Joanne Bernard wants to be the new premier of Nova Scotia. “Many people on income assistance, including myself, lost respect for her within weeks of her getting appointed as the Minister of Community Services,” writes Kendall Worth.
In Nova Scotia people who were on social assistance while working part time were told by Community Services to apply for CERB. Now that CERB is ending they are worried and have many questions. Kendall Worth speaks out.
“She said she was flipping through my book about Poor Houses. “Who is this?” I asked. “Oh I’m not going to tell you” she said “for confidentiality reasons.” Brenda Thompson on some of the feedback on A Wholesome Horror, Poor Houses in Nova Scotia.
Kendall Worth speaks with NS NDP leader Gary Burrill and others about CERB. Early on in the COVID lockdown people on income assistance who held part time jobs were told by Community Services to apply for CERB. For the time being they receive more money, but there have been lots of headaches.
Kendall Worth checks up with William, a man who lives with bipolar disorder, and is relieved to find out that he made it safely through the lock down.
Kendall Worth: “I have heard from several people on CERB who received an email on Thursday July 30 that has them very concerned, because it says people will lose CERB money they were counting on.”
I remember being taken aback when I first arrived in Nova Scotia a long time ago, reading the full names and addresses of people involved in the criminal justice system in the newspapers. In Holland, where I was born, identities of accused and even convicted people are never published. If it were up to me Canada would follow the dutch example, but I realize that’s asking for a huge change. That said, I would love to see a discussion about those cases where people are merely charged with a crime. Do we really need to know their names?
Things are looking up big time for two friends, Daryl and Darlene, who both try to make ends meet on income assistance, Kendall Worth reports. Nice to be able to report on some good news for a change.
Media release: Like all African Nova Scotian communities, North Preston, the largest Indigenous African Nova Scotian Community, has been besieged with racism and injustice.
Kendall Worth: “Winning the award and not having to make plans to be at my brother’s place made me feel I was living my life with a sense of self-worth for once. That is what I believe is the best birthday present I can give myself this year.”