Business is booming but they don’t want it that way.
The Director of Social Services for Bruce County, Terry Sanderson, there are more people on social assistance this year, than last.
Sanderson says the caseload is up 18 per cent and he describes that as a sizeable increase.
He says in numbers, in February, the caseload was 580 compared to 493 in the same month in 2009.
Sanderson says the recession has had a lot to do with their increased numbers, although he points out they’re not busy with applications but people are staying on benefits longer because of the lack of jobs.
He says the increase in social assistance, although “sizeable” is not “unmanageable.”
Sanderson is hoping that as the weather gets better, the job market will as well which should reduce their caseload.