800-rule welfare system assailed

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario  visited London this past Wednesday.  Strangely, I have seen nothing in the press about this.  I attended the morning and afternoon sessions at the London Convention Centre and felt energized by the wisdom, common sense, and passion in the room. It was a fantastic experience for me--being 'brand new' to the social service world--and I felt privileged to bring the opinions and ideas of the "community conversation" participants I met with a week earlier.

The Commission will be visiting Hamilton tomorrow (the 4th of July).  You can read about it here: The Hamilton Spectator

From Mission Services Blog:

Government Commissions, royal or otherwise, can be a good thing. Cynics might suggest that the only time we have commissions is when things go so wrong the “powers that be” don’t really know what to do, or that it is a way for the “powers that be” to stall. It makes it look like something is being done when nothing is being done. A more favourable viewpoint is that commissions are actually an important part of democracy, that people can get their say, that somehow collective wisdom makes it to the corridors of power. And lastly, there is the view that if you choose not to participate, you have no right to complain.

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario is coming to London on June 29, 2001 for two community consultations at the London Convention Centre.

There are bound to be many suggestions for the Commissioners. The caliber of leadership at the many social service agencies in London is impressive. I am convinced that there will be many useful suggestions and recommendations.

From a Windsor Star article:

As she begins consultations in the city with Canada's highest unemployment rate, the woman charged with reviewing the province's welfare system says a fundamental overhaul is needed to help lift families from poverty.

Frances Lankin, recently appointed commissioner of the province's new Social Assistance Review Commission, told the general meeting of the United Way for Windsor and Essex County Tuesday that the system may be too complicated and irrational.

"We've been asked to simplify the rules," said the former NDP provincial cabinet minister. "There are now 800 rules. How does anyone navigate through? It's not humanly possible for a caseworker to know all the (eligibility) rules without bogging down in administration .... There's no time left to help families."

In addition, she said, the benefit rates, which are supposed to guarantee a basic living for recipients, seem to be based on random numbers.