I posted this on my facebook today for the first time.
Alright, so I've been pretty nervous about posting this, but I have been thinking about it for a long time and I figured, why not try?
A few years ago when I was working in Quebec, I found out that the non-profit I was working for, was an organization that only hired people on welfare. People who were unable to physically work were on 'disability.'
After learning more about the company I found out that you're unable to just sit around and "collect" welfare there, you have to give back somehow in order to earn your cheques. Most often it would be by working for non-profits and helping around the community.
The company I worked for offered extra skills classes once in a while which boosted morale and also gave the employees new skills they could use as experience while looking for a job. While I was there we did a cooking class and a cosmetics making class.
Watching social media and seeing people get attacked for being on welfare, as well as seeing some people's abuse of the system, it brought me back to my experience in Quebec, and I couldn't understand why this wasn't being done all across Canada.
When I went to make this petition for the change, I learned through researching that we are currently heading towards a social deficit and by 2026 we may not be able to keep up with the demand. Non-profits make up 8% of our GDP and 10.5% of our workforce.
Solution:
We understand that there is a need for welfare in this country, some things happen that we cannot predict. Having that safety net gives us a sense of freedom, if something were to happen to us, we would still be okay.
But, we need to understand that, that freedom is being funded by other hardworking Canadians, and we shouldn't be allowed to take advantage of it/them.
By requiring recipients to give back, they are able to:
- Gain/retain job experience.
- Regain a sense of purpose.
- Connect and network with others, giving them more opportunities to obtain a job in the workforce as well as boost their social morale.
- Reduce the abuse of the system and the attraction of not having to work while still being able to make money.
- Remove the negativity and shame around the idea of being on welfare, as they're still contributing.
Some people have said that they fear people becoming unambitious, I say, so what? If they spend the rest of their life on welfare, and they're contributing their fair share, it's better than what we have now.
I also don't think the majority will stay content. While I was working in Quebec, one of the girls I worked with came into work jumping up and down about getting a job in retail... It meant the world to her to regain her independence.
Let's go a step further and pair people up with places based on their needs. Addicts can help at rehab centres. Women with children at home can help at shelters or children nonprofits. (Now I'm just on an idea rant)
The point is, I think that this is a change that would be supported by people of any political affiliation because it's both good for our country, the economy, and the people.
So please sign this petition if this is something you can get behind!