Conservative Opposition Slams NDP for Failing Youth in Care While $300K Was Spent on Swag

No SAJE Rent Supplements Paid Since February 2024:  Opposition Slams NDP for Failing Youth in Care While $300K Was Spent on Swag

Claire Rattée, MLA for Skeena and Official Opposition Critic for Mental Health and Addictions, revealed during a recent Finance Committee meeting that no rent supplements have been paid under the SAJE program since February 2024, despite the program being legislated two months later.

The discovery came during public testimony from a woman who described how vulnerable youth, including Indigenous youth, are being denied housing support while ministry staff admit they don’t know when payments will resume.

SAJE (Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment) was meant to provide up to $600/month for two years, with half the funding reserved for Indigenous youth aging out of care. Instead, no payments have been made since February 2024, the September intake was skipped, and frontline staff have received no direction. Meanwhile, the government spent nearly $300,000 on SAJE-branded socks, bags, and flyers — while eligible youth are being turned away without answers.

“People don’t need swag — they need housing,” said Rattée. “The government is spending public money on promo gear while youth are left with nothing.”

Amelia Boultbee, MLA for Penticton–Summerland and Critic for Children and Family Development, said: “The government passed a law, promised support, and then quietly stopped delivering it. Meanwhile, frontline staff are left in the dark and vulnerable youth are being turned away. How is that leadership?”

Heather Maahs, MLA for Chilliwack North and Critic for Indigenous Child and Family Services, said: “Indigenous youth were supposed to be prioritized. Instead, they’ve been abandoned, again. This is unacceptable.”

Reann Gasper, MLA for Abbotsford–Mission and Critic for Children and Youth with Support Needs, added: “This government promised to walk with youth as they age out of care. Instead, they’ve left them to fend for themselves with nothing but branded merch.”