As part of its release of the 2016 census data Stats Canada publishes a series of thematic maps that shed light on where poor people live. What it shows is you that there are a lot more people living in poverty in rural Nova Scotia than in Halifax.
Brenda Thompson on the city’s long history of pushing poor people out of sight on the very site of this week’s violent evictions. “The crappy treatment of poor people on this piece of land is historic.”
Kendall Worth profiles Nathan (not his real name), who tells Kendall about his tiny income assistance budget, his loneliness and his fragile mental health.
Kendall Worth: Even though in the lives of the people I advocate for “normal” may seem different from what rich people would consider normal, people living in poverty are very much looking forward to the day that things like in-person dining at soup kitchens etc are re-opened.
People on income assistance feel that if they had been in a relationship of some sort during the pandemic it would have made a world of difference in their lives. One obstacle is right in the Community Services policy manual, writes Kendall Worth.
Kendall Worth interviews Janice, a long time Nova Scotia ACORN member who lives on income assistance. Janice describes her experiences of being an ACORN member as nothing but positive.
Despite all the soundbites and nice words from Premier Rankin, he needs to show Nova Scotians that his actions will back his words if he wants to stay on as premier in the next election. The next provincial budget must show that good-paying jobs will bring stability to the economy.
Making involuntary movements, fidgeting, and talking to yourself are the kinds of things that draw the public’s attention, and next thing you know there’s police or security asking you to leave, writes Kendall Worth. That’s not fair.
Catherine Frazee: “There is never a good day to pass a bill this dangerous to disabled people, but doing so today is cruel. We have been fighting this bill non-stop for months. And now, instead of a chance to catch our breath and remember a document that says our lives and rights are important and should be supported and respected, the Canadian government is determined to communicate they aren’t and won’t be.”
Some 50 people rallied at Province House this morning to remind government MLAs that everyone has a right to a decent place to live and enough money to make ends meet.