Not Exactly what the Community was expecting!
By Kendall Worth!
On March 23rd The Provincial Budget was read announcing no increase in the N.S. income assistance rates. So on Tuesday March 28th 2023 when the federal budget was introduced, Nova Scotia Income Assistance Recipients were hoping for some relief from ultra low incomes, and inflation, from the Federal Budget. From the Federal Budget we got something, but really we got next to nothing.
The federal budget brought a one-time grocery store rebate. The Community I advocate for are saying that (as this blog post points out) with inflation out of control, this is not enough. So many people still waiting and hoping and desperately needing a Disability Benefit, NO Emergency Funds included with the Budget, as I pointed out the need for in this post. It is disappointing as only days and weeks prior to the Federal Budget Justin Trudeau himself said that there would be “affordability measures” in the budget. I mean, yes that one time grocery store rebate is a help but only a drop in the bucket compared to the actual amount required to live on these days.
The Disability Community understands that there is still work that needs to be done on Bill C22 to get it passed through the Senate. However, the Disability Community feels that the least that could have happened in Budget 2023, is the earmarking of funds for payments once the bill is passed and proclaimed. Neither funds for C-22 payments, nor Emergency Funds, in the interim, happened in this Federal Budget.
This is a tweet of Bonita Zarillo talking about her disappointment that there are no emergency funds in 2023 budget.
To see and hear video --
https://twitter.com/i/status/1641562040287350784
For more on what Bonita
Zarrillo had to say see https://t.co/BZ1QW5PC9I
It is not just this province -- if you review this BLOG post, I included a copy of the May-Tree Report which outlines what is available in other Provinces, and reveals that, in most, you do not get more than the $950 NS Standard Household Rate. This IS the case for why emergency funds for people on disabilities, (and of course for everyone on low incomes!) is needed.
In this budget, the Federal Government mentions an increase in the GST Rebate but there is no amount listed for the increase. Is the increase they are talking about the one time Grocery Store Rebate? If so then this is no increase in the GST Rebate. GST cheques come out 4 time a year and an increase has to mean receiving something more then one time. It has to be a higher amount on all 4 GST cheques in a year. So whether this will mean a higher amount on each GST cheque is something that we are left to “wait and see”.
So we have yet another Federal Budget where no new programs to improve incomes (like CERB) was introduced, to help Canadians, esp those with low incomes, when inflation is so high. Neither provincial nor federal government is paying attention to the improvement in lives (and health) during CERB’s short time. The work of Bill C22 continues to move as slow as cold molasses. There is no real solution here. This means people are going to continue to skip meals, not afford their medication and suffer inadequate housing. In addition, we are going to see a big increase in the homeless population.
So no emergency funds while waiting for C-22, and no increase in Income Assistance rates in N.S. but apparently we are getting some kind of dental plan - no details available yet.
The Pressure on Community/Including Food Banks and Soup Kitchens is going to continue to spiral out of control!
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