As of September 2010 there are 40,570 people in the Province of New Brunswick living on Social Assistance as per Average Monthly Caseloads and Recipients 2010-2011 from the Department of Social Developments' website. While the 2006 census indicated that 100,740 NB citizens were living in poverty. These mainly fall into three categories: social assistance recipients, low-income workers and senior citizens facing medical problems and the majority of people from these three categories were left out of the Plan.
As per the New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan “OVERCOMING POVERTY TOGETHER" There are 107,640 seniors in New Brunswick and approximately 11,733 of them (10.9%) are living below the poverty line. There is nothing in the Plan to help them financially. They state in the report by 2015, our government will achieve one of the Plan’s objective, namely to move 25% of its citizens (25,185 people) out of poverty.
Do you think this is achievable?
The only move so far was for In November 2009, there were 38,972 New Brunswickers on social assistance: 1,200 were in the “Interim” category, 30,582 were in the “Transitional” category and 6,740 in the “Extended benefits” category. The Plan only helped the 1,200 of those in the Interim category (3%) by adding $294 to their monthly cheque. As for the 97% others, the present government failed to even include a 2% rate increase in its 2010-2011 budgets to help them out. Therefore, over 37,000 poor NB citizens were totally left out of the Plan, at least until April 2011.
As per the “New Brunswick Labour Force Statistics" from August 2010 there were in the Province of New Brunswick 57,000 part-time workers, Involuntary Part-time 5200, Underemployed 50,900 , Waiting 7,000, Discouraged 1,300+.
So let’s look at Saint John: Enterprise Saint John lists the major employers so let’s see if it is not just fluff or some real grit in it.
1000 + employees:
Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation - Besides Doctors, Nurses or degreed positions nothing is listed via their website. The only way is to call or go there and through phone conversations 56% of the employment obtainable is casual or on call basis, average wage is $10.50 to $16.32. No health benefits are included on casual basis.
Bell Aliant - Cannot find any job postings and through speaking to four middle level managers will not talk to you unless you have a minimum of a 4 year degree. Three of the 4 stated they are taking our jobs here and moving them to Ontario.
City of Saint John - It is like pulling teeth to get a straight answer from them when you call to enquire about work for those who do not possess a university degree.
Wyndham Worldwide Canada (Cendant) - $9 -$12 to start. 94% are shift work and general start time is 4 to 5 pm working till 12 am to 1am. Not good is your a person that needs daycare. They have also been sued several times for Employment Breaches but require the people to sign a non disclosure or they will not receive the money owed to them. General leave of absences are from stress or stress related to direct employment. They do sit on Enterprise Saint John and received awards for being an employer of choice.
Then we look at employers 500-999
NB POWER- Point Lepreau Generating Station - If you are a unionized worker easy to get work but coming to a halt by 2012 as this is the estimate the government says they will finally have Point Lepreau up and running. Wages are $16- $54 per hour depending on your trade.
Sitel - Is one of the call centers in the city that have been said by many that work there one of the best. That employee’s state they actually like working for them as they treat most people with respect and not as a number.
Xerox Canada Ltd.\National Call Centre - Hiring currently $12 per hour jobs. They have been deemed one of the best call center atmospheres’s to work in. After speaking to nine ex-employees on why they left their positions I found out the higher paying jobs that are above poverty level that the demands for results were increased as they performed and met their employment criteria.
As far as the 100-199 jobs this is what Enterprise Saint John has listed:
CentreBeam, Eddie Bauer(closed); Fleetway Inc(no one answers phones),Harbour Station (minimum wage - $11 per hour); ICT Canada ($9-$11),Resolve (formerly NCH)($11 per hour); Saint John YM-YWCA (skeleton crew until new one is built).
So if we look at what employment is available in Saint John you have little selection to make above the Poverty Line, Call Centers, Irving or Minimum Wage? Seems in Saint John to get out of poverty you need a 4 year degree that costs $50,000, so you are put into poverty before you actaully have a job. So to achieve significant poverty reduction, strong political commitment and a democratic process are essential. So why do I bring up democratic process The Premier and 50 people selected by him attended Phase III, the final forum. The event was held in November 2009 and this group had the final word on the content of the Plan. So handpicked people of the Premier that never lived a day in Poverty got to decide what poverty is. Do you think this is undemocratic or as I always say Prove Me Wrong?
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