This paper examines popular attitudes toward welfare recipients in the province of Saskatchewan from 1970 until 1990. Rather than analyzing government policy, it uses as its primary sources the two largest and most significant newspapers in the province - the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. In particular, the paper focuses on the issue of "productivity" and how this notion has entered the welfare debate in order to further "value" the contribution of welfare recipients to society.