Hello, My name is Kendall Worth. I am writing this letter to you today because when the new Nova Scotia cabinet got sworn in on December 12th 2024, Nova Scotians learned about the name change of some Provincial Government Departments. Up until December 12th 2024, the department I am speaking of, was known as the Department of Community Services. On the date that Scott Armstrong was sworn in, Nova Scotians have learned that your department is now called the Department of Opportunities and Social Development. I am writing this open letter for the purposes of:
#1 – To introduce myself and my journalism. Because Scott Armstrong you are a newly elected MLA and becuase you are a brand new Minister to our Provincial Cabinet, you will find at my blog, For What Matters Journlism much info and opinions about how life for people with disabilities, and all those living in poverty could be improved. From February 17th 2012 till April 16th, 2016 I wrote in the Halifax Media COOP, then from July 12th 2016 till September 16th 2021 in The Nova Scotia Advocate. My current BLOG got started the Nova Scotia Advocate folded. Through my Journalism I advocate for many people who are clients of the Employment Support and Income Assitance program. So with that being said I would like to introduce myself and my journalism to you.
#2 – There are questions regarding the Name Change of the Department. Why was it necessary? What is behind the name change? My community is asking. As you will notice, if you look through my past and present Journalism, I am and always have been a major advocate for change in your department. Many do not think the name change from DCS to Department of Opportunities and Social Development indicates progressive reform.
Many I have had conversations with tell me that they do not know what to think about changing the department’s name. Many Questions arose within the Community I advocate for including:
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Does this name change mean that After the previous Liberal Governments ESIA Transformation form 2013 till 2021, does this name change mean that the all the unfinished business of the ESIA Transformation is now officially off the table?
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What about the future of addressing things like the Income Assitance Rates and Special Needs?
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Does this name change mean that there are improvements and access could be eased, and programs reformed. to the (For what improvements are needed to this Program see Here and Part#2 here and for how many in my community are misinformed about the SPD Program see here ) SPD Program? It needs reform and easier access too.
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Some IA recipients, who I have sooken to since December 12th, 2024 have said that the first thing that comes to mind is thinking about the Career Seek Program when they hear the words Opportunities and Social Development. These income assistance ask will this name change mean easier access to the Career Seek Program?
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Some contacts I have in the disability community reasonably suggested that perhaps a change in the Career Seek Program, in addition to easier access to the program itself, could include paying for resources that will removing barriers to allow Persons with Disabilities to have more freedom to get a post secondary education. They ask will this be the case with the name change?
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What about in cases where Income Assitance recipients can benefit from collaboration between the ESIA program and the mental health system, Does this mane change mean collaboration between the 2 systems?
The above are the principle Questions coming from the Community I advocate for.
Income Assitance recipients these days are living life with a lot of unknowns ahead of them. I notice that you are the MLA for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, which the community I advocate for calls scary. This is where we all feel that Premier Tim Houston made a mistake. It is strongly felt, throughout the community I advocate for, that it takes a Halifax MLA to understand the life of Income Assistance recipients in Nova Scotia. After all a very large number of clients of the program live in Halifax. This is not of-course to say that Income Assitance Recipients are not actually living in rural Nova Scotia. Anyway the concern at hand is these days Income Assistance recipients are living Day – to – Day with a lot of unknowns ahead because of the name change and We would like answers ASAP.
Yours Truly;
Kendall Worth
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