povertyandhumanrights.org » Commentary

Take The Welfare Time Limit Off the Books

phrc — Fri, 02 Jul 2004 19:18:16 +0000

The Government of British Columbia now says that, over the next year, only 339 people will be affected by the 24-month time limit on welfare––the rule intended to limit “employable” welfare recipients to two-years of support during any five year period.

On Friday, the Government created a new exemption––the 25th. Now those who follow their employment plans and are seeking work will be exempted from the 24-month time limit. Though this is an encouraging development, the Government still has to go the full course and remove the time limit from the books.

Take The Welfare Time Limit Off the Books

UN singles out BC government on women’s rights (March 2003)

phrc — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 03:30:13 +0000

B.C. is not meeting its obligations to women under international human rights law. That

was the clear message of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of

Discrimination against Women in comments issued recently in New York City.

The U.N. Committee singled out the province of British Columbia for criticism in its

review of Canada’s compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination

of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Committee is concerned

about the disproportionately negative impact on women and girls of a number of recent

changes in British Columbia, including: funding cuts to legal aid and welfare assistance;

narrowed eligibility rules for welfare; the elimination of the freestanding Ministry of

Women’s Equality; the abolition of the independent Human Rights Commission; the

closing of a number of courthouses; cuts in support programmes for victims of domestic

violence; and proposed changes regarding prosecution of domestic violence.

B.C. is not meeting its obligations to women under international human rights law. That was the clear message of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in comments issued recently in New York City.

The U.N. Committee singled out the province of British Columbia for criticism in its review of Canada’s compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Committee is concerned about the disproportionately negative impact on women and girls of a number of recent changes in British Columbia, including: funding cuts to legal aid and welfare assistance; narrowed eligibility rules for welfare; the elimination of the freestanding Ministry of Women’s Equality; the abolition of the independent Human Rights Commission; the closing of a number of courthouses; cuts in support programmes for victims of domestic violence; and proposed changes regarding prosecution of domestic violence.

UN Singles Out B.C. Government on Women’s Rights

Majority embraces stereotype of the poor (December 2002)

phrc — Sun, 01 Dec 2002 01:14:50 +0000

Majority Embraces Stereotype of Poor

by Shelagh Day

The majority decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in last week’s welfare rights case,

Gosselin v Quebec, is a disturbing one. Five judges endorsed a Quebec scheme that

consigned thousands of 18 to 30 year old welfare recipients to extreme poverty, and

found that it did not harm the human dignity of these poor young people.

The majority decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in last week’s welfare rights case, Gosselin v Quebec, is a disturbing one. Five judges endorsed a Quebec scheme that consigned thousands of 18 to 30 year old welfare recipients to extreme poverty, and found that it did not harm the human dignity of these poor young people.

Majority Embraces Stereotype of Poor

Who’s in contempt over the Woodward’s squat? (November 2002)

phrc — Fri, 01 Nov 2002 01:02:06 +0000

the BC Housing Corporation dropped proceedings against

the 54 Woodwards squatters charged in October with contempt of court for occupying a

publicly-owned and vacant building. The Corporation seems to have realized that

continuing the contempt proceedings against the “Woodwards 54” would have increased

the public’s sympathy for the protesters, and further underlined the contempt that the

provincial government is guilty of––its contempt for the rights of people who need

homes.

The BC Housing Corporation dropped proceedings against the 54 Woodwards squatters charged in October with contempt of court for occupying a publicly-owned and vacant building. The Corporation seems to have realized that continuing the contempt proceedings against the “Woodwards 54” would have increased the public’s sympathy for the protesters, and further underlined the contempt that the provincial government is guilty of––its contempt for the rights of people who need homes.

Who’s in Contempt Over the Woodward’s Squat? (Nov 2002)

Proposed human rights legislation gets failing grade (September 2002)

phrc — Sun, 01 Sep 2002 00:54:37 +0000

For the second time in twenty years, the Government of British Columbia has decided to

abolish its Human Rights Commission. If the draft legislation set out in Bill 53 passes,

the Commission will be erased again, this time in the name of providing British

Columbians with a new, more efficient “direct access” model of human rights

enforcement.

For the second time in twenty years, the Government of British Columbia has decided to abolish its Human Rights Commission. If the draft legislation set out in Bill 53 passes, the Commission will be erased again, this time in the name of providing British Columbians with a new, more efficient “direct access” model of human rights enforcement.

Proposed Human Rights Legislation Gets Failing Grade (Sept 2002)

Human rights plunge into the past (April 2002)

phrc — Mon, 01 Apr 2002 00:43:46 +0000

Human rights in British Columbia may be about to plunge backwards by twenty years. In

1983 Bill Bennett abolished the Human Rights Commission, fired all the Commissioners

and staff, and narrowed human rights legislation in one sweeping assault. Though a little

slower off the mark, the current government seems poised to substantially weaken the

province’s human rights institutions and protections.

Human rights in British Columbia may be about to plunge backwards by twenty years. In 1983 Bill Bennett abolished the Human Rights Commission, fired all the Commissioners and staff, and narrowed human rights legislation in one sweeping assault. Though a little slower off the mark, the current government seems poised to substantially weaken the province’s human rights institutions and protections.

Human Rights Plunge into the Past