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Debit cards for 20,000 welfare clients in BC
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by Rob Peters | February 1, 2008 at 09:47 am
583 views | 2 Recommendations | 3 comments
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An interesting idea. Would a loaded card be a dangerous item to carry around in sketchier areas though?
The B.C. government plans to issue direct-debit cards to more than 20,000 welfare recipients who don't have a bank account.Each month, Victoria will load the welfare payments on to the debit cards, which can be used at any ATM or commercial outlet. The program, due to start later this year, is already in place in Alberta.
But Jean Swanson of the Carnegie Community Action Project has complained to the privacy watchdog that the government might track the transactions of recipients.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 12:39 on February 1st, 2008
Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff. Thanks for bringing this story out into the open. So now there will be no checks and balances on how the welfare relief money is being used like for the essentials of housing, food, and transportation.
at 21:15 on February 4th, 2008
great idea! As far as the possibility of money spent being tracked, great! Anyone receiving tax dollars, should be required to spend money in a responsible manner. I believe the debit cards should also be pictured id cards.
at 13:13 on April 25th, 2008
I am not sure waht Jean Swanson is concerned about. Accountability? I guess that is not part of her mandate.