The following interview with BC minister of social development and poverty reduction and Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons was conducted on December 21, 2020, following the end of the most recent legislative session.
Peak: How has the transition been into your new ministerial role? Did you expect this appointment after the election?
NS: The premier (John Horgan) and I had a discussion. He knew that I was interested in increasing my voice in government policy. I told him my desire would be to be one of the ministers in the social service sector ministries. When he called me after the election, I was very pleased. I didn’t know what to expect, and it was one of my preferred roles, for sure.
Peak: How would you describe your broad vision for tackling the poverty reduction portfolio over the coming year?
NS: I don’t know that the strength of the [BC NDP] majority will change the direction. My goal is to ensure that our public service and the policies affecting people on the caseloads in the jurisdiction of my ministry see their government as respectful, fair and responsive to the issues as they evolve.
Peak: The BC Recovery Benefit has encountered a number issues, including a website crash, and criticisms of the fact that it’s assessed based on 2019 incomes. Your ministry has also been criticized by the opposition and disability advocates for cutting the pandemic disability supplement from $300 to $150 per month. How are you addressing these issues?
NS: When the government announced the [BC Emergency Benefit for Workers] in March, people on income assistance or disability assistance and seniors weren’t eligible for that benefit. In response, our government instituted a supplement. It reflected the government’s notion that everyone needed to be given some support at that time.
This new program, the recovery benefit, was open to everyone receiving a lower income than $175,000. That’s 3.7 million British Columbians who are going to receive that benefit. With that, the ministry is instituting a supplement of $150 for the next three months.
So in effect, people will get more money. Everybody on assistance will be eligible ultimately for more money than they would have been just receiving the $300 supplement.
As much as some people have characterized it in a negative way, I see it as all these responses to the conditions are evolving, and I’m glad to say that I’ve heard some encouraging sounds about instituting a rate increase. We’ve heard both the premier and minister of finance [Selina Robinson] talk about the need for a longer term plan.
Peak: Some picked up on a recent comment by the premier that indicated there might be a permanent measure to replace the temporary supplement. When will we know more about that?
NS: People who have followed my career will know that I believe income assistance rates are too low, and I think the premier also made it even less opaque speaking to reporters subsequent to that quote [Vancouver Sun columnist Rob Shaw] mentioned, and talked about the need for this discussion to occur in cabinet.
My intention is to pursue rate increases. Whether I’m successful in the next budget or not I don’t know, but it’s part of our overall goal to reduce poverty by 25 per cent by 2024. That’s one of the targets of my efforts, around assistance rates.
Peak: Other reports have flagged issues experienced by people without bank accounts who are unable to receive supplement payments. How will you address this gap?
NS: In order not to raise expectations or make promises that I can’t fulfill, I would say, in January, there will be a system set up. Whether it’s the middle, end or close to the beginning, I don’t know. But I’m hoping for the middle of January.
Peak: Data from Statistics Canada showed half of those aged between 35 and 45 in the Powell River area with children have a family income with a median under $50,000. How do you see your ministry work addressing this local income gap?
NS: The answer to addressing these issues is complex and it’s one I think our government recognizes, not just the need to address it but the complexity of the response.
When you look at government’s initiatives, it would be fair to say that we just need to continue in that same direction and speed it up when we can.
Government is trying to make efforts to reduce the costs of some necessities. I would point out the elimination of the MSP (Medical Service Premiums), the GST tax credits, all of the child-care spaces that we’ve been announcing, (including) 150 in Tla’amin. I’m interested in seeing how we can help maybe make some of our programs more specific and more directionally focused.
Peak: How will you ensure your ministry work is balanced with your constituency work?
NS: Our office has always been strong on constituency work. It’s something that I think has been appreciated. We’re going to be advocating the way we have for the last 15 years, basically, making sure people’s voices get heard by the right people in government.
Maybe with a better government the demands on the constituency offices will decrease, but we’re there, and there are issues in the riding that are going to stay important. When the world is safer, there will be events for me to support and encourage and attend. I’m looking forward to all that as an MLA.