Dumb and Dumber Government Rules

This commentary describes the range of barriers that arise as a result of ‘dumb’ rules associated with various government programs. At the federal level, tighter eligibility criteria for Employment Insurance mean that many jobless Canadians have no access to the training funds embedded in the program. The difficulty in accessing training makes it harder for the unemployed to find new work. Welfare rules create barriers to moving off that program. For example, welfare applicants may be required to sell their tools of trade and use the proceeds for their support. This practice makes it difficult for them to return to paid work. Provincial rules with respect to disability supports frequently prevent independent living. Municipal by-laws often discourage self-employment. While governments talk about promoting self-sufficiency and encouraging productivity, the rules of many programs at the federal, provincial and municipal levels actually work against the attainment of these objectives.

ISBN – 1-894159-39-X