January 6, 2004
Kamloops Daily News





Picture this TV ad.  A toddler climbs stairs.   The toddler
morphs into a child, the child into teenager, teenager into
adult - - all of them climbing stairs.  A worker climbs a
ladder to a door marked "employee entrance" (from an
advertisement for Achieve BC paid for by the government of 
B.C.).

What are these dream-like ads from the government trying to
tell us?   And what is it costing taxpayers?

One dream interpretation of climbing stairs is "a change in
consciousness, or a change in understanding. In a more
material sense, it could represent a rise in economic or
social status."  The psychology for Achieve BC seems to be
about increased wealth and well-being.

Achieve BC is the brainchild of Premier Campbell and it's
costing more than he had originally hoped.  Campbell thought
that he could pay for it out of his office budget when the
cost was only $4.7 million.  But as soon as it hit $7.1
million, he shifted it to the budget of the Ministry of
Management Services where it remains buried.

Now the cost of Achieve BC is away from public view.  I
tried to find out the cost from the Standing Committee on
Finance and Government Services when they were in Kamloops
last October.   A committee member that he would find out
and let me know, but no word yet.

At first glance, I wonder why the government spent millions.  
I guess it's supposed to be inspirational.  You can watch a
video clip in which the premier says "Achieve BC is about
bringing out the best in all of us.  Whether it's new
parents wanting to give their children a healthy start in
life, workers striving to be the best in their profession,
or students planning for future opportunities - all of us
want to be the best we can."

Achieve B.C. only makes sense in combination with other
actions of this government.  When you couple it with
Campbell's plan for low-income British Columbians,  a bigger
picture immerges.  In a few months, he intends to cut-off
thousands from welfare. The B.C. Liberals refuse to say
exactly how many.  It's a worry to cities, who will suddenly
have thousands more homeless people.

The government's message seems to be "after you find
yourself with no means of support, check out Achieve B.C.
for inspiration." Campbell's plan is a little short on
reality.

First, the poor don't lack motivation.  There's nothing like
the prospect of destitution to focus the mind on trying to
get a job.  The problem is that B.C. has one of the highest
unemployment rates in Canada.

Low income British Columbians are not likely to have a
computer and the internet service required to access the
Achieve BC website, in order to receive the premier's
wonderful inspirational message.  And if they had a TV and
saw the Achieve BC ad, they could easily mistake it for a
promotion for RRSP's.  Not they kind of stuff that would
interest someone who would buy groceries if they had any
money.

Those made homeless by this government face a big problem. 
Let's say that they have filled out an application. 
Potential employers are not likely to consider an
application that gives an address as a sleeping bag under a
bridge, or a cardboard box in a back alley.

It doesn't seem to occur to the premier that the barriers to
getting off welfare are affordable housing, education, and
access to health care.  But why would that occur to Campbell
when his home, powerful connections, and wealth are as
common as water is to a fish?

Or maybe the message of Achieve B.C. is not for those on
welfare after all.   It's a message to those of us with
computers and TVs, to let us know that the Campbell's
government has a plan, however flawed, to get people off the
welfare rolls.

And the poor also serve as a useful warning. Don't expect
higher wages or any improvement in your lives.  Cooperate,
or a sawmill or factory could be closing down in your town,
and the fate of the poor will befall you.

Speaking of jobs, here's a new one.  Thanks to my retirement
from UCC, a new person is employed.  I plan on putting more
time into my retirement project, Trio Technical.

go back to my Columns in the