Dalhousie Legal Aid Society Archives - Page 2 of 2

How dare you! Brenda Thompson on welfare activism in the eighties

March 14, 2017 4 Comments

Brenda Thompson was a welfare activist in Halifax in the eighties. Being a single mom who spoke her mind rather than know her place, she became the target of vicious attacks by the then minister of social services Edmund Morris. But Morris went too far, she took him to court, and won. We talk to Thompson about an especially vibrant period in Nova Scotia welfare activism, the strong support of the feminist movement, Alexa, journalism, slut shaming, and lots more.

The right to not go hungry. NDP proposes changes to Human Rights Act

October 19, 2016 2 Comments

“To have a roof over your head and to not go hungry are fundamental human rights,” NDP leader Gary Burrill told the Nova Scotia Advocate to explain the party’s proposed amendments to the Human Rights Act. Lawyer Claire McNeil tells us why this would be a very significant change, and one that is long overdue.

“All I am trying to do is live my life.” Disabled woman fights bureaucrats and politicians

August 4, 2016 1 Comment

Gerianne Hull, who has cerebral palsy, is fighting to get additional home care supports so that she can continue to live an independent life in the community. Leo Glavine, the minister of Health and Wellness, says no, rules are rules. It appears that one of those rules is that you can’t appeal those rules with an independent arbitrator.

Special needs program in dire straits, poverty advocates tell MLAs

June 20, 2016

In Nova Scotia people on welfare in need of extra supports for health reasons don’t count for much, poverty advocates told members of the Community Services Standing Committee.