Released on October 29, 2002
September welfare caseloads in Saskatchewan reached their lowest levels inmore than decade.
Social assistance cases in September of this year totaled 29,569. This
marks the first time that social assistance caseloads have been below
30,000 in September since 1991. September caseloads also represent a
decline of more than 7 per cent from the same month in the previous year.
"People are leaving welfare for work at a pace unprecedented in this
province's history," Social Services Minister Glenn Hagel said.
Hagel attributed the decline to a strong provincial economy and the
Building Independence initiative.
"Since the first phase of Building Independence was fully implemented in
1998, 6,000 families, including 13,500 children, have left welfare for
work," Hagel said. "Furthermore, non-agricultural sectors of the economy
are creating record numbers of jobs, creating even more opportunity for low
income people to become independent."
Hagel noted a recent comparison of the western provinces and Ontario by the
Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan shows Saskatchewan had the second
largest decline in the incidence of family poverty between 1992 and 1999.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Social Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-8689