SSW103: Social Class

UK now has seven social classes

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UNICEF Child Well-Being Index: Canada Ranked 17th Out Of 29 Wealthy Nations

Canadian Press, (2013). Huffington Post. 

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Dr. Neil Brooks on the influence of the wealthy 

from "Poor No More

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Stiglitz: Nobel prizewinner in economics finds increasing economic inequality in Canada disturbing

BC Federationist, 2013. 

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Food insecurity a 'serious' social issue, report finds

Clare Clancy, (2013). Vancouver Sun.  

Food insecurity in Canada is "a serious social and public health problem," says a report that found nearly one in eight Canadian households couldn't access sufficient, safe and nutritious food in 2011.

The study said 3.9 million Canadians were affected and the 330,000 households that were "severely food insecure" were worried they would run out of food before being able to afford more.

At a national level the number of people facing food insecurity is rising, she said, with 450,000 more Canadians affected in 2011 compared with 2008.

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‘Virtually impossible’ to reach B.C. income assistanceoffice: advocates

Judith Lavoie, (2013). Times Colonist.

Trying to contact income assistance offices in B.C. is an exercise in frustration for clients and those trying to help them, say advocates working with social service clients.

“There have been constant problems getting through on the 1-866 number and, in the past month, it has been virtually impossible,” said Kelly Newhook, Together Against Poverty Society executive director. “They put people on hold for an hour or more and then they cut people off.”

The story is repeated by people working on poverty issues from around B.C, Newhook said.

The same number is the main contact point for all income assistance clients in the province. 

“TAPS can’t get a response from the ministry. We are not even getting call backs from supervisors, and we are helping 10 to 15 people a day,” she said.

In 2012-13, the B.C. Ombudsperson opened more files on complaints about the Social Development Ministry than on any other area of the government, according to its annual report.

An emailed statement from a ministry spokesperson said there was a problem, but it has been fixed.

“The ministry recently experienced temporary network connectivity issues that resulted in longer than normal phone wait times including call interruptions/disconnection,” he said.

The ministry recognizes that, at times, call volumes cause delays, he said. New contact centre staff are being hired and trained.

Applications for income and disability assistance can be made online, he said. The website is www.iaselfserve.gov.bc.ca.