Ideology - Workfare

Introduction
Workfare means programs that make people on welfare work or train as a condition of receiving assistance. There are several possibilities to accomplish this goal. The program can get people off welfare through real investment in education and childcare, for a permanent solution to the problem. The other alternative is to simply cut people off assistance if they can't get a job, and provide no meaningful investment in these people to make them marketable or to help them with childcare problems. Bill 40 was introduced by the Progressive Conservatives in Manitoba in 1999 but was rejected by the New Democratic Party when elected in September of 1999. Although Bill 40 did not become law in Manitoba, several other provinces have adopted similar laws and there seems to be a mindset across the country that workfare in some form is inevitable. Bill 40 does not offer any real investment in people; it is more concerned about the short term goal of reducing the welfare rolls. In...