A Brief on the Effects of Inflation on Welfare Recipients
Presented to P.E.I. Cabinet Ministers

Publisher:  Social Action Commission, Diocese of Charlottetown, Charlottetown
Year Published:  1976   First Published:  1976
Pages:  14pp  
Resource Type:  Article/Report/Letter
Cx Number:  CX249

An exploration the situation of those Islanders most harshly affected by the effects of inflation and legislation governing wage and price controls.

Abstract:  There is no need of poverty in our affluent society, but it exists because our political and economic institutions are designed not only to maintain existing poverty, but to foster it. In P.E.I., the present budget for Social Assistance Payments does not adequately serve the relief of distress and misery, improvement of living standards, the development of individual persons and equal chances in life for all. In short, the needs of the poor are not being met. It is the purpose of this brief to explore the situatio n of those Islanders most harshly affected by the effects of inflation and legislation governing wage and price controls. For the most part those people make up the marginal labour pool; they are the seasonally employed, fishermen, small farmers, field and plant workers and those working in the service level of the tourist industry. They represent a large number of the working poor who are, for the most part, unorganized: they have no income protection nor job security. In addition there are approximately 1250 children in poor one parent families; children represent 46% of the total welfare asistance caseload in P.E.I.

Subject Headings

• Inflation
• Social Welfare