CANADIANS. On assistance

ETA: ONTARIO AND ASSISTANCE, SINCE IT IS JUST ONTARIO'S CUTS.

If you are a Canadian on assistance. How do you feel about the Community start up cuts, being in affect as of January 1st 2013?

There is going to be no more work start up money to buy safety work clothes to start your new job. No first month money for a bus pass. As well as no moving cost money, or start up money to pay for couches, dishes, beds, or even the baby start up to buy carseats, cribs etc.....

No more money to pay first and last months rent when you move etc....


I am not on assistance at all, but I am wondering how many ppl this is going to be an issue for.?

Do you agree with the cut backs, yes or no?

If yes, why do you agree? If no, why do you agree?

And for all of the other BG memebers on here, who are going to come blow this up. Are system has worked very differently then yours.

My thoughts on this issue are as follows:

I agree that a change needed to be made to the amount that is allowed for "extra money" given by OW for a start up every year. It was an outrages amount, and easy for people to loophole it to their advantage.

Which truely sucks for all those who come into a "bad" situation and may need to rely on that in the moment to survive. Like a mother leaving an abusive relationship and starting over, will not be allowed to use those resources anymore. Because too many abused it, and well now it will be gone.

I dont think they should have taken it away completely but revised it and made it tougher to be able to be "entitled" to it. Kwim?

Anyways what are my fellow Canadians thoughts on this?

Quoting crazy coupon lady:" If you are a Canadian on assistance. How do you feel about the Community start up cuts, being in affect ... [snip!] ... revised it and made it tougher to be able to be "entitled" to it. Kwim? Anyways what are my fellow Canadians thoughts on this?"

Sounds like Canada is turning into the U.S. Yikes.

But I can only answer this as an outsider looking in. I come from a dog-eat-dog society, and it seems as though Canada is just filled with freebie cash. How do you afford giving money, money, money like that?

In America, you want a bus pass? You have to buy it yourself. If you want a couch, dishes, beds, carseats, cribs, an apartment, you have to pay for it yourself.

I can see why the government would cut back because with SO much freebies, what would the point in working? (God, I sound like Republican, ick).

I'm curious to hear from Canada though.

Quoting Back to Noob Status:" Sounds like Canada is turning into the U.S. Yikes. But I can only answer this as an outsider looking ... [snip!] ... much freebies, what would the point in working? (God, I sound like Republican, ick). I'm curious to hear from Canada though."

 

And you have to fit this stereotype that you must feel overwhelming guilt or shame for needing assistance.

Quoting Back to Noob Status:" Sounds like Canada is turning into the U.S. Yikes. But I can only answer this as an outsider looking ... [snip!] ... much freebies, what would the point in working? (God, I sound like Republican, ick). I'm curious to hear from Canada though."

hahaha .

It wont last long. They are already trying to change the bill back to how it was. lol And it has not taken into effect yet. lol I give it 1.5 to 2.5 years and it will go back.

They changed a few things over the years and changed back.

Our biggest problem (like where I live) most working ppl (minium wage) jobs with two ppl working can barley afford a bachelor apt. They go for almost 1000 a month plus utilities. Its crazy. So try to imagine what a family of 4 has to pay for a 3 bedroom. Plus gas insurance food clothes daycare etc......its insane. lol

I am not sure what cost of living is everywhere else but in my town, its pretty high. I think cause we are a mining city. lol

I'm Canadian but live in Oklahoma so I have lived both and can say they are vastly different. In Canada they pay higher taxes but can rely on their government more to take care of them, but there needs t be stricter rules on the assistance cause I've seen ppl take advantage of Canada assistance so easily, not me I should add! I was 23 when I moved to okc and worked 4 jobs to put myself through school while inontario. It's just a difference of Canada should be a bit stricter but they definitely should not be like USA...

Quoting crazy coupon lady:" hahaha . It wont last long. They are already trying to change the bill back to how it was. lol And ... [snip!] ... I am not sure what cost of living is everywhere else but in my town, its pretty high. I think cause we are a mining city. lol"

How much is your min wage? Ours is 7.50

Why does canada give all that stuff to people in the first place?

And I swear I thought you lived on assistance

Quoting Brittanie Blokker-Brandt:" I'm Canadian but live in Oklahoma so I have lived both and can say they are vastly different. In Canada ... [snip!] ... school while inontario. It's just a difference of Canada should be a bit stricter but they definitely should not be like USA..."

I agree.
We are different. We dont have food stamps or wic, but many other programs that I think work way better then those. But I cant be 100% sure, only from what I have read on BG on how wic and food stamps work.

What system for those do you think is better, Canadas? How they help or how food stamps and wic work?

I may have misunderstood, but are the cuts not just for Ontario?

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" Why does canada give all that stuff to people in the first place? And I swear I thought you lived on assistance"

Me, no. I was on EI for parental leave. I do work. Well did, lol daycare didnt pan out for my return to work. I havent quit yet tho. My start date is not till the 15th. Just trying to work out some kinks atm.

But I know it wont work out the way I need it too. I have used assistance in the past for a short period of 3-5 months. And 1 yr when my now 10 yr old was 2 and we were left homeless.
lol But when I quit I wont need assistance. lol I would qualify for it, but I dont need it. A big difference.

Quoting K&T:" I may have misunderstood, but are the cuts not just for Ontario? "

Actually yes, you are right. I should have put for Ontario and not all Canadians. lol My bad. But yeah they are just for Ontario. lol

Quoting crazy coupon lady:" Me, no. I was on EI for parental leave. I do work. Well did, lol daycare didnt pan out for my return ... [snip!] ... left homeless. lol But when I quit I wont need assistance. lol I would qualify for it, but I dont need it. A big difference."

EI?

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" EI?"

Employment insurance.

Quoting K&T:" Employment insurance. "

Is that not considered gov't assistance? or is it private?

I have no clue how it works

Quoting Captain Lauren + ?:" How much is your min wage? Ours is 7.50 "

It is 10.50 or 10.25 I cant remeber. lol But not all jobs pay that.

Some pay higher then that, depending on the position or the job itself.

Like I worked at a uniform place, that washed uniforms industrial matts from stores and did sewing of torn uniforms and it was 16.00 an hour to start, after 3 months in it was more.

But basic is 10 something. lol