Question Period Antics

I managed to find the time to sneak in to watch Question Period on Thursday. It was interesting to see the heckling and face-making that is usually missed on the telecast. It also gave me the chance to hear this little gem from Alberta Treasury Board President Lloyd Snelgrove in response to a question from Calgary-Varsity MLA Harry Chase on Child Poverty:

Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is no excuse for child poverty in abundant Alberta. Sixty-four thousand Alberta children are living in poverty. Although more Albertans are employed now during this time of incredible economic prosperity than ever before, full-time work at minimum wage does not permit an escape from poverty.

To the President of the Treasury Board: with the paltry increase of 40 cents bringing the minimum wage to a mere $8.40 an hour, how can this government continue to justify token wage increases instead of establishing a realistic living wage which would act as an effective tool in ending child poverty?

Mr. Snelgrove: Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a very poor family. We looked after each other, and we looked after our neighbours. There were very few government programs of any kind to do it. There was a certain pride that was developed amongst our community and each other in how we had to lift one another up. The hon. member is well aware that the minimum wage was never designed nor will it ever be an amount of money that you can raise a family on. In many ways it's an educational learning experience for some. It brings people with limited skills into the workforce, and it accomplishes that very well.

Unfortunately, I was too astounded by what I had just heard to check over my shoulder to see what the group of women from churches across Alberta (present at the Leg on to present a petition on this very issue) thought of that comment.

There are times when the differences between the parties are minute –should we cut taxes by 1% or 2; should this program get $1 million in funding or $1.5 million. This is not one of those times.

With all due respect to the honorable member, when we are talking about CHILD POVERTY, I think meeting basic necessities like food, clean water, and shelter should be met first, then we can worry about pride. Comments like this expose the belief by certain members of the PC caucus that poverty is simply due to people being too lazy to grab a hold of the “Alberta Advantage”, rather than recognizing the roles systemic inequalities in our society and mental illness play with respect to poverty. In a province as wealthy as Alberta, this SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.

But hey, it’s an educational experience. That’ll teach em not to be poor.