BC Coalition of Women’s Centres
November 8, 2001
For immediate release

 
The announcement of this morning regarding “single mothers” having to find work when their youngest child is one, has us deeply concerned.  The impact this move will have on women, children and communities will be overwhelming.  Single mothers have a hard enough time as it is surviving and providing for themselves and their children.  It is not acceptable for government to implement such changes void of a social context.  The social and financial costs of this move  will be too great for communities to bear.  We see an increase in child hunger, mal-nutrition, stress related illnesses and homelessness just to mention a few of the negative impacts of this change. 
 
The repercussions for women leaving violent relationships will be potentially life threatening.  Financial dependency on their abuser is often one of the real barriers to leaving; eliminating the only other option for many women will have dire consequences for women, children and communities.  The costs of violence in B.C have been previously estimated to be 385 million per year. If all costs were included such as health care, housing and legal costs the estimated cost could approach $1 billion per year.  This government can  be assured that trapping women in abusive relationships will increase those costs significantly.  The further long-term costs are the effect on children who witness abuse.  Stats, Canada reports that children who witness abuse are significantly more likely to develop:

 -aggressive behavior (bullying, fighting)
 -emotional disturbances (depression, continual fear, anxiety)
 -criminal activity
 -experience negative effects on social and academic development
 
 
These are costs we cannot afford.  This move is based on a number of assumptions:
(1) that a large number of welfare recipients could find work if they wished, but choose not too (2) that a large number of them are actually working thus defrauding the system (3) that all women have childcare, support, transportation, and the self-esteem to find work or participate in “employment” programs (4) that employment programs are successful in finding people work (5) that women and children can survive on minimum wage.  These assumptions are not fair and not factual.
 
It is critical that as a province we take care of the most vulnerable people in our communities, this province has an obligation to protect charter rights and comply with covenant agreements signed by Canada.  The right to basic human needs such as food and shelter will be violated through this shift. 
 
Given the changes in childcare services in this province that the government has implemented, the loss of B.C. jobs and the change in minimum wage this proposed move will not be successful. Further, it will put children at risk.  Women and children in this province will again be burdened with the fall out of a radical shift in public policy in B.C. and the need for your government to balance the budget. We call on  government to support canceling the next round of tax cuts and repeal the balanced budget legislation.
 
We urge government to rethink this proposed change, to live up to their obligations and to stand up for the most vulnerable in our society.  We encourage all BC citizens who disagree with this proposed change to call the Minister’s office at 250-356-7292 and the Premier’s Office at 250-387-0087 and register their concerns.