UBC Library Web Pages - Statement to B.C. A.S.W., February 6, 2002

Statement to B.C. A.S.W., February 6, 2002

Statement by Graham Riches, Director, UBC School of Social Work, at BCASW Press Conference - February 6, 2002
I would first like to commend BCASW for calling this press conference today to voice the views of professional social workers about the tragic social consequences of Black Thursday. I would also like to commend the UBC social work students who I know will be voicing their concerns in the days ahead. When one's own job, future employment and ability to pay student fees are threatened it takes a special brand of courage to speak out on behalf of others and the injustices that the BC government is serving on the province's most vulnerable citizens.
Last week an editorial in the Globe and Mail surprised many of us when it denounced Premier Campbell's legislation (Bill 29 - Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act) breaking signed collective agreements as 'legislative vandalism'. This is not normally the kind of language or sentiment one associates with the Globe's editorial writers but it is a measure of the deep concern felt in all sections of our community regarding the government's actions.
It should, in my view, also be clearly understood, that many of the social spending cutbacks being announced by the government are unlawful and contrary to international human rights legislation. In 1976, the Federal Government-acting on its behalf and of the provinces - ratified the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights , an instrument of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Governments in Canada, including British Columbia's, were thereby bound by international law to 'respect, protect and fulfill' fundamental human rights including the right of everyone to 'an adequate standard of living. including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to continuous improvement of living conditions'. It also recognizes 'the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger'.
Black Thursday violations of these international legal commitments include 'welfare reform' decisions:

Limiting social assistance to employable single persons and couples for a maximum of two years out of five;

denying social assistance to applicants age 19 years and over for two years after leaving their parents home (this no doubt contravenes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the grounds of age discrimination);

Reducing or denyng assistance to single mothers who are unable to find work outside the home after their children reach three years of age;

banning individuals convicted of income assistance fraud under the Criminal Code from ever again receiving assistance (it is news to me that a person can be punished twice in this country for the same offence);
reducing already inadequate benefits and services to many others in need including refugee claimants.
In other words the BC Government has decided to abandon its international human rights commitments and leave increasing numbers of hungry and destitute British Columbians -men, women and children - to the dictates of the market and privatized welfare administration and to the mercy of charity and food banks.
Let there be no doubt that Black Thursday's welfare reform decisions violate international law and in certain respects the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Government's actions require legal challenges.
It is, finally, a matter of deep regret that the Government, while increasing welfare benefits to the rich (in terms of its massive tax break), has decided to abandon the human rights of the neediest of British Columbians and to act with disregard for international law. It is not acceptable that democratically elected legislators behave in this way. All social workers, indeed all British Columbians, need to be asking if this really is the British Columbia we wish for the future.

Library Contact: Beverley Scott Last Updated: 17-Feb-2002

The University of British Columbia

Statement by Graham Riches, Director, UBC School of Social Work, at BCASW Press Conference - February 6, 2002