Concerns... as the House Continues to sit
By Kendall Worth!
The community-of-people-living-in-poverty is hoping for a change of heart from the Premier on Tuesday August 2nd, 2022, when the legislature continues its mid-summer sitting!
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| N.S. Premier Tim Houston |
As I had reported here the house started sitting on July 26th for a rare Summer Sitting.
When the Tim Houston government first got elected, I wrote an article about how PC governments are Always Very Scary. Lately, I have heard from some people -- “We believe that Tim Houston called the house back, to debate a report from an independent panel. Independent panels are outside of government, and so their reports are not generally “debated”, or voted on. I suggest he is calling the House back in, just hoping to gain political popularity.”
Even MLA Gary Burrill feels that way. Here is a Video that illustrates Gary Burrill’s good point that what the government should be looking at is poverty and its growth due to inflation. In this video Gary attacks the government for the way it is behaving. Looking at that Video, I say “Good for you Gary, for calling the Premier – Premier Partridge”
Recently, people have been telling me, especially from this sitting of the Legislature, that Tim Houston is missing the real point, the real issues, that should be addressed in the House. Yes we all do agree that MLA’s do not need a raise right now. MLA’s make $89K a year and that is $77K higher that what people on Income Assistance make in a year.
But, as Gary Burrill says, in Nova Scotia, there are more foodbanks than McDonalds, Wendys and Tim Horton's combined? -- Doesn't surprise me because I keep hearing from informants that foodbank usage in Nova Scotia is, and has been, on the rise. The #1 point Government keeps missing is that if we should have a better system of Income Assistance, or if we had a better system – maybe a Guaranteed Basic income program with higher rates of support? If Nova Scotians had enough money to cover their own living expenses then we would not need all those extra food banks!!
I have had, over this past year, conversations with people who told me they voted PC “for solutions”. I want you to have a look at the following statements, then ask yourself the question --- where are the Solutions in this?
In the Last Budget which was the first budget under the Tim Houston Government Income Assistance rates did not increase!
Time Houston promised in his Platform he would fix the health care system, but since his election things in the healthcare system have only got worse.
Almost 100,000 Nova Scotians are still without a Family Doctor.
In Nova Scotia over the past several months, we are seeing an alarming increase in the Homeless Population and not enough action from Government to address this. They just dabble here and there with hotel rooms and some funds for non-profits…and NO rent control on vacant units.
During this rare summer sitting we are seeing no attention from Government on the real issues.
So look at all the statements above and ask yourself… Where are the solutions? Simply -- there are none.
People, I advocate for, and write about, had hopes and dreams for this rare summer sitting. They were hoping that during this “Emergency Debate”, the PC Government would address inflation and poverty, and provide a relief package of some sort to address and help with Inflation. None of this seems to be happening. During question period at this so called Emergency sitting, the Liberals and the NDP both brought up inflation and how inflation is affecting people these days. The Premier is showing no interest in wanting to listen to the Opposition in this matter. The Finance minister is saying “we will keep monitoring the Inflation Issue/Situation”. But, Nothing is being done!
What Next?
Lets hope the Premier and Finance Minister shows a change of heart when the House returns on Tuesday.
Unlikely to happen, but wait and see!
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