Released on June 17, 2002
May marked the 90th straight month that welfare caseloads have decreased,Social Services Minister Glenn Hagel announced today.
"For seven and a half years, fewer Saskatchewan people have relied on
social assistance than compared to the same month in the previous year,"
Hagel said. "This unprecedented reduction is the result of focused
government efforts that assist welfare recipients to enter the workforce
and provide additional support for low income earners."
Between May 2001 and May 2002, welfare caseloads in Swift Current declined
by three per cent. Provincially, caseloads declined by eight per cent and
the number of people living in households receiving assistance fell by nine
per cent over the same period.
Hagel attributed this record decline to two factors.
"Since 1997, Building Independence has helped 6,000 families, including
13,000 children, leave the welfare rolls," Hagel said. "Furthermore,
nonagricultural sectors of the economy have produced 35,000 jobs over the
last six years."
"Building Independence works because it removes the barriers people on
welfare experience when they try to take advantage of the economic
opportunities that exist in our province," Hagel said. "Based on this
success, we are expanding Building Independence to further support people
as they move from assistance to employment. This includes 150 new day care
spaces across the province for low income parents and the recently-
announced Jobs First program."
-30-
For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Saskatchewan Social Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-8689