'A downhill battle': Stories of social assistance struggles in spotlight at Sask. Legislature
Single parents on social assistance struggling to make ends meet told their stories at the legislative building on Thursday.
Frank Francoeur lives in a government owned rental-housing building but can no longer afford to live there. He said he is being evicted at the end of the month as others from the same building on social assistance were recently.
“Every building has at least two children. Everybody plays together. (My) children are still talking about all the families that got evicted throughout twelve months. The building has been sitting almost vacant by half,” he said.
Kelly Anderson, a single mom to an 18-month old, worries she could lose her apartment because she no longer receives enough assistance to pay for power.
“I’ve always paid everything on time. I’ve never had disconnection notices, nothing. Ever since I have been switched over to SIS, it’s been nothing but a downhill battle,” she said.
Both came to the legislative building to talk about how their financial situations have worsened since the government made changes to social assistance programs.
“We all pay a price when we have a ministry that would rather pay $150 a night for a hotel room for an evicted person than pay that same amount towards heating that person’s house and keeping them housed,” said NDP MLA Meara Conway.
The government said it has increased shelter allowances but acknowledges that some people are having problems.
“Well the nature of the program, quite frankly, is the clients usually have challenges and problems. It’s an income assistance program of last resort,” said Deputy Premier Donna Harpauer.
Coming to the legislative building was a last resort for the single parents fearing eviction. The government met with them privately to work toward solutions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.