Minister Chantal Rouleau’s desire to expand access to Objectif emploi could simply have delighted the father of this program, former Liberal minister François Blais. However, the latter warns that such a measure risks having mixed results.
“We simply have to be careful with our expectations,” says Mr. Blais, former minister and professor of political science at Laval University, in a memoir. The success of Objectif emploi, he says, stems in large part from the fact that it is aimed at young people and new social assistance recipients.
The latter are “easier to mobilize than all other providers”, he writes, adding that we cannot expect “the same results” with the others.
Objectif Emploi is a compulsory work reintegration program for people who register for social assistance. In exchange for a more advantageous service, participants must commit to undertaking training or a study program. Those who refuse see their check cut.
Significant costs
Launched into controversy in 2015 by former minister Sam Hamad, it was subsequently reviewed and deployed by Mr. Blais, who succeeded him at Social Solidarity. The program has since seen some success, with 60% of participants returning to the job market.
A success which convinced the Minister responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action, Chantal Rouleau, to expand access to people who are returning to social assistance.
During his visit to the parliamentary committee, Mr. Blais clarified that despite his reservations, he considers enlargement a “very good idea”. However, he judges that this “will entail significant costs”. With more uncooperative participants, he says, it will be necessary to find a way to “revoke” the bonuses offered to them along the way.
Objectif emploi has 7,354 participants according to statistics as of December 2023.
Women’s groups half reassured
Thursday morning, Minister Rouleau also sought to reassure women’s groups regarding the impact of the reform on abused women. The Federation of women’s shelters and the Regroupment of shelters for women victims of domestic violence feared that the transformation of bonuses for “employment constraints” into bonuses for “health constraints” would force women in shelters to obtain a doctor’s advice for help.
However, Minister Rouleau was categorical. “There is no question of that,” she said, emphasizing that equivalent aid would be granted to them under a regulation which will be presented later.
In addition, affected women could have access to the $161 bonus for longer, she indicated. These bonuses are given to people who are recognized as unfit to work.
According to the minister, the shift towards “health constraints” is necessary to better take into account the psychosocial problems which prevent them from having a job. She also argues that this will allow them to have access to reintegration programs.
Groups defending women victims of violence are, however, half-reassured, because their rights will be less well protected by regulation than in a law. “We see this as a regression,” declared Federation spokesperson Julie St-Pierre-Gaudreault.