Quixote's Horse: Workfare - A Little History

Wayne Coppin and Prof. Margaret Little Slam Ontario Works Abuses: For those of you who missed the December 19, 2007 airing of the Kingston CFRC radio interview with Wayne Coppin and Queen's Prof. Margaret Little, we are now offering it as a 20 meg. .mp3 file for download:

CFRC Radio Interviews Wayne Coppin and Dr. Margaret Little (.mp3 format, 20 megs, 21min 33sec)

A Little History

No one disagrees with trying to help social assistance recipients get decent employment. If that is what Ontario Works was really about, we would support it. But its not. - Brigitte Kitchen, Faculty of Social Work, York University, Dec. 1997

Workfare is Slavery.

"A problem is not solvable until its existence is recognized. And once recognized it requires an understanding as to its very nature, why it came into existence, what provides its sustaining power, and what its detrimental effect is in both the present and future. In short, a problem must be recognized for the ill effect it causes and brings about, and must be viewed with a resolve to either re-channel that which "feeds" it in order to facilitate correction or it must be starved completely of that which sustains it. Clearly, problem recognition is the first step to solution." - Ted Lang

With the above caveat firmly in mind, Quixote's Horse is adopting a somewhat unusual and combative approach to the human rights abuse known as workfare. The following presentation reflects our personal belief that the public needs to become educated and thus better prepared to act in its own best interests. Those unwilling to do even that, preferring to plant and nourish the seeds of their own slavery with their own ambivalence, will reap what they sow. The horrific lessons of history keep reminding us of that. Meanwhile, those wise enough to join us in our struggle to reclaim our human rights from the state are welcome to do so.

If you support Workfare, you support government legislated Slavery. Period.

The blunt assertion is true, by definition. If you found it personally offensive - excellent. It is a good start.

Quixote's Horse believes in coming straight to the point. If you opposed Apartheid in South Africa but support Workfare in Ontario, you are living a lie. If you opposed the Nazi human rights abuses of World War II but support workfare, you are the worst kind of hypocrite. If you are willing to demand that your legislatively protected human rights be respected but are willing to turn a blind eye to your own government's abrogation of those very same legislatively protected human rights for welfare recipients, then you are a fool destined to lose your rights too - inevitably, sooner or later. History teaches you that latter truth repeatedly. Are you ready to listen now?

Workfare is an abrogation of YOUR most basic and cherished human rights. Whether you believe that your human rights come from God or prefer the more secular view that they belong to you by birthright, we can surely all agree that human rights do not belong to governments - either to abrogate or to bestow.

A government that is allowed to decide when or to whom any one of your human rights can be denied, again by definition, has stolen your birthright and overstepped its authority. If you fail or refuse to condemn that government, then you are a party to the abuse. If you rationalize that insane behaviour away with any number of so-called "politically correct" or seemingly self-serving excuses, then you are not only well along the slippery slope to your own state of slavery, but you are willingly plunging yourself headlong into the abyss. Please ponder carefully the following:

Canada is a signatory to both the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which states, "...the right to work, which includes the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses to accept..."; and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which in Article 23 states: "Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and protection against unemployment".

405. The Committee notes with concern that at least six provinces in Canada (including Quebec and Ontario) have adopted “workfare” programmes that either tie the right to social assistance to compulsory employment schemes or reduce the level of benefits when recipients, who are usually young, assert their right to choose freely what type of work they wish to do. In many cases, these programmes constitute work without the protection of fundamental labour rights and labour standards legislation. The Committee further notes that in the case of the province of Quebec, those workfare schemes are implemented despite the opinion of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the decisions of the Human Rights Tribunal that those programmes constitute discrimination based on social status or age. - 1998 UN report by the COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

That was only one of many formal condemnations by the United Nations. A government that cannot be trusted to honour its signed international agreements cannot be trusted to honour its covenants with its own citizens. Hyperbole? Hardly. The same U.N. report specifically reminded the government of Ontario that it too was a signatory and in blatant violation of Article 8 of the Covenant:

The Committee notes that Bill 22, entitled "An Act to Prevent Unionization", was adopted by the Ontario Legislative Assembly on 24 November 1998. The Act denies to workfare participants the rights to join a trade union, to bargain collectively and to strike. In response to a request from the Committee, the Government provided no information in relation to the compatibility of the Act with the Covenant. The Committee considers the Act to be a clear violation of article 8 of the Covenant and calls upon the State Party to take measures to repeal the offending provisions. - 1998 UN report by the COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

The response of the Harris government (YOUR government) was a terse dismissal of the condemnations of the abuse in a Letter to the Editor in the Hamilton Spectator by Janet Ecker, Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services. Ms. Ecker opened her propaganda piece with the following summary of the government's position:

"I would like to provide information about the purpose of the legislation. Bill 22 deals only with Ontario Works participants in community placements. These placements provide opportunities for people to gain valuable work experience and make contacts in the community." - Community and Social Services Minister Janet Ecker, Hamilton Spectator, March 11, 1998

Only OW recipients forced to work for the state... either Ms. Ecker truly believed that we are all brain dead or she missed the following lesson of history:

In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. - Rev. Martin Niemoeller

The horrific Orwellian hubris did not start with Cabinet Minister Janet Ecker. Your governments had already ignored the formal expressions of outrage from every major religious leader in the country including the following strongly worded United Church Resolution:

United Church Resolution: Ontario works (mandatory work for welfare program)

In January 1995, United Church Moderator, Marion Best, and other national church leaders signed a public letter to Prime Minister Chretien which addressed the loss of social programs and the erosion of national standards and the impact this would have on those who are vulnerable and all of us. The letter said:

"...We believe people receiving benefits do not need to be coerced to accept paid employment. The National Council on Welfare has pointed out repeatedly that welfare recipients respond as well or better to incentives to work when the incentive is a good job at a decent income. Welfare is the last resort for people, not their first choice... Coercion violates the dignity of the individual, whether the program be work or training... Compulsory programs such as work-for-welfare provide no real solution to the poverty of individuals or families. Workfare is simply punitive and demeaning, offering jobs that are not permanent, providing little by way of advanced skills and perhaps even more importantly, offering little in the way of hope."

WHEREAS the tradition of The United Church of Canada is based on the teaching of Jesus and the prophets that call us to be committed to justice, fairness and concern for neighbour; and WHEREAS the teaching of Jesus leads to an understanding of the worth for all individuals and their rights as individuals to be regarded with dignity and respect; and

WHEREAS the policies of the United Church are drawn from a belief system based on justice and compassion that lead to solidarity with the impoverished and oppressed; and WHEREAS in 1976 both Canada and Ontario signed the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which commits all signatories to, "the right to work which includes the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain a living by work which he/she freely chooses to accept," and

WHEREAS the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, also declares in Article 23(1), "Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and protection against unemployment," and

WHEREAS Workfare is a mandatory, coercive program that takes away people's freedom and choice and thus destroys dignity and self-worth; and

WHEREAS Workfare uses the threat of starvation and homelessness to force welfare recipients to accept work that may never lead to full and meaningful employment; and

WHEREAS Workfare is a prejudicial policy based on the stereo-type that all impoverished people are lazy and do not choose to work but choose the indignity of poverty; and

WHEREAS all of the job training and employment counselling programs are full and have lengthy waiting periods, thus indicating that the unemployed do want to work; and

WHEREAS Workfare is a tool being used to displace unionized workers and to drive down wages and benefits in many sectors, including municipalities, hospitals and schools and will undermine programmes of community service by ex-offenders; and

WHEREAS research by Social Planning and Research Councils in Peels, Hamilton-Wentworth and Toronto into workfare programs in New Brunswick, Quebec, New York and New Jersey has found workfare to be very expensive and unsuccessful at moving people into the workforce, and has, therefore, concluded that workfare is doomed to failure in Ontario; and

WHEREAS The Ontario Association of Volunteer Centres has recently expressed concern for Workfare as "cheap, forced labour," and defined the principles of volunteerism to include "voluntary activity that is undertaken by choice..."

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Toronto Conference of The United Church of Canada:

Say No! to Ontario Works for the Province of Ontario;

Communicate this resolution and its rationale to the Minister of Community and Social Services and request the Ministry to ensure the provision of more voluntary training and employment programmes that recognize human dignity and worth;

Encourage congregations to find ways to stand in solidarity with the workers of the province in their efforts to guarantee job security, safety and benefits;

Encourage congregations also to find ways to stand in solidarity with the impoverished in our communities, in this painful time, in this opposition to Ontario works;

Strongly encourage all United church congregations and community based agencies in Toronto Conference to refuse to cooperate with or participate in Ontario works programmes.

Carried
September 24, 1996

The City of Kingston itself weighed in as well. This Kingstonian stood a little taller that day:

CITY OF KINGSTON, April 30, 1996

WHEREAS in 1976 both Canada and Ontario signed the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and

WHEREAS the covenant includes the following: "the right to work, which includes the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses to accept ...."; and

WHEREAS the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also declares in Article 23(1): "Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and protection against unemployment", and

WHEREAS through workfare programs people are forced to work for welfare level benefits, in direct contravention of these rights; and

WHEREAS workfare is based on the myths that people on welfare are unwilling to work and that there are jobs available; and

WHEREAS social service statistics from across Canada demonstrate that when jobs are available people on welfare apply for those jobs and get them; and

WHEREAS workfare keeps welfare recipients in poverty, forces them to take jobs of existing workfare at cheaper wages and, therefore, results in higher unemployment;

WHEREAS experience in Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick has proved that workfare is costly and not only fails to help people find work but replaces real jobs; and

WHEREAS it is becoming increasingly apparent that the province intends to download the administration of workfare to municipalities;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kingston immediately communicate the following to Premier Mike Harris and Minister of community and Social Services, David Tsubouchi:

That the City of Kingston requests that the province reconsider the position with respect to workers; and

That the Corporation of the city of Kingston is unwilling to serve as a pilot site for workfare in Ontario;

- and further -

BE IT RESOLVED that a copy of this motion be circulated to Ontario municipalities with populations of greater than 50,000.

The pride was short lived. This principled stand by the City of Kingston soon crumbled in the face of provincial government threats to withhold provincial funding transfers (including the 80% of municipal social services dollars that come from the province). They caved and sold out your legislatively guaranteed human rights for the money that you gave them. Your own tax dollars fashioned the noose of universally condemned human rights abuse around all of our necks and, if you were a welfare recipient, the City of Kingston promptly kicked the chair out from under you. Who will be next?

By 1999, Ontario Premier Mike Harris felt emboldened enough to tickle the palms of a corporate sponsor in his own riding:

Tories Creating Subclass of Slaves - March/99

Toronto based Omega Direct Response Inc. will fill 200 of 925 new jobs at a Sudbury Centre with Workfare placements. Omega will receive 1.35 million dollars for training and Community and Social Services Minister Janet Ecker says this is getting people jobs.

Protesters who descended on the centre disagreed. Gary Kinsman of the Sudbury Coalition for Social Justice called it a subsidy for business and virtual slave labour as Workfare placements do not get the minimum wage or a guarantee of basic rights and conditions. Antipoverty activists said working people were being used as slaves, being given to whichever company plays golf with Mike Harris.

Workfare in Canada has been condemned by the United Nations, and any responsible government would obey and stop this practice. The Harris government has no plans to give up Workfare and part of their election platform is a huge expansion of the program that will entirely alter the fabric of society and create a subclass of serfs lacking minimum pay and basic rights.

-Citizens on the Web - News

Part 2: Big Brother is Watching

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A Little History

Part 2: Big Brother is Watching