"Morally Disgraceful" is Right!

Welfare payments called 'morally disgraceful'
Last Updated: Thursday, August 24, 2006 | 11:19 AM MT
CBC News

After successive federal surpluses, it's a moral outrage that Canadians on welfare are receiving some of the lowest payments in 20 years, says a national poverty group.

And guess who the main culprit is!! Could it be, oh I don't know, Alberta? Yes, yes it could.

Single employable person:
N.B. - $3,427
N.L. - $8,198

Person with disability:
Alta. - $7,851
Ont. - $12,057

Lone parent with one child:
Alta. - $12,326
N.L. - $16,181

Couple with two children:
N.B. - $17,567
P.E.I. - $21,213

That's appalling, particularly the amount given to people with disabilities. The main problem here is the strange notion, particularly prevalent in Alberta, that being as rich as Croesus has somehow removed any moral obligation on our part to be compassionate or generous. And of course, the situation was not helped when Klein dumped the entire provincial debt squarely onto the shoulders of the people least able to handle it.

Alberta Welfare Minister Mike Cardinal said Thursday that plenty of jobs are available in the province and there is no reason for able-bodied people to remain on assistance.

However, he conceded that welfare rates may have to be reviewed for people with disabilities who can't work.

So get on with it, then.