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The UCP has won its legal battle against a former foster child, now single mother, to go ahead with cutting 500+ young people who grew up in govt care from supports to transition them to adulthood.
If this sounds cruel, it's because it is.
#ableg https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-wins-legal-bid-but-urged-to-take-care-when-cutting-benefits-to-young-adults-1.5890011
If this sounds cruel, it's because it is.
#ableg https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-wins-legal-bid-but-urged-to-take-care-when-cutting-benefits-to-young-adults-1.5890011
These are young people who experienced significant trauma & by the very fact of growing up in care, don't have the natural family or financial supports needed to transition successfully. Supports were available until the age of 24 before the UCP cut it to age 22. #ableg
Let's take a moment to let it sink in that not only does the UCP wants to save $ on the backs of vulnerable young people, but they fought hard & spent significant resources to do it. At no point did they pause to reconsider whether this was the moral thing to do. #ableg
One of Minister @rebeccakschulz's favourite things to say is that she believes they should focus on those "most in need". Putting aside that no one trusts the UCP to make that determination, these young people ARE the most in need. There is no doubt about that. #ableg
So now the question is will the govt go forward w/ this heartless cut immediately? It was supposed to take effect last April & the only reason it didn't was because of the now-overturned injunction granted due to the impact & cruelty of the cuts. #ableg
Will the UCP cut these young people off critical supports now *in a pandemic*? When ODs, suicides, financial insecurity & unemployment are on the rise? When 14 young people aged 18+ in the child welfare system have died in the last 9 months compared to 10 the entire year before?
Even if they delay implementing these cuts - because of the pandemic - what will change to make it OK in 6 months? A year? Given other program cuts by the UCP & the economic outlook under this govt, when is a good time for the UCP to cut supports to these young people?
The Premier has no regrets about gambling away $1.5 billion on KXL. But he fought tooth & nail to cut former foster children off critical supports that could be the difference between life & death for them.
I'm not being dramatic. This govt has no moral compass. #ableg
I'm not being dramatic. This govt has no moral compass. #ableg
