an IQ of 70 as a necessary requirement for benefits. He told Palmer that 5 or 6,000 people are covered by the program, although to give him the benefit of the doubt the question might have been interpreted as how many people might become eligible. According to the annual report (page 20) for Community Living, "CLBC provides services to 11,407 adults, 31 % of an estimated 36,950 adults (based on the accepted prevalence rate used in developmental disability) who may meet the definition of developmental disability." Did the Campbell government re-introduce the IQ of 70 requirement so as to minimize the likelihood that more than 25,000 people who may need benefits get them?

Sean Holman of Public Eye Online, had a pre-recorded question for Coleman on the extent of problem gambling. Believe it or not, BC's welfare minister is also responsible for gambling and for liquor distribution. Coleman quickly skipped over the question and said that the big area of concern is with Internet gambling. He failed to mention that BC Lotteries, one of his responsibilities, is actively engaged in an advertising campaign to expand Internet gambling. Perhaps you have seen their newspaper ads which offer you $10 in "promo-cash" to play their online games.

BC's new welfare minister is no different than his predecessors when it comes to spreading myths about people who leave welfare. Coleman claimed that those leaving welfare make an average of $14.50 an hour. As reported in The Tyee, a study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that those who were cut off assistance, rather than leaving voluntarily, were likely to become homeless. In November 2007, The Tyee reported on one of the government's own studies, titled Outcomes of Those Leaving Assistance. Covering the years 2000 - 2003, it looked at the 75% of those who filed a tax return after leaving assistance. After 2002, 81.5% reported employment income compared to 83.0% who reported employment income before 2002. In other words, while the drop isn't significant, it does show that the welfare to work program isn't working any better than previous efforts. In order to make his claim of $14.50 an hour average wages credible, one has to focus on that fact that Coleman qualified his answer by saying it referred to "those we track". The sad fact is that they don't track, or can't find, over a third of those who left assistance. Perhaps they should try the streets and doorways of most BC cities where the homeless population has mushroomed since Campbell initiated his crackdown on welfare eligibility.

Keep your eye on which shell is hiding the pea, because you can't count on straight answers from the carnies in the Campbell government.