N.B. Liberals abandoning promise to raise social assistance rates

A multimillion-dollar promise made to New Brunswick's poorest families during the 2006 election campaign is being quietly abandoned by the Liberal government.

Premier Shawn Graham said he has had second thoughts about raising social assistance rates in New Brunswick to the Atlantic Canadian average. Instead, the province is freezing them at their level this year. 

Graham championed the idea of substantially raising rates for those on welfare as Opposition leader and later during the 2006 election. 

He included it as a central promise in his election platform and personally told social assistance recipients during the campaign he would deliver on the pledge, which could cost up to $30 million. 

As well, Graham criticized former premier Bernard Lord for breaking election promises he had made, and committed during televised election debates to keep every one of his. But now, Graham said he may not keep his word on welfare rates.

"You know we were in Opposition when the platform was developed," Graham told CBC News, when asked about where the promise to the poor now stands.

"When you’re given better information, your opinion does change."

'Typical political spin'

Linda McCaustlin was on social assistance in 2006 and personally vouched for Graham on television during the campaign after he reassured her his promise on social assistance was real at an election event in Riverview. 

She's no longer on social assistance, but isn’t impressed the premier has changed his mind.  

"Typical political spin. Promise anything," McCaustlin says. "I think its disgusting."

New Brunswick has long had some of Canada’s lowest social assistance rates. 

The National Council of Welfare, in its latest report released last summer, said in 2007 that New Brunswick paid the lowest amount by far to single, employable adults at $3,258 a year. That rate alone would have to double to reach the Atlantic average. 

The amount available to a couple with two children was also lowest in the country at $11,595, and would have to increase 22 per cent. Rates paid to single adults with a disability were tied for the worst with Alberta, and required a 14 per cent increase to get to the Atlantic average. 

The one category New Brunswick did not rank last in was amounts available to single parents with one child. At $9,909 a year, that was listed as Canada's sixth best rate.  However, it would still require a 10.6 per cent  increase to get to the Atlantic average, according to the council.

In April, 39,097 New Brunswick residents were living on social assistance, and about 35 per cent of them were children.

Mother disappointed by Graham

Lisa Morris, a mother of three who gets $927 a month from the province, said she is disappointed by Graham's change of heart.

"I'm on assistance and I know I'm a burden," said Morris. 

"We get looked down upon with our big cheques at the bank. It’s not something that's hidden. It’s out there and we face it every day, and to go out there and have to bare ourselves to the government just to have them not listen, it's not worth it at all."

Social assistance rates in New Brunswick were increased by two per cent in October 2006, part of a budget commitment made by the previous government. Graham's government then increased rates three per cent in October 2007 and three per cent again in October 2008, but provided no money in its March budget for an increase this year.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau has said the worldwide economic crisis and his decision to launch large-scale income tax cuts is forcing restraint in other government services.