Canadian economy loses 2,800 jobs in February

[JLM]

If you are on the dole, and don't vollenteer anywhere, your coffee
break is 24hrs/day...with your bills paid, and anything you can get
your hands on (under the table, cans, selling copper, etc...) is a
bonus.

Don't get me wrong, as this isn't the case with everyone receiving
assistance, as there are legit reasons for those utilizing the social
safety net, but for many it's just not warrented beyond it being all
that they know, or just a trap they've fallen into and don't have any
real desire to get out of.

I hear you, Ron............I guess it all depends on what you want out of life. I for one enjoy lounging and relaxing but I can't do it all day, I'm lucky enough at my stage of life to have enough money, but I still have to be mentally and physically active several hours a day. Too bad more people just don't realize how much better one feels.

 

[taxslave]

To see harsh poverty and the working poor all you and I need to do is walk out the front door.

Where I life if you are tradesman you are the working poor. Few with less than that can afford to live in this area anymore due to the influx of rich retirees pushing pu house prices.

 

[JLM]

Where I life if you are tradesman you are the working poor. Few with less than that can afford to live in this area anymore due to the influx of rich retirees pushing pu house prices.

Move to Port Alberni! :smile:

Much to the unions dismay the western provinces have been working on a free labour movement where credentials are recognized in all provinces.

Then there was the small problem of tree planting contractors not being sure that they would be able to get enough planters in BC this year. Course you can't expect a city welfare bum to just pack up and go to a camp without his/her buds.

The whole country would be better off if Union positions were realligned to deal with saftety issues ONLY. Most safety issues don't take too many brains to spot.

 

[Machjo]

If you are on the dole, and don't vollenteer anywhere, your coffee
break is 24hrs/day...with your bills paid, and anything you can get
your hands on (under the table, cans, selling copper, etc...) is a
bonus.

Don't get me wrong, as this isn't the case with everyone receiving
assistance, as there are legit reasons for those utilizing the social
safety net, but for many it's just not warrented beyond it being all
that they know, or just a trap they've fallen into and don't have any
real desire to get out of.

I would guess most people want off of social assistance. The problem though is when the system is too accented on giving a hand out rather than a hand up.

 

[Liberalman]

Only if the work is economically productive and that they are paid a fair wage. I and I think some others have proposed the idea of some kind of Peace Corps in the past.

They would get paid their welfare money if they want to make a fair wage then they would have to get a job.

 

[Machjo]

They would get paid their welfare money if they want to make a fair wage then they would have to get a job.

That was the whole idea of a Peace Corps. If a person can't find work, he'd have the option of joinging this corps where he'd be put to economically productive work for a decent wage. To be fair, and to avoid abuse of this, we might ensure that the wage is slightly below the wage for the same work in the private sector. Still fair in that at least it's guaranteed work. So it would be a chance to gain work experience before then looking for a better wage in the private sector.

 

[JLM]

That was the whole idea of a Peace Corps. If a person can't find work, he'd have the option of joinging this corps where he'd be put to economically productive work for a decent wage. To be fair, and to avoid abuse of this, we might ensure that the wage is slightly below the wage for the same work in the private sector. Still fair in that at least it's guaranteed work. So it would be a chance to gain work experience before then looking for a better wage in the private sector.

I think it's a good idea.

 

[Machjo]

Much to the unions dismay the western provinces have been working on a free labour movement where credentials are recognized in all provinces.

Just to clarify, there is a distinction between labour-movement agreements (which already exists in the Canadian constitution as freedom of movement) and standardization of qualifications. When I'm thinking of working on labour-movement agreements, I'm thinking more in terms of international agreements along with free trade.

As for standardization of qualifications for various trades and professions, that's something ministries of education ought to have been working on decades ago. But it's good to read that it is now happening. Any links, since I'd like to know more about this as it might set an example for Canada-wide standardization agreements in future. We're paying our ministers of education a hefty salary; might as well put them to work on something beneficial.