Petition Tag - social assistance

The first increase in 15 years to people on income assistance in British Columbia was in 2007 in the amount of $50.00 per month, while the MLA's voted themselves a, reported, 28.78% increase that same year.

MLA's salaries are $101,859.00 per year with additional compensation of 50% of base salary if they hold a portfolio. The premier's salary is an additional $91,673.00 per year plus 50% of base for holding a portfolio, Total salary approximately $250,000.00 per year. increases have been received annually according to consumer price index with exception of 2010 and 2011, (source Provincial Comptroller).

With the electorate basically being their employer, when was the last time you could give yourself a raise?

With the recent world financial crisis people, dependent on legislated assistance are increasingly financially stressed to keep roofs over their heads or food on the table.

Current assistance for accommodation for housing for a single person is $375 per month; living allowance $235 per month. This is unreasonable and long overdue for review to reflect actual costs.

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The Ontario Government is scrapping the Special Diet Allowance that MANY people depend on literally in order to survive. How many will have to get sick, sicker or maybe even die because the Ontario Government didn't want to adhere to an order of the Human Rights Commission that the Special Diet Allowance was AGAINST Human Rights and not enough for someone to eat properly.

Their response was to cut the program - putting the health of thousands and thousands of Ontarians in literal danger! At present, most of us cannot afford fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, milk or even supplements on an ongoing, consistent basis.

Therefore, we are asking the Ontario Government to reinstate the Special Diet Allowance and to increase the social assistance monthly rates to reflect the true cost of living, so that we may be able to buy the foods we need in order to achieve optimum health.

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