Most want welfare hike in next budget

Jan 4, 2007 24 Hours

A strong majority of British Columbians wants to see a boost in welfare rates when the province rolls out its next budget, the results of a new poll done for 24 hours suggest.

The survey, by official 24 hours pollster Strategic Communications, showed almost 70 per cent of respondents said they would support an increase in welfare rates when the B.C. Liberal government tables its
budget next month. About 23 per cent said they would oppose such a measure.

The poll results come after Premier Gordon Campbell promised to increase the shelter allowance rate for income assistance.

" The numbers speak for themselves," said Stratcom Vancouver director of operations David Smith. "You can see why the government is doing this now. There is strong support for a welfare rate increase across the
province."

Anti-poverty advocates say low welfare rates have contributed to Vancouver's growing homelessness problem, particularly in the city's Downtown Eastside.

The shelter allowance has been pegged at $325 a month for singles for the past 12 years. But a report by the Pivot Legal Society last year found there were only two rooms available at that price in the entire
Downtown Eastside.

" It's not even enough for the rundown hotels of the Downtown Eastside," said Pivot lawyer David Eby.

But Campbell only promised an increase to the shelter allowance, which goes directly to rent. Jean Swanson with the Carnegie Community Action Project said the province must also boost the regular living allowance - currently $185 a month for singles, which works out to about $6 a day.

" Could you eat with that amount of money? Could you travel to a job interview?" Swanson said. "It's just not enough to survive on."

But the Fraser Institute's Jason Clemens said the government must also reinstitute a modest earnings exemption, allowing employable people on welfare to work part time.

" It's important to develop work skills even if you're not working full time," said Clemens, the conservative think tank's director of fiscal studies.

The B.C. Liberals axed the earnings exemption in 2001.

The 24 hours poll surveyed 601 people in B.C. and is considered accurate to within +/- 4 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

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Irwin Loy