View Employment and Assistance Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02040_01
What is the purpose of this act?
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
How does this act benefit society?
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Part-time trend puts EI more out of reach, StatsCan says
The Canadian Press, via CBC News, November 5, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/11/05/ei-benefits.html
A trend towards more short-lived and part-time jobs has made it harder than ever for many Canadians to qualify for employment insurance benefits, even if they've contributed to the federal program, according to data released Monday. Statistics Canada says only 78.4 per cent of Canadians who lost their jobs last year were eligible for benefits — the lowest rate since the agency started collecting comparable information in 2003.
Dozens step up for Welfare Food Challenge
By Randy Shore, The Vancouver Sun, October 16, 2012
http://www.globaltvbc.com/dozens+step+up+for+welfare+food+challenge/6442734259/story.html
This article talks about people doing the “Welfare Food Challenge” or eating what they would be able to afford while on income assistance. This challenge brings to light in a practical way the struggle to afford healthy food while living on assistance.
What is the purpose of this act?
- To maintain and regulate the distribution of income assistance and provides guidelines in order to determine who receives income assistance assistance.
- Ensuring that individuals and their dependents can receive assistance in periods when employment is not possible.
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
- The state agents have the power to grant or deny income assistance.
- The states processes the applications and have access to personal information of the applicant.
- The state offers assistance and has the power to attach conditions to receiving assistance that applicants must follow.
- The Act requires that an applicant enter into an employment plan, and complies with the conditions in the employment plan in order to receive assistance; authorities within the Ministry of Social Development have the power to oversee and implement this and other requirements.
How does this act benefit society?
- It allows certain members of society who are unable to find employment to sustain themselves financially.
- It is an example of how society at large provides assistance to individuals.
- It benefits families with dependents by providing assistance to both the individual applicant as well as the finances to support their dependents.
- The act works with other systems of assistance to support some members of society.
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
- Mustard Seed Food Bank: http://mustardseed.ca/
- Subsidized Housing: http://www.crd.bc.ca/housing/
- Families First Agenda for Canada: http://www.familiesfirstbc.ca/
- Ministry of Social Development: http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/bcea.htm
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
- This act is intended to combat poverty and aid citizens without an income, however, assistance is only available to those who fit a specific description and who are able to comply with the necessary requirements.
- Due to the stigma attached to receiving income assistance, it can be a struggle for some people to make the decision to apply for assistance.
- This act does not ensure that all people without an income can receive assistance, and attaches many conditions and agreements to the process of seeking assistance.
- The amount of money given to individuals and families is the very bare minimum, and often does not equate to the cost of daily living.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
- Seeking out other resources and services that work with the employment and assistance act (for example, access to subsidized housing, accessible and affordable meal services and childcare).
- If parents are interested in career counseling or training I would provide information about resources.
- I would support my client to make decisions that would be best for children involved while recognizing that it may be hard for families to give up some dignity in order to work within the income assistance system.
- Basic money-handling and saving skills would be very beneficial to my clients. The mount of income assistance is quite low, which requires intelligent and frugal usage in order to be sustained.
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
- WorkBC Employment Office Victoria: http://gthiringsolutions.ca/en/victoriasaanich/contact-us
- Service Canada Victoria: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/cgi-bin/sc-dsp.cgi?rc=5916&ln=eng#pa
- Ministry of Social Development Victoria: http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/contacts/region1.htm
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Part-time trend puts EI more out of reach, StatsCan says
The Canadian Press, via CBC News, November 5, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/11/05/ei-benefits.html
A trend towards more short-lived and part-time jobs has made it harder than ever for many Canadians to qualify for employment insurance benefits, even if they've contributed to the federal program, according to data released Monday. Statistics Canada says only 78.4 per cent of Canadians who lost their jobs last year were eligible for benefits — the lowest rate since the agency started collecting comparable information in 2003.
Dozens step up for Welfare Food Challenge
By Randy Shore, The Vancouver Sun, October 16, 2012
http://www.globaltvbc.com/dozens+step+up+for+welfare+food+challenge/6442734259/story.html
This article talks about people doing the “Welfare Food Challenge” or eating what they would be able to afford while on income assistance. This challenge brings to light in a practical way the struggle to afford healthy food while living on assistance.