By Kendall Worth!
This Blog is about my invitation to Minister Carla Qualtrough to have a look at some things. . .
Hon. Mininster Carla Qualtrough
I will start with asking you to see the May-tree Report that explores welfare incomes and benefits across Canada. While looking at this report myself this morning, I discovered that there is a section in this report that displays the welfare rates across Canada. Welfare Recipients in Nova Scotia know through their personal experience, on the system, that the report reflects their reality. Recently, contacts in Ontario and in Alberta, who read my journalism and commentary, brought to my attention, that they are are experiencing the same issues as we are, here in Nova Scotia.
In this article from 2019, I wrote to then federal Minister Jean-Yves Duclos to congratulate him on his decision to appoint a National Advisory Committee on Poverty. I see that the members were finally appointed in July of this year, but the people who live in poverty in Halifax have heard nothing about this committee. A more concerted effort to get information to those who live in poverty is required. They do not have easy access to internet at home, phones, or electronic info! In this letter I bring to then Federal Minster Jean-Yves Duclo’s attention the issues we as welfare recipients face in Nova Scotia.
Including:
workers abusing clients, especially those who need the most help;
encountering barriers full of bureaucratic nonsense and systemic problems while trying to qualify for what support is available;
promotes that living life with social isolation is OK;
causes ESIA clients to develop depression and anxiety while receiving income assistance;
does not provide enough money to live on;
requires caseworkers to know too much personal information about clients.
Here is the First Open letter I ever wrote to you about the Disability Benefit. In today’s letter I am asking you to see the Employment Support and Income Assistance Policy Manual in Nova Scotia.
Minister, as you read through that manual, you will find lots of detail that builds the case for improving the $950.00 standard household rate, in Nova Scotia, some of which I outline below. What is needed is the same $2000 a month offered through the CERB, or better yet, as suggested here -- a $2500 a month living allowance.
The reason, Minister, why I am extending the invitation for you to look at the Nova Scotia Employment Support and Income Assistance Policy Manual, is to see the evidence that Persons with Disabilities in Canada, in order to qualify for Provincial income Assistance, do not have a right to protect their assets for the future . Chapters 5 and 6 (page 30 – 84) outlines the various requirements to be eligible for Income Assistance. Sections also clarify what assets we are allowed to keep, what assets effect the amount we are allowed to keep on Income Assistance, and can even allow a worker to disqualify someone up-front. Further, in these same chapters it clarifies what income is deducted from your assistance, and what is clawed back. Here is an article covering local N.S. MLA , Susan Leblanc, trying to fight the 100% claw-back from Employment Insurance.
As I pointed out above – I have contacts in other provinces and everyone I talk to agrees that Income Assistance, “welfare” as the May-tree report calls it, is not enough to live on, no matter where you live in Canada. Furthermore, I hear that in Ontario, Alberta, and possibility in other provinces, you do have to declare your assets in-order to qualify for income assistance. As I wrote about in a previous post, sadly there is no right in Canada, that protects Persons with Disabilities from having to declare their assets to provincial Income Assistance systems.
The implementation of Bill C22 – its introduction and passage - is providing an opportunity to have a National conversation on Rights for Persons with Disabilities.
My whole point, Minister Qualtrough, is that, if there was right in Canada that protected Persons with Disabilities from having to use these assets to qualify for Income Assistance and protected those 100% claw-backs from provincial programs, then many persons with disabilities would not be in the mess they currently find themselves in.
Lets keep working for a better system.
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