Photo by Whitehorse Star
Pauline Frost
Social assistance recipients will be protected: minister
Yukoners receiving social assistance benefits will not receive a reduction if they receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, thanks to changes made under the Civil Emergency Measures Act.
Yukoners receiving social assistance benefits will not receive a reduction if they receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, thanks to changes made under the Civil Emergency Measures Act.
“We are doing all we can to ensure that you are not placed in financial hardship due to our responses to the COVID pandemic,” Pauline Frost, the minister of Health and Social Services, said Monday afternoon.
Previous to this adjustment, Yukoners would have experienced a reduction in social assistance if they received the $2,000 monthly payment for Canadians who have lost income due to COVID-19.
A Yukon News article on April 22 publicized anxieties experienced by Yukoners who were told that receiving the emergency benefit would leave them with less money than they had without the federal help.
Frost said the Yukon News report was “not new information” to the government, and her department had been working on a solution.
Frost said the Yukon is one of two jurisdictions in Canada to fully exempt payments from the social assistance benefit, though other jurisdictions are exploring the option.
The exemption will apply to emergency benefit payments from April until June. Frost explained that the three-month exemption period is a starting point that may be extended.
Additional support is also now available for Yukoners receiving social assistance, Frost said. Individuals in need of emergency support are encouraged to reach out to Income Support Services.
The delay in providing the exemption was due to following protocol, Frost explained.
Though the emergency benefit allowance was announced by the federal government more than a month ago, the minister said her government had to wait to receive all the information about how the funding would work.
“The last thing we want to do is create anxieties for Yukoners,” Frost said.
“We have to follow the protocols that are set for us.”
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Comments (26)
Up 9 Down 3
Anie on May 4, 2020 at 3:12 pm
Stephen, writing 'FACT" in capital letters doesn't make it so. Like most people in my age group (boomers), I paid my own way. I have no debt, no credit card balance, no mortgage. Please provide a source for your FACT.
Up 8 Down 24
BnR on May 2, 2020 at 7:39 am
I’ve never, ever heard of anyone making a conscious decision to go on SA because the money is so good.
Up 21 Down 4
drum on May 1, 2020 at 6:59 pm
Do I understand this - if you already get a cheque every month from Taxpayers you are now going to qualify for another $2000.00 a month from taxpayers. I must have misunderstood!
More people not distancing themselves outside the Homeless Shelter. No wonder they are celebrating!
Up 43 Down 5
Obi on May 1, 2020 at 12:17 pm
The Gravy Train!
"When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation".....
Up 5 Down 33
Covid Conquered on Apr 30, 2020 at 7:53 pm
All you cons out there that are up in arms about this, what would you rather have, all the funding going to corporate welfare?
You know your whining will fall on deaf ears when Matthew is even getting thumbs up?
Up 35 Down 10
Groucho d'North on Apr 30, 2020 at 10:41 am
Liberal financial alchemy. 50% financial support 50% vote buying.
Never let an emergency situation go to waste.
After the past five years of Trudeau gifting our tax dollars to third world nations and feel-good programs, a complete and detailed financial audit should be conducted to clear the air on Canada's financial situation.
Up 15 Down 3
Crunch on Apr 30, 2020 at 9:58 am
The reality of what is happening here is not very complicated. If the government goes the bail out route to banks and credit card companies the public will scream bloody murder and you don't get the buy votes with this policy. Instead you give the money to the people and because most people are so completely tied to the financial systems, the banks etc. end up with the money anyways as cash strapped people are living off their credit cards.
If you choose as the individual not to pay off your debt with the CERB money, you keep paying interest deepening the hole until the card is eventually taken away from you. And around and around we go.
The nightmare here is with the CRA as people are going to lie on the applications to get money and this will spur an auditing bureaucracy like no other. It's the same game bailing out the financial system but the politicians hope they'll end up looking like the saviour instead of the goat.
Up 32 Down 7
Grievin the Stephen on Apr 29, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Stephen, Stephen, Stephen... It is actually the millennials that are responsible for all this debt with their penchant for free money and socialist redistribution schemes for slackers, shirkers, and millennial layabouts.
Up 11 Down 3
Karl on Apr 29, 2020 at 7:04 pm
Atlas Shrugged
Up 38 Down 8
Al on Apr 29, 2020 at 5:06 pm
If you can't feed them, don't breed them.
Up 30 Down 4
how can we get in on this? on Apr 29, 2020 at 4:19 pm
I think everyone is wondering how they can get on this gravy train....please let us know!
Up 29 Down 9
JC on Apr 29, 2020 at 3:16 pm
Stephen, it was not under the boomers and Cons that the most debt was racked up. I know where you got that fake news lie from so I won't mention it here. I'm not a boomer, I was born several years before the boomers, but I'm not suffering from senility or dementia. I know quite a bit more about this debt and deficit than you. Now, I advise you to do some more research and from a worthy outlet. And as I said before, have fun paying off the debt your generation of liberal politicians created. I will be leaving here with a smile on my face.
Up 23 Down 47
stephen on Apr 29, 2020 at 1:10 pm
JC first it's under the boomers and the Cons that the most debt in this country was racked up. THAT is a fact!! Nice to know you boomers enjoyed partying and living the high life came on the backs of my generation. So please don't blame the liberals for all this. Blame you boomers and the Cons.
As to welfare, I support welfare but not in the form it is in now. I would like it see it completely over hauled and people made to work. I sure and the hell don't support allowing SA getting money from CERB. Politicians need to wake up and realize most of Canadians and Yukoners would not want this.
Up 78 Down 6
iBrian on Apr 29, 2020 at 7:51 am
Ok, so let me understand this... people who are on Social Assistance, are also eligible for $2000 a month from CERB?
Can someone explain to me why it is that the people on SA are eligible for for an additional $2000 a month?
I don’t understand this.
Up 61 Down 4
Dale Omilon on Apr 29, 2020 at 1:39 am
I totally disagree with this, as are we not already paying them?
Up 57 Down 7
R. U. Schmidt-Enmee on Apr 28, 2020 at 5:42 pm
Wow! Okay now... Everyone who is working for their money must now deposit their checks in a general Canada Welfare account so that the monies can be distributed to those who are not working... You will receive, instead of your regularly earned pay check, an allowance from the government to cover the minimum essentials for life... I know, I know... It seems backwards but no one said life is fair - Now get back to work! There are SA recipients in need of a steak and crab dinner...
Up 78 Down 4
Tater on Apr 28, 2020 at 5:41 pm
I'm confused. If you are on SA, how do you qualify for CERB?
Up 46 Down 13
Jc on Apr 28, 2020 at 5:28 pm
Just typical of the Liberals - Feds, Provincial and Territorial, not thinking of the consequences that will be felt after emergencies like this are over. Never planning for tomorrow. Just raise the taxes, that'll fix the problem. A few more carbon like taxes. Which by the way he refused to postpone until after the covid emergency has ended.
Just as an example, there was left a 25 billion dollar surplus by the outgoing Conservative Party when he took office in 2015. He squandered that in a about a month - that's not mine but the media's report. He sold off every last ounce of gold that Canada had to back up our currency within his first year. Again the media's report. What did he spend all this on? Nobody to this day knows. But its all gone. Then he borrowed billions to raise our national debt and ran up an approximately 40 plus billion dollar deficit. Again on what, nobody knows. And now with this global emergency he has no real money left, so again he will have to borrow billions to pay for it.
Forgive me for continuing this rant, but my generation will not have to pay off this almost trillion dollar debt, you in the younger generation will. Wishing you good luck won't help because its going to take a lot more than luck, you're going to find out very soon.
Up 61 Down 12
Matthew on Apr 28, 2020 at 5:17 pm
Classic!
“We are doing all we can to ensure that you are not placed in financial hardship due to our responses to the COVID pandemic,” Pauline Frost.
Really!? That's a joke surely.. EVERYONE except gov workers are now in financial hardship.. savings drained, RRSPs cashed out, pensions gone (soon). You keep enjoying that healthy 6 figure salary while telling the poor we're trying not to make you more poor...
Up 58 Down 8
Jc on Apr 28, 2020 at 5:09 pm
I worked and served my country for 60 plus years and I get less than $1800.00 from my OAS/Supplement and CPP benefits per month before taxes. Now, I can understand there are those who can't work because of some physical or mental handicap, but why are those who can and won't get off their duffs making more than those of us who put in their whole lives into this country. And the minister is worried about their anxieties about not receiving enough. Where are they going to spend that extra money when almost everything is closed down? To the Cartel reps? Do seniors who live on a fixed income of less than 1800 dollars get this supplement? We were never told. How about the minister tacking that extra 2 hundred or so bucks on our Yukon Gov. Supplement most of paid into all those years. How about being concerned about our anxieties. When this thing is over, you can bet all the prices will be increased to make up for all those months losses, and we will forced to pay them.
Up 64 Down 4
yukoner on Apr 28, 2020 at 3:50 pm
Looks like I am in the wrong "business".
Maybe the social assistance receivers can help the working poor out for the next few month?
Up 68 Down 3
Thomas Brewer on Apr 28, 2020 at 3:28 pm
Other jurisdictions clawed back 50%, Yukon none? What a windfall for those on welfare... treated better than those that are on EI
Hope someone reminds them that it's still taxable...
Up 68 Down 4
Career in sponging on Apr 28, 2020 at 3:26 pm
Wait, what?? I thought the CERB was to help people that lost their jobs due to Covid.... So people who collect free money from the government are upset because a new government source of free money is affecting their already established source of free money??? You're welcome, I guess. Glad I could help pay your way through life..
Up 64 Down 10
Juniper Jackson on Apr 28, 2020 at 2:15 pm
I am a senior, I am actually way past 65.. but the Department does not pay for some of my meds because.. that's too bad June, it's not on the formulary... Me, went and got a job because, I still don't want to die. Frost: The last thing we want to do is create anxieties for Yukoners. I really want SA, they'll pay for all my drugs..but, I have a job! Between my job and my pensions, I can pay my bills. Frost, and the rest of THIS bunch of useless Liberals can kiss my #$%.
Up 65 Down 9
Juniper Jackson on Apr 28, 2020 at 2:10 pm
I am NOT a proponent of SA, welfare beneficiaries in general.. When a person is in need? Go the distance for them and with them. But, in the quarter time job I do, I see how many just won't work..so, so many young women.. most living with men and not reporting it..comments like, of course I know who the dad is, but they might go after him for support, so what am I going to say? Comments like, hurry up, I got the kids in daycare so I can get my nails done. Turns out welfare mamas not only get upwards of $700. per child a month in child tax benefits, but a mom on 3 also gets $35,000 + a year in welfare, a week a month of free day care. $500. a year for clothing per child. In the Yukon the question seems to be, will more welfare make you a happier person? I had a 23 year old neighbor once that got disability welfare.. his disability?? He got anxiety when he thought about having to get a job. (So did I, but my father did not kick me out because I was sitting in the basement playing video and smoking dope. My Dad reviewed my applications and drove me around until someone hired me.) I don't make that kind of money working and with pensions, mind you, I'd jump off a roof at my age before I'd have another baby. So, what am I saying? I'm saying.. if welfare IS your job, welfare IS your career. I have absolutely 0 0 0 0 zero tolerance for you. Get a job. If you are in genuine need, that is where I want my tax money and welfare dollars to go. That is where my personal charity goes.
Up 18 Down 42
Sandra Bigger on Apr 28, 2020 at 1:55 pm
On behalf of all of us who were potentially affected, thank you for doing the right thing! Thank you to the Minister, Pauline Frost and the Yukon Government! Thank you also to Brad Cathers and Kate White for reaching out on our behalf!
Sandra Bigger