Comments on: We can’t eliminate child poverty if the parents are poor: Elizabeth May

By: Roderick Benns, "We can’t eliminate child poverty if the parents are poor: Elizabeth May" | BIEN

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 07:09:10 +0000

[…] Benns, “We can’t eliminate child poverty if the parents are poor: Elizabeth May“, Leaders and Legacies, 22 January […]

By: Jean Chicoine

Jean Chicoine — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 06:09:30 +0000

A guaranteed basic income is the only way to go if we are really serious dealing with poverty. Not only would it give people the stable economic plank they need to finally get ahead, but by cutting on the many welfare programs and uniting them under one umbrella it would definitely ease the public purse.
The argument that such a basic income would incite people to do nothing, be lazy and live on it is nonsense. On the opposite, give people the chance to better themselves and the next thing you know, you’ve got a vibrant society.

By: Roderick Benns

Roderick Benns — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 02:37:23 +0000

Hi Kathy,

Thank you for sharing from your own experience. We believe that people sharing their stories will help bring about the kind of change we wish to see in Canadian society. By encouraging more people to speak out, we will be able to demonstrate the need for progress and the need for more thoughtful policies to be put in place.

By: Kathy McDonald

Kathy McDonald — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 00:06:40 +0000

I can speak from experience. I was a single mother living in oppression. Through no fault of my own. But there I was. I agree completely with all that was said in the above article. You can address child poverty yes but that child still has to go home to poor parents living in oppression. I had been a stay at home mom raising my children when I found myself on my own. I desperately needed a job but no skills. I desperately needed to go back to college. But without the means. I was expected to do all this but had no way to do it. My days were spent wondering where my next loaf of bread was coming from. Where my next roll of toilet paper was coming from. Do you know how hard it is to have a positive outlook and be able to get out there to take steps to improve your life when you don't even have the basic life necessities They give no hope. I often said "how can someone focus on improving life through job searching or schooling etc when there is no food, toilet paper, shampoo , the basic needs at home for your children"??? So what is said in this article are things I myself have thought about. I don't believe everything should be a hand out but I was never given enough to live well enough to be able to stop worrying and to focus on education and to take steps to improve my situation. If parents/adults are able to have what is needed for their family then they can get their GED's, go to college, buy the clothes needed for that job, feel like they are getting somewhere instead of going deeper into oppression. Makes a big difference knowing the home and children are ok. Then you are free to actually (even if mandatory) get knew skills, go back to college, get that GED, instead of being made to feel like you and your children don't matter. That you are worthless and a burden to society. Do you know how many would love to have opportunity???? In the long run it would save money for the country. In many different ways. By the way I did go back to college . Graduated with honors . Have a diploma that says Medical Office Assistant. Actually still own the government for the osap I got in order to do it. Funny though. Didn't get hired because I didn't fit the image. But I am working. Supporting myself. You would find if people living in poverty didn't have to worry daily about the next loaf of bread they surely would be delighted to do whatever it takes to improve life without having to worry constantly. Oppression destroys in all ways.