From Welfare To Workfare Essay -- Canada Work Welfare Jobs Essays

From Welfare to WorkfareTheres an old joke that goes something like... Where do you hide awelfare recipients cheque, where hell neer become it? Under his work boots.When Mike Harris was campaigning for the Progressive conservative party in 1994he promised a common sense revolution. This motley with the huge unpopularityof Bob Rays policies, made him a favourite for the upcoming election. Withthis new common sense revolution, came Ontario works, or workfare. (a programdesigned to serve recipients find their cheques) The workfare topic was a hugeissue to voters, and will effect not only the thousands of Ontario welfarerecipients but every Ontarioan in one way or another. When the election wasclose, Mike Harris often called workfare his hand up on the other candidates,(Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Nov. 17, 1995, 846), arguing that the currentwelfare system is just hand outs.The closing on behalf of the conservative party to introduce OntarioWorks in Ontario is an interesting o ne, with respect to traditional, and modernday Conservative party beliefs. This issue will be discussed in depth furtherinto the essay, but much research and (case) study went into the prospects ofworkfare by the Tories.To better understand workfare, one must understand the basics and think of welfare. John Romanyshyn wrote Free men living in a community offree and equal men is the democratic ideal, (Armitage, 59) which describes theideals of welfare. Welfare is a full-grown and/or democratic program and policyand is intended to allow equal opportunities of success to all. Other welfaregoals include giving temporary assistance for wad who are living below thepoverty line and are basically implemented by using the insurance principle paypremiums when youre able in order to reap benefits when you are unable.These are principles consistent with the liberal democracy point of view.Nowhere does welfare help the community or society. (Conservative beliefs)Welfare should help people in t heir time of need until they get back on theirfeet. This was becoming less and less the case in the late eighties and previous(predicate)nineties, when welfare abuse became such a major issue. According to theProgressive Conservatives, this gave way to workfare.UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF WORKFAREAs ea... ...wers and more will soon be answered after the results are in from thefirst wave of welfare reform in Ontario.WORKS CITEDArmitage, Andrew. (1988). genial Welfare in Canada. Toronto McClelland &Stewart Inc.Canadian Council on Social Development. (1975). Social Services in Canada AnIntroduction. Ottawa. The Canadian Council on SocialDevelopment press.Crane, John. (1994). Directions for Social Welfare in Canada. D.W. Frieson &Sons.Hansard. Ontario Legislative Assembly of Ontario. (1995-1996). Office of thehansard. (various dates specified in essay)C. McCormack (personal communication, Nov. 7, 1996)...Workfare Watch News (CCPA Monitor, July/August 1996)...Backgrounder (Community o f Social Services home page,http//www.gov.on.ca, Queens Printer for Ontario, 1996)Henderson, Gord (Apr. 9, 1996) Give Tories workfare plan a chance in Ontario.Windsor Star....Ontario Works makes (Community of Social Services home page, http//www.gov. on. ca, 1996)Workfare Watch (bulletin posted on Internet, www. worldchat. com/ public/tab/ wrkfrw/ bul1.htm) (various dates specified in essay)