My Psychedelic Welfare Cheque

I’m on welfare.

When you’re on welfare you are required to attend job training programs. The government wants welfare bums like myself off the dole and in the workforce.

The intake appointment was a group meeting. This ultra-casual, long-hair, “cool-guy” identified himself as the “meeting facilitator” and that he was also an “actor, writer and theatre producer.”

Everything about his demeanor exuded a casual, easygoing façade.

“Make yourself comfortable,” he said. “There are cookies, candies, and coffee out front. And if you go out there make sure you tell the secretary how good-looking she is!”

I could tell he wanted an easy, conflict free day.

JobWave BC, in British Columbia, Canada, which is owned by WCG International HR Solutions, has employment centres around the province. They help you with resumes, cover letters, and what they call “barriers to employment,” such as lack of housing, health issues, and lack of transportation.

It’s an example of the privatization of welfare, whereas welfare services are contracted out to private bidders who are offered financial incentive to get people off assistance and into the workforce. At the end of the day they are working not for the public good, but their shareholders.

“So, let’s get this started,” he chimed. “What do you all know about Job Wave?”

“I know they donated over $25,000 to the BC Liberal party,” I deadpan.

“Okay… I didn’t even know that,” he says.

You can see the financial reports here.

He continues on about how JobWave wants to remove barriers to employment such as housing, health issues, food costs and so forth.

“I think it’s very hypocritical that you mention those barriers as though you care about them,” I said.