People with outstanding warrants will be denied income assistance in British Columbia as soon as next year if legislation introduced yesterday is passed into law, said Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development. "People who have outstanding warrants shouldn't be getting welfare until they clean up the problem," said Mr. Coleman, adding that to qualify, warrants must be for indictable offences such as murder, sexual assault and drug trafficking. But Mr. Coleman said the government will not run criminal background checks on welfare applicants to enforce the policy. Instead, it will rely on criminals to disclose their outstanding legal issues when they make an application.
h/t R. Black
Posted by Kate at October 20, 2009 6:18 PMWe'll wait patiently for that to happen. I'm 71 and I'm not betting it'll happen in my remaining lifetime.
Posted by: Mike in White Rock at October 20, 2009 6:31 PM"it will rely on criminals to disclose their outstanding legal issues when they make an application."
As Dr. Phil would say ... "And how's that workin' for ya?"
Posted by: biffjr. at October 20, 2009 6:35 PMNo problem for those honest criminals.
Posted by: anne (not from Cornwall) at October 20, 2009 6:36 PMI can hear every criminal running down to Welfare to unload their conscience.Cardiac city. Than they can voluntarily weed out the stupid. Just another idea that comes out of minds who write poems under rainbows when it comes to human nature. No wonder our society is decompressing into a nightmare. They probably don't even believe folks are territorial. Like human beings can run from our own natures. What a sick joke.
JMO
As if one needed proof that the left was populated by stupid people. Wow.
Posted by: Sean at October 20, 2009 6:45 PMExcellent idea. Falls a bit short in the application though.
What a joke!
Posted by: Louise at October 20, 2009 6:47 PMRelax folks, these dimwits probably dream at night too. Boy,they seem to come dummer ever day.
Posted by: Ken (Kulak) at October 20, 2009 6:50 PMI wonder if the same criminals are registering their guns too.
Posted by: theredsuit at October 20, 2009 6:51 PMI am embarrassed to be from BC, the Province where you vote Socialist or Communist in Provincial Elections.
This is like when I lived in Stewart BC at the Alaskan Border where the border crossing was a sign that said "Anything to declare? Then Call 1-800...."
I have been meaning to call, really I have been.
Posted by: Illiquid Assets at October 20, 2009 6:55 PMCan't they just cruise the proposed crack smoking sites?
Posted by: Speedy at October 20, 2009 6:55 PMYou naysayers here are missing the point. There's many a poor, disadvantaged crim who would confess to get a fews year of freee room and board courtesy Her Majesty!
Posted by: RW at October 20, 2009 7:02 PMI'm speechless.
Posted by: Warren Z at October 20, 2009 7:04 PMI think Rich Coleman has watched "Robin Hood",the old Errol Flynn version,too many times.
Rich, criminals aren't like that anymore.
Really.
btw, excellent comment,IA,"where you vote Socialist or Communist in Provincial Elections."
Posted by: dmorris at October 20, 2009 7:04 PMThey won't be allowed near the crack houses. It may upset some of the "clients".
Posted by: Rob C at October 20, 2009 7:05 PMUmmmmm...........
Nah, I got nuthin. There are some things just stupid to comment on.
Speedy at October 20, 2009 6:55 PM
Good point. Giovernment sponsored crack houses! Yeah; just what Vanier needs!
Posted by: RW at October 20, 2009 7:07 PMRegulated stupidity. How did these people survive puberty?
Posted by: Jema54 at October 20, 2009 7:23 PMThe honour system works every time, just like unicorns and leprechauns.
If one were to enforce such legislation, there would be very few people to collect welfare, I think.
I am beginning to think that Premier Campbell got a brain transplant from Glen Clark part way through his (Campbell's) second term. The transformation from small 'c' conservative to rampaging socialist has been horrifying to witness (and pay for).
Posted by: Aviator at October 20, 2009 7:37 PMso.. so close.
So close to getting it right.
And yet....
Do I have to be the voice of reason this time? There are issues with running criminal charge checks against all welfare applicants, they type that might end up with the law thrown out. What the government is hoping is that police will report these people to social services and possibly charge welfare cheats with fraud for not disclosing their ineligibility. It's a little less than perfect but a welfare bum from Ontario, fleeing charges there, is likely to have some contact with the boys in blue at some point and then "poof" they get dropped from the welfare rolls and sent back to the old province.
Posted by: the rat at October 20, 2009 7:50 PMIlliquid Assets: Did you ever get "Hyderized"?
Posted by: rebarbarian at October 20, 2009 7:52 PMI just threw up in the back of my mouth . lol
Paul in calgary .
Posted by: paul at October 20, 2009 8:42 PMrebarbarian
Re: Hyderization
I lived and worked there for 3 years, they stopped giving me the certificates and setting it on fire. So yes I have been Hyderized.
:)
Posted by: Illiquid Assets at October 20, 2009 9:04 PMJesus, rat, I work in a field that is nothing but civilian, everyday, non-policing, and I've had to have a criminal record check to get the jobs I've had. How come working stiffs have to crawl through more hoops than welfare recipients? This really sucks.
Posted by: Louise at October 20, 2009 9:27 PMMy brain hurts, please stop...
Posted by: bethesda guy at October 20, 2009 9:28 PMLittle wonder the B.C. Liberals have lost their base. Really, the only reason they remain in power is because the alternative is the NDP.
For the first time in 40 years of voting, I deliberately spoiled my ballot - and I once ran for a BC Liberal nomination!
I wasn't really surprised to find that when I told others about spoiling my ballot, that they too had done the same thing.
Sadly, we could end up with the NDP just by default.
But then, it's only a matter of degree anyway.
Posted by: No Guff at October 20, 2009 9:55 PMI am so embarrassed to live in BC, and glad that I was not born and educated here. At every level, we continue to have the worst governments in Canada. On the same day, we also get proposals for supporting crack-smoking; meanwhile, smoking legal cigarettes on the beaches in winter is still under consideration for being outlawed while smoking weed is openly tolerated everywhere.
Posted by: Maria at October 20, 2009 9:56 PMAviator @ 737
Indeed, the transformation from a somewhat fiscally responsible administration, to the current leftarded slightly right of the NDP has been horrifying. I held my nose this last election, but, after the HST debacle, I'm thru, their spin was beyond defensible.
I think the Fibs made a deliberate move to the left to steal the soft NDP vote, but the end result is no different, and now, they have alienated a good core of their support thru their softheaded leftastic bent.
Unfortunately, the provincial Conservative and Socred brands are tarnished, so, we would need something like the Wildrose Alliance type of grassroots movement. Alas, I think we are doomed next time out with a Commie-NDP admin. At least that would flush out the Libs, deservedly, much like the Zalm's admin was turfed from office, and the Glenocchio bunch, for that matter.
Posted by: DanBC at October 20, 2009 9:57 PMWhoa!
According to Raphael Alexander, who is closer to the action than SDA, the legislation states that
the province would force anyone applying for income subsidies or disability assistance to sign a form that authorizes a criminal-background check or be refused help. Get that? applicants would have to submit to a criminal-background check.
Interestingly, the Dippers tried to introduce similar legislation in 1999 and were slapped down by the Supreme Court of B.C.
Posted by: Zog at October 20, 2009 10:38 PMI might also add, this is the same government that funds needle-exchanges, "safe" injection sites, and free crack pipe kits......to "prevent" disease.....
On that note, we should also be providing clean glasses to alcoholics, it MUST be better for them too..../sarc off
Posted by: DanBC at October 20, 2009 10:39 PMOK, I live in a different country -NZ- but we have data matching between government departments. It is not perfect and will not pick up false identity but that is the point. Why, why do some people think that the word 'Criminal' does not refer to someone who breaks the law.
Posted by: KimW at October 20, 2009 10:43 PMThe government relying on criminals -- well, nothing new there. But who are the geniuses who believe that someone willing to commit murder would be unwilling to lie?
Posted by: DrD at October 20, 2009 10:50 PMChrist, DrD. Do you ever read previous posts?
Posted by: Zog at October 20, 2009 11:14 PMIf privacy concerns stop government from verifying welfare applications, then tax returns should be accepted as filed too.
I already know what I'll be paying. I can hardly wait for the refund of all that nasty withholding.
Posted by: Honest Abe at October 20, 2009 11:20 PMI'm not seeing the problem.
The government is more than willing to hand out practically anything to anyone. Why shouldn't there be accountibility on both sides?
"Name?"
"Shropshire Slasher."
"Occupation?"
"Shropshire Slasher."
-- Looney Tunes
Three words come to mind after reading this: WTF?
Posted by: Texas Canuck at October 21, 2009 5:51 AMClearly a plan designed to fail. Ever think about what would happen politically if they had gone with the full court press immediately?
Posted by: the bear at October 21, 2009 9:59 AMThat is the difference between a Liberal Leftist socialist weenie and a conservative.
The Liberal is a trusting idiot ... Like Obama with the despots of the world.
The conservative will trust but verify ... like Ronald Reagan with the Soviets.
The Liberal begs for failure in whatever they do then take solace in that "it's the good intentions that matter".
The Conservative plays to win and usually does because it's the bottom line that matters.
Who would you prefer to have running the show?
Posted by: Momar at October 21, 2009 10:08 AMThanks for reporting this bit of lip service.
Posted by: trp at October 21, 2009 10:34 AMAppears to be a template of U. S. border policy. We're all going to hell in a hand-basket.
Posted by: Mazzuchelli at October 21, 2009 11:22 AMZog,
The problem with that is that the Province cannot hold back welfare if they do not sign the consent for criminal background check, so in fact recipients have to allow them to have a chance of excluding them. You only have to prove residency to get aid, it is the law.
So anyway you slice it, the proposition is stupid unless you repeal the right to access social assistance for all residents. Anything else is political smoke.
Posted by: Illiquid Assets at October 21, 2009 2:21 PMBefore everyone goes over the top, I'm not sure the legal authority exists for an agency such as welfare to query for outstanding warrants. Something to do with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I wish they could but they likely can't legally and that is why they aren't doing it.
mike
Posted by: mike at October 21, 2009 5:26 PMS%@t, Zog, yes, generally, when I have the time. Your point would be?
Posted by: DrD at October 21, 2009 5:58 PMSome of us should get together and start a REAL conservative provincial party here in BC.
I don't really know how to get the ball rolling but there has to be a way to turn this place around.
From a tiny seed a giant tree grows. (or something like that) Wish I new who wrote it.
Posted by: FREE at October 21, 2009 6:07 PMFree - Johnny Appleseed.
Posted by: Jema54 at October 21, 2009 6:45 PMI can't believe the level of cynicism I've read on these posts. You people have no faith! Of course criminals will disclose their outstanding legal issues!
Sorry, tried to get that out with a straight face - didn't work. Oh well, at least I managed to cheer myself up...
Posted by: freedomlover at October 21, 2009 7:15 PMAha; Freedomlover, our BC Liberal Govt. also expects these same criminals to turn in their Bullet Proof Vests with their Machine Guns and not dial or text on their cell phones while driving.
I think all the criminals will leave when faced with these constraints. No really; I do, yes I do.
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