Public Housing in Nova Scotia: I never experienced something this terrible
Check out Jodi Brown’s video for a glimpse into the horrible living conditions faced by two seniors both in their late sixties who live in a public housing unit in Halifax.
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Holes in our social safety net — The social determinants of health, part 6
In this final part of our series on on the social determinants of health Alex Kronstein argues that a strong social safety net promotes health, but Canada, like so many other countries, has fallen victim to a neoliberal approach that’s all about “the financialization of everything.” Nonetheless, various Nova Scotia organizations continue to address the social determinants of health.
Kendall Worth on volunteering in an election campaign
Last month our regular contributor Kendall Worth tried his hand at volunteering for the Lisa Roberts campaign. Sounds like he gained lots of valuable experience and did some great networking. And everybody wins, as Kendall will be able to advise the NDP on poverty and welfare issues, which he knows about from experience.
Provinces not ready as Fentanyl arrives in the Maritimes
New contributor Cathy Boyce, who lives in New Brunswick, takes a look at the fentanyl crisis on the East Coast and considers the totally inadequate response of the Maritime provinces.
How hunger and bad housing make you sick —The social determinants of health, part 4
Homelessness, housing in bad repair and malnutrition can make you sick, both physically and mentally. Yet when we talk about healthcare we rarely talk about addressing root causes and mostly focus on things like wait lists and doctor shortages. Although tremendously important issues, we should not forget about these social determinants of health, says regular contributor Alex Kronstein.
Education and early childhood development — The social determinants of health, part 3
Just in time for the provincial election Alex Kronstein continues his investigation of the social determinants of health with a look at education and early childhood development. This is very important stuff.
A small step, but a very important step — Judge gives go ahead to Harrietsfield private prosecution
Harrietsfield resident Marlene Brown decided to start a private prosecution of the polluters of her and her neighbors’ wells. A judge decided she has a case. This will be the first private prosecution to enforce environmental laws in Nova Scotia. Brown feels she had no choice, since the Department of Environment wasn’t enforcing its own ministerial orders.
Walk in our shoes for a month! People on welfare rally in Joanne Bernard’s constituency
On Saturday people on income assistance and their friends marched through North Dartmouth, the constituency of Community Services minister Joanne Bernard, and rallied near her campaign headquarters at the Dartmouth Shopping Centre. “I would tell Bernard, please have pity on us, treat us like human beings, that is all we want,” said one of the protesters.
Making living in community real — Thoughts around a conversation with a senior bureaucrat
Kimberly Smith, proud father of Brendon, a 28 year old man who is labeled as living with developmental disabilities, writes about a conversation he had with Joe Rudderham, the executive director of the Disability Support Programs at Community Services. The interview is included. “As for the developmentally challenged and elderly, we are definitely heading toward a monumental iceberg and time to act is running out. We do not have to crash and sink in poverty and illness… We can rise up and help each other prosper,” writes Smith.
Sick of your job —The social determinants of health, part 2
You often don’t get sick in a vacuum. Having a stressful job, a mind numbing job, or maybe one that doesn’t make you feel appreciated, are all things that affect your health. The same is true for being unemployed. For part two of a series on the things that make you sick contributor Alex Kronstein focuses on unemployment and job security, and employment and working conditions.