As Wildrose Alliance party leader, Danielle Smith toured across southeast Alberta last week to express harsh words for the Conservative Party and how she would correct the errors made by Stelmach and company, the Alberta government was making announcements that it would be cutting payments made to welfare recipients.
On Friday, the Stelmach government announced a $12.5 million reduction in payments made to welfare recipients who are trying to upgrade their education and get back into the workforce. Once again, it is the weakest and most vulnerable citizens of the province who are getting kicked the hardest.
For people who are struggling through tough times and trying to better themselves, to make themselves more marketable, Ed Stelmach's government has decided that the government would rather continue doling out the dole, rather than encouraging betterment of its people and having a more trained workforce as a result.
As the Alberta government attempts to reduce its $4.7 billion deficit, Stelmach also announced the cuts would likely not be the last. Expect more to come.
Non-profit organizations that serve the mentally ill, such as the Schizophrenia Society, have already been on the receiving end of the cuts when the government previously announced changes to how it would hand out grant dollars. Kick 'em when they're down is a term that resonates repeatedly with this government.
For the welfare recipients who are enthusiastic about making a better life for themselves and their families, the announcement surely comes as welcomely as a kick in the teeth. It makes one wonder how a person down and out on his luck is supposed to get back on his feet if his own government turns their back on them.
Soup kitchens and food banks across the province are scrounging to meet the demand of their clients, which have increased significantly over the past year and a half. Couple that with a decrease in donations because individuals and businesses are also pinching their pennies and these services are struggling to provide the basic right of all Albertans...the right to eat.
Why is he doing this? He said it is to reduce the deficit, but why the most vulnerable? Because they are not able to contribute through taxes back to province. I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine.
Recently, the provincial government gave the energy energy a $750-million break on royalties to get the industry back on its feet. Fine. Getting the oil patch workers back on the job is important too. This industry pays back to province handsomely, so Stelmach had no problem reneging on his on previous errors regarding royalties. But, help those who need it most seems to be something Stelmach and his cohorts have no interest in.
While Stelmach continues hurting the people of this province, he is providing more fuel than needed for Danielle Smith as she picks up the political torch and runs with it.