Paid Volunteers

[Swiss Miss]

Yup, seems the Libs want to give the provincial employees Paid Time Off if they volunteer at the Olympics.

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolo ... 9a&k=76767

As of about 1:30 this afternoon, BC Ferries said No to paid time off and stressed they will be busy. Same with the City of Vancouver and probably every other municipality around Vancouver/Richmond, same with the RCMP, BC Hydro had yet to respond.

So do you think you should get paid to volunteer? Isn't that an oxymoron

[Canadian]

Yup an oxymoron.

Why should they get paid to volunteer? It is not really volunteering if you are getting paid. I think it is a joke.

If people want to volunteer for the games that is fine but not this.

I don't think many or any private companies/corporations will pay people to volunteer.

I am puzzled by Campbell's decision on this. It is not as if there is or will be any shortage of people volunteering...

[Swiss Miss]

Colin Hansen is a complete idiot. He is trying to tell us that giving these people paid time off won't cost us anything Don't their salaries come from us taxpayers?

Also, what if someone gets hurt while volunteering? Teachers aren't covered by WCB if they get hurt during after school activities.

[peapod]

As you coasters probally know, this is not going over very well with BC taxpayers. I think gordon campbell believes he is a king now, any day I expect he will be wearing a crown. Why not pay the homeless to volunteer? The oylmpics is just a drug enhanced sports party, on the taxpayer dime.

[Timetrvlr]

The oylmpics is just a drug enhanced sports party, on the taxpayer dime.

Thanks for the laugh, good thing I didn't have a mouthful, it'd take all day to clean the keyboard!

Yesterday my wife and I were discussing this pearl of wisdom that Campbell spouted off with. We decided he must be taking lessons in Dumb Things from Bush. He always manages to make the wrong decision and waves his arms a lot.

[Swiss Miss]

Apparently there is going to be some issue with these paid employees and WCB. If they can't get enough volunteers, unpaid ones, then they should hire who they need.

Someone mentioned having the homeless work, same with people on welfare. They could help.

[Canadian]

"Paid" volunteers continue despite economic trouble

After admitting BC's in for some tough economic times, the provincial government has no plans to cancel a program giving staff paid time off to volunteer at the 2010 Olympics. Up to 300 government employees will be eligible.

Murray Coell, Minister responsible for labour market development,is defending the program.

"This is a long-standing program going back decades where governments have their staff learn from the Olympics and bring that back into government. They still need to be picked as their occupations are relevant to the games like all other British Columbians."

But NDP Olympic critic, Harry Bains, says paying staff to volunteer is yet another Olympic cost being hidden from BC taxpayers.

"Especially considering what's going on with the Vancouver athletes' village, what's going on with the economic meltdown in the world. People are worried about their futures, their jobs and the last thing they need is this premier continuing to offload more and more Olympic costs onto them without even telling them."

So far, the provincial government has rejected claims the true cost of hosting the Games could top $6 billion.

Too bad it looks like El Gordo will be re elected with even a larger majority next May...

Link