Homelessness and hunger tell the truth about welfare
While the B.C. government
justifies its cuts to welfare as promoting self sufficiency and a stronger
work ethic, UVic history professor Dr. Lynne Marks says changes to income
assistance hurt the poor and are motivated by budget cuts. “The government
keeps on saying that its welfare policies are not hurting people, that they
are getting them back to work,” says Marks. “But in reality,
the province’s draconian policies are forcing people to look through
garbage and turn to crime just to survive.” Marks’ research
on this topic is contained in Promoting Self-Reliance and Employment
or Increasing Hunger and Misery? B.C. Welfare Reforms, a report card
that is partially based on a recent survey of social agencies in Victoria,
and published by Friends of Women & Children in BC. It is available
online at www.wmst.ubc.ca/FWCBCAug03.pdf
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Media contacts
Dr. Lynne Marks (History) at (250) 721-7395 or lsmarks@uvic.ca
Maria Lironi (UVic Communications) at (250) 721-6139 or lironim@uvic.ca
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Keywords: homelessness, hunger, tell, truth, welfare