I was two blocks away when a guy with a gun entered the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) Building a week ago and took 9 hostages and held them for 10 hours. The hostage situation was national news and continues to have the spotlight here in Alberta. He appeared in court yesterday and what disturbs me about all of this is how many people are turning up to support him.
Most Albertans know people who have been through the WCB system and a lot appear to have negative experiences. My dad is on compensation because of his cancer and he got a far less settlement than he should have. But a lot of people are using this hostage situation to show dissatisfaction with the government and are angry that the WCB is unresponsive to their needs and not providing everything they believe they are entitled to.
The WCB is a provincially mandated insurance company. It does not receive provincial funds, it only follows provincial legislation. The WCB makes money by charging premiums to companies. The goal of any insurance company is to minimize payouts so they can minimize premiums. In the unfortunate situation of a mishap, the WCB should be there for Albertans who need it. But is insurance, not a government handout.
Albertans are very fiscally minded and insist that any government institution should be fiscally responsible. There is never enough resources to provide for all the services citizens may demand. I get a lot of requests from people who want to start a business who believe that there are lots and lots of start-up grants out there. In Alberta, I can say that there is exactly $0 dollars available for start up businesses. Instead, the private sector provides the financing or you need to save up or put a second mortgage on your house. Many businesses fail in the first years of start up. If government were to offer grants, they would be losing a lot of money in failed enterprises. This is not a wise use of resources, especially when people are finding the capital they need to start a business without government interference.
I'm now going to oversimplify things to make a point (doesn't every blogger take this liberty?) The government plays a very important and complex role in the labour market. First of all, it's a very large employer. Second, it provides leadership. Third, it makes sure citizens are supported to make positive contributions. Government cannot afford to support all it's citizens financially, that's why we need a vibrant private sector. A private sector that is encouraged to make a profit. The private sector needs to contribute with it's tax dollars and WCB insurance contributions, but it cannot be hobbled by this. There needs to be a balance.
The government does provide services to citizens, but there is only so much money and so there is only so much they are able to provide. But some people feel they're entitled to government assistance for whatever reason. I do agree that citizens are entitled to service, but the government cannot provide an unlimited level of service - like fully funded schooling. The same goes for WCB. Yes, it would be nice that if every injured worker got money to live out the rest of their days in comfort, but unfortunately, there just isn't the resources to do it.
Of course, people should expect to receive excellent service from their government services. They should not be tossed around or kept chasing a string in a false hope that they'll receive benefits. And some people are mistreated by government. It's the mistreatment that bothers me. Since government employees are paid by tax dollars, the public is entitled to excellent service. The training should be in place to provide this service. But excellent service does not neccessarily mean money. If you are entitled to the money through a fair and transparent process - sure. But if you are not, that does not mean you should hold 9 people hostage to try and get what you want.
The truth is, the guy who took the hostages was a coke head with huge anger management issues. He felt he was entitled to more than what he was assessed for. Now, I don't know if he was mistreated by staff or not. But even if he was, talking a gun and holding 9 hostages to make a point does not make him a hero. The staff does their job with the rules they are given. Are the rules perfect? Of course not. But there are means to get involved and change the rules. But 3.5 million people have their opinion, and those 3.5 don't understand the complexities involved in allocating resources.
Now, I hope that those who are involved with the WCB and other government departments realize that there is dissatisfaction with government agencies and that these agencies become more responsive to the people. But in no way should a mad man with a gun dictate government policies.
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