Guaranteed income

[The Green Barbarian]

Because my desire for purpose/meaning, to better myself and to leave this world a better place than I came into it exceeds my desire to stay home and watch netflix all day. You mean to tell me the only reason you "contribute" to the world is $$?

maybe not you, but the only reason a lot of people choose to stay home and watch netflix all day is money.

[The Green Barbarian]

I just can't see what's going to pay for this minimum income except fairy dust and unicorn farts. You point to Norway as an example. You might want to investigate and confirm that they haveno problem whatsoever in drilling for oil where ever it is and transporting it by whatever means is required. Consequently, they have a surplus budget and a reserve kitty of cash that makes them blush compared to the finances of most other western economies.

But when Norway builds a pipeline or a dam or drills for oil, it's totally ok. Because their government is socialist/communist. Just like Venezuela having oil sands that don't pollute or cause any CO2 emissions, because Venezuela is communist. Pipelines can only be blocked in countries like Canada where there still are pockets of resistance to disgusting and evil socialism taking over. So we must all pay the price, while countries like Norway are given a free pass. This is the screwed up world we live in.

[JLives]

maybe not you, but the only reason a lot of people choose to stay home and watch netflix all day is money.

And I'm sure those couple of people are great employees just waiting to be discovered. Yes, some people just don't have it in them to work. I really don't care if this happens to give them a means to live. It helps far more who do want to better themselves. Every time this program has been tested it has great results and does not result in less people wanting to work. The drive to work is not a survival mechanism.

[2x4eyes]

I have read through the posts and this forum and two things come to mind:
1) Some people are way of touch with the reality of what those on disability/welfare receive in terms of benefits and the many hoops they have to jump through to receive them.
2) Not all of those people receiving benefits enjoy being tied to a system where they are constantly demeaned and some most certainly would rather be working and be able to get off the system.

However, let's take a look at the numbers and other facts where my husband receives disability...
We get $1600 a month total to pay rent/mortgage, food, and pay bills - take $300 dollars off the top of this to pay for gas and power...That leaves us a total of $1300 to live on for a month - not even close to what we actually need to put even a roof over over our heads with our mortgage sitting at $1327 month so we've had to sell our house and now have to find somewhere to live by the end of November...Good luck! Vacancy rates and rentals so high we likely won't find a place. And because we don't make enough money in a year, good luck trying get a mortgage...

Some will ask well how could you even afford to own a house? It took my husband's parents passing away for us to get the house we've lived in for 19 years that we have sold. It was supposed to be our family's 'forever home'...

I was working part time and we were scraping by but I now require surgery and am unable to work until 1-2 months after the surgery and who knows when I'll be able to get the surgery done - I have looked for work but the response I get is 'unfortunately you need surgery and we cannot accommodate that at this time'...I could try working from home but I also now have to start packing for our move to who knows where at the end of the month. Bear in mind also the most that I am allowed to make is $1000 a month ($12,000 year) working - anything over and above that you have to pay back dollar for dollar to the Ministry. So I ask you this - Why work if you just have to give it back to the Ministry as soon as you hit the allowable maximum? Basically you'd be working for no purpose and this is why some work until they reach the maximum and then quit. Some employers also don't care and will schedule you so you either have to quit or they cut your hours until you barely have any.

Now let me be very clear - I offered to go back to school so that I/we could make a better life and not have to rely on the system and we were even willing to pay the Ministry back by making monthly payments. I was told 'no that's ridiculous. You or your husband can go to work or you can get a student loan.'....Husband can hardly walk some days and his meds are around $3000 each month so how the heck is he supposed to go to work?

Being on disability/assistance is a nightmare and I can assure you that we would no longer 'be a drain on the system' if I was able to go back to school and get a job where I would be able to support both of us...Unfortunately, unless we win the lottery our lives are screwed up aND this is just the way it is....

[Urban Cowboy]

You make a very good point.

All I would add is that when it comes to disability the rates people get are ridiculous, and even more so when compared to how well refugees and such are treated in our country.

Let's at the very least treat our own equally!

[Queen K]

Thank you Giggley1 for sharing that incredibly difficult story.

Meds are $3,000 PER Month? And there are no alternatives? That is brutal.
And it can happen to anyone.

I am so sorry this has been a difficult thread to read for you too.

All the best, I have no idea as to your age, but have you considered moving into a retirement resort community for a few months until you find a suitable rental? Yes, they are brutally expensive in some of them, but maybe check around? Might be cost effective rather than jump at a rental in desperation that isn't quite suitable. Not that I suspect you'd do that if it really wasn't right, but believe me, a retirement community would feel like a vacation while you look.

All the best.

[the truth]

You make a very good point.

All I would add is that when it comes to disability the rates people get are ridiculous, and even more so when compared to how well refugees and such are treated in our country.

Let's at the very least treat our own equally!

and that's the truth

[JLives]

You make a very good point.

All I would add is that when it comes to disability the rates people get are ridiculous, and even more so when compared to how well refugees and such are treated in our country.

Let's at the very least treat our own equally!

That is not true. Refugees in Ontario receive a one time start up payment and then $768 per month. And they are expected to pay a good chunk of it back. Not sure what it is in BC or other provinces but not likely much more. http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/fact-che ... -1.2670735

[Glacier]

You make a very good point.

All I would add is that when it comes to disability the rates people get are ridiculous, and even more so when compared to how well refugees and such are treated in our country.

Let's at the very least treat our own equally!

You need to have children. If not, you're screwed. By my count, the refugee family in Revelstoke is made $50,000 tax free last year. That's about $25,000 for having 5 children and another $25,000 for being refugees. Of course, the refugee money only lasts for a limited amount of time (like 1 one year), so the husband will have to be working now. Even at a minimum wage job, which might be $15/hour shortly, he's already hitting $60,000/year (thanks to the the feds increasing the money for this). This is available to everyone in Canada. All you have to do is pump out the children.

If you're beyond child bearing age, you're screwed, which is why we should have a guaranteed income (in my opinion). Make it $15,000/year per adult and $4,000/year per child. No more welfare, child tax credit, and other benefits. No clawbacks until a person is making at least $40,000/year, and reduce it slowly so people have incentive to work without punitive clawbacks.

[maryjane48]

jlives is right that they are not instant millionaires but i also agree with techie that canada does terrible job of looking after the poor in our country, in my opinion its shamefull. . some people like our vets cant in more cases than not never live a so called normal life and require the country as a wholes support. that is what should define a canadian value not what a woman wears on her head of her own freewill or choice

[Rwede]

I find it so sad that Trudeau is targeting these poor people with huge tax increases.

The carbon tax will syphon needless millions from the poor. They have to heat their homes, buy gas for the car, pay more for groceries that are all going up with more carbon tax on freight companies.

And so many of the poor are struggling with disabilities, from whom Trudeau is cancelling tax credits and sending CRA like vultures to pick on their carcasses.

Why does the left hate poor people so much?

[Omnitheo]

There is certainly a lot of misinformation about welfare, and some arrogant opinions that everyone on welfare is draining our system.

I have been involved in a number of layoffs, and after one of them, I had to go onto welfare. It wasn’t easy, and it took time to get started on it. I burnt through what savings I had, just on basic living expenses. Once I was on welfare, I was required to provide all my expenses and to attend classes designed to get people into the workforce. These classes helped us identify our skills and fields we wanted to work in. They assisted with constructing professional resumes, and provided lists of employers based on our skills and industry we were interested in. In order to receive welfare Chequers, I was required to keep track of everywhere I applied, and to meet a quota of job applications.

Eventually through this process, I found work. And not just minimum wage fast food as I had been at in the past. I found meaningful work that put me on the path towards the career I have now. The amount of money collected from me through taxes by being part of the workforce (and not just at the bottom rung either) quickly far outweighed the cost to the government for my welfare.

Welfare isn’t just a free ride for people that don’t want to work.

[2x4eyes]

Thank you Giggley1 for sharing that incredibly difficult story.

Meds are $3,000 PER Month? And there are no alternatives? That is brutal.

And it can happen to anyone.

I am so sorry this has been a difficult thread to read for you too.

All the best, I have no idea as to your age, but have you considered moving into a retirement resort community for a few months until you find a suitable rental? Yes, they are brutally expensive in some of them, but maybe check around? Might be cost effective rather than jump at a rental in desperation that isn't quite suitable. Not that I suspect you'd do that if it really wasn't right, but believe me, a retirement community would feel like a vacation while you look.

All the best.

My Hubby has multiple disabilities including chronic back pain (degenerating spine) but our family doctor refuses to accept/allow him to use marijuana/cbd oil except in the treatment of cancer. Also, he has told my husband that if he uses any at all, he will drop him as a patient which we most definitely cannot afford and he/we could lose the disability financial help we receive as well...In other words, there are possible alternatives, however, we simply do not have the funding to cover these expenses on our own - Disability also only covers certain things and quite often only up to a certain amount.

Indeed this could happen to anyone and I certainly don't wish our current situation on anyone...

Some posts on this thread have been extremely difficult to read but I do not find it in the least bit surprising - It just goes to show that there is just such a lack of understanding out there as to exactly how the system works and what benefits these individuals do receive that some posts are just beyond comprehension and border on ridiculous. They really have no clue...

We are not at the 'retirement community' age - We are both just under 50 years old. We also have our son with multiple disabilities living with us to save costs and to help us when he can and feels well enough.

Never judge a book by the cover because you really never know what lies underneath...

[maryjane48]

My Hubby has multiple disabilities including chronic back pain (degenerating spine) but our family doctor refuses to accept/allow him to use marijuana/cbd oil except in the treatment of cancer.

i cant say about where you live but most the legit medical maryjane outlets can arrange for you to see a doctor to have it legally prescribed, as it should be allowed. your doc sounds not very compassionate or willing to be a doctor.


as far as the rest of your post unfortuantly it will take sometime for ndp to undo the damage the bclibs commited on folks in your postion and im confident they can make real changes for the better

[2x4eyes]

I recognize that it was a combination of factors that got us into this situation and I certainly don't blame 'the liberals' as some of it was not their doing.

And let's face it, no government is perfect and not everyone shares the same viewpoint as ourselves - Look at the track records of all parties that have held power in BC and/or Canada

Although our situation is a very difficult one, we also recognize that there are others out there in worse. I just hope things will get better for us very soon as the stress on all of us is starting to take a toll on our overall health...

On a positive note, I do want to say THANK YOU to those for their kind words and understanding...