A Bad Time to be Poor in BC

Abstract

In January 2002, the BC government announced that it intended to implement a dramatic program of welfare restructuring. A 30% ($609 million) cut to the operating budget of the Ministry of Human Resources was announced, along with significant reductions in numbers of local welfare offices and full time staff. These budget savings are being achieved by a combination of cuts to welfare benefits and a further tightening of eligibility rules, making it more difficult for people in need to access the welfare system.