My Recent meeting/Interview with Dartmouth
North MLA Susan LaBlanc!
By Kendall Worth!
On Thursday March 23th 2022, Susan Leblanc, MLA for Dartmouth North, and I had a sit-down meeting where we were catching up. The following reflects my interview with her and some comments on the past and future of IA rates, and more.
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| Kendall Worth and MLA Susan Leblanc. Photo: Kyle Buott |
Question #1:
If 10 years ago I was living in Dartmouth North and I was then paying $590.00 a month for rent, what do you think I would be paying today if I was still living at my old Dartmouth North address?
Response:
“Kendall, you would probably be paying at least $1000.00 a month for rent if you were living in Dartmouth North today.”
Getting this answer does not surprise me. Susan and I talked about this scenario in this September 2019 article from the Advocate. At that time Susan talked about how her Constituency office has been seeing evidence that Dartmouth North soon would no longer be one of the lowest rent neighbourhoods, in this city.
Susan also touched on the $100.00/mo increase in the IA rates that happened under Ian Rankin during his short time of being Premier. Susan and I both agreed that this $100 increase was next to nothing in terms of helping people, when the cost of rent is so high, and the cost of food increasing.
Question #2
Susan, through your experience of being an MLA for 5 years or so, and I know you read me in the Advocate and now on my blog, and, as someone I know wants to see change ... thinking about the issues I have raised over the years, did you find that some issues were more difficult to raise in sittings of the House?
Response:
“Kendall, difficulty in raising the various issues was never the problem during sittings. The problem was always the difficulty in resolving the issues that I have raised in the house.
As an example, on multiple occasions Susan raised the issue of 100% of EI being “clawed back” by Social assistance. As a matter of fact different articles were written in the Nova Scotia Advocate about how Susan Leblanc tried to resolve that one. It has never resulted in a resolution in favour of AI recipients.
https://nsadvocate.org/2018/10/26/kendall-worth-100-percent-ei-clawbacks-are-100-percent-wrong/ raises the issue of EI getting clawed back at 100% from Income Assistance cheques.
https://nsadvocate.org/2019/01/24/kendall-worth-community-services-must-stop-taking-all-ei-benefits-and-self-employment-earnings-from-people-on-income-assistance/ A petition to stop Employment Insurance Benefits from getting clawed back at 100% from AI cherques. Lisa Roberts, (Ex-NDP- MLA) was also involved and supportive of the fight Sue started.
https://nsadvocate.org/2019/04/01/kendall-worth-our-anti-clawbacks-petition-was-tabled-at-province-house/ Evidence that the issue we were trying to resolve could not get resolved.
https://nsadvocate.org/2019/02/25/kendall-worth-knocking-on-doors-with-gary-burrill-to-sign-our-petition-against-the-claw-backs/ Gary Burrill pitched in and showed his support for this issue.
Question #3.
How would you describe how Dartmouth North people-living-in-Poverty, made out and lived life during COVID restrictions and lock-downs?
Response:
“There was a lot of increased isolation during COVID restrictions. Day Programs being closed and Soup-Kitchens doing “take out only” added fuel to the fire of that increased isolation. Some people collected CERB and found out they did not qualify. They ended up having to pay it back. “
Question #4.
How would you describe the issues that are happening to the community of people living in poverty in Dartmouth North these days?
Response:
“While things in some areas have become different, I would not say anything got any better. Problems arose when Department of Community Services changed its system. Some people who tried to get back on the ESIA system following collecting CERB, have been having difficulty getting through to DCS Caseworkers.
“Advocating for, but not seeing, change is hard on the mental health of those Dartmouth North residents living in poverty.”
Question #5
What are current concerns in Dartmouth North?
Response:
“Well Kendall concerns these days come at me from everywhere – from up and down, left and right. The increased homeless population is the most concerning. I worry that more of my constituents who are currently housed, are going to be joining the homeless population sooner rather than later, if nothing is done.”
Anyway I will end this by saying it has been great catching up with Susan. She continues to support wanting to see change that will benefit the community I advocate for… .
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