So Disappointed

[DianneS]

Maybe if we got Gail Vaz-Oxlade to do budgeting with High School students it would eliminate some of the issues beforehand.

I know if Gail came to me, she would want us to cut out our internet/phone/cable, and maybe get rid of our three cats and move into a cheaper apartment. We both work but stuggle with finances (our bills are paid each month but there is very little left over).

I really think budgeting is an issue for many people within Canada, both on support and working full time. We need to learn budgeting in High School.

Budget planning is taught to every British Columbia student in the "Planning" courses that are required for high school graduation. Just an FYI....

[firstimer1969]

My husband is required to have drug testing for work because of the high risk factor of his job. Everyone on his crew are at risk when he is operating. People with my husbands position in other companies have had their assistants get killed.... 2 alone this year. Therefore, drug testing is very important.

I agree with Jenny on this one. If your job is "safety-sensitive" meaning there are serious risks to others if you were while impaired e.g. airline captain, school bus driver, ship captain (remember the Exxon Valdez!). This is where drug testing would be useful. However, drug testing employees is a fine line between ensuring safety and potential discrimination of individuals.

Here's some interesting reading. http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/pdf/poldrgalceng.pdf I'm assuming that it would take a lot of effort to bring a case before the CHRC albeit against your employer or the government.

[JennyFromTheRock]

Jenny people on welfare in Ontario recieve GST....

Really?? How the heck is that?? I think thats pretty unfair, they don't have to pay tax, but they get a tax rebate?? Thanks for the new thorn in my side!! We have never received a GST rebate ( or child tax for that matter ) despite paying in $60,000 yearly in taxes. Gosh..... gonna start calling the Government Robin Hood.... stealing from the rich to give to the poor!!!

[DianneS]

You beat me to it!!! I was about to write that shelters allow street people to use their address to collect welfare. Even though they have no bills and don't have to buy food or clothes. Even residents of the shelters can collect welfare, its called PNA ( personal needs allowance ) although, I seem to feel that in a shelter where everything is provided ( toiletries, medications, food, clothing, lodging and even bus tokens ) are given to them, they don't really need a "personal allowance".

I believe shelter offerings vary from province to province and from shelter to shelter.

I would say, though, that I don't know anyone that doesn't need the human dignity of having even just a few dollars in their pocket.

[thriftygranny]

All those items are available for free at shelters.

Actually they are not available at the church shelter I donate to.
My main reason for my original post was to politely show another side of the social system and I feel like I am in some bizarre pissing match.I am quite confident my information was accurate and you are quite confident it's not.I am okay with that.Congratulations you are the winner of the first Annual social Assistance Pissing Match.

[FallenPixels]

jenny, definitely available in ON as long as they file their taxes

[Arielmac]

GST is a sale tax, they pay GST too!

[JennyFromTheRock]

I believe shelter offerings vary from province to province and from shelter to shelter.

I would say, though, that I don't know anyone that doesn't need the human dignity of having even just a few dollars in their pocket.

I happen to feel that dignity should be earned, not handed out.

[JennyFromTheRock]

GST is a sale tax, they pay GST too!

Yeah, of course they do..... when they are spending my money.

[FallenPixels]

Here's some interesting reading. http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/pdf/poldrgalceng.pdf I'm assuming that it would take a lot of effort to bring a case before the CHRC albeit against your employer or the government.

Its not all that hard to bring a case in front of Human Rights, I worked in HR for a time and they would call on behalf of pretty much every employee who was let go for far smaller reasons than drugs but there are instances that they are allowed and the job I did had a special legal disclaimer with it about drug testing, the reasons we understood it was being used for etc.
With Best Buy, I imagine they are just using the same contract their US stores do

[anastasia1009]

jenny, definitely available in ON as long as they file their taxes

I have worked for Sheppard's of Good Hope a Men's Shelter is Nova Scotia and they got there GST as well as if they filed there taxes it came to the shelter. Same with OW came to the shelter as it was a permanent address. That shelter provided all personal necessities, as well as two meals a day along with sandwiches during the day.

[Arielmac]

I happen to feel that dignity should be earned, not handed out.

Copied from Wikipedia: Dignity is a term used in moral, ethical, and political discussions to signify that a being has an innate right to respect and ethical treatment.

Correct me if I'm wrong but going by this definition and your "feeling" no children should have an innate right to respect and ethical treatment?

[Arielmac]

Yeah, of course they do..... when they are spending my money.

Again, Individualism at its best. It's our money they are spending. To be honest, regardless of their situation, I'd prefer to have people on Social Assistance with clothes on then without.

[Tweetybird999]

<comment removed> Personally, I value all persons until they do something heinous such as murder. Many people are not dealt a fair hand in life. It's very hard when someone has a disability, such as FASD or other invisible disability, which may affect how persons make decisions. We are a very rich country in comparison to most in the world. We can afford to have some compassion.

[DianneS]

I happen to feel that dignity should be earned, not handed out.

We earn people's respect. Dignity is a basic human right