By Kendall Worth!
I want to start off by saying something, about February 14th, in General. There have been times throughout my past journalism in the Nova Scotia Advocate where I wrote about Valentines Day. (the articles in the link, provide the reasons why Income assistance recipients are discouraged from celebrating this special day) This year, in addition to the fact that many Income Assistance Recipients will not have plans to go on romantic dates for Valentines Day, but this year Nova Scotia MLA's also cannot be celebrating this special day.
And here is why!
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| Yup, as pointed out on the sign, Valentines Day is the day that the Nova Scotia House of Assembly is going back into session. | |
This year, it turns out, that Income Assitance recipients are not going to be alone not being able to celebrate Valentine Day. Tim Houston why not use this upcoming sitting (and especially the first day of the house sitting) to consider how Income Assistance Recipients, living by section 6.1.8 of the ESIA policy manual, are having their lives negatively affected?? For more reasons on why I am asking you to think about this, while the house sits on February 14th see Here and for Part#2 here.
Changing section 6.1.8 of the ESIA policy is just one piece of the unfinished business of the previous Liberal government in Nova Scotia from 2013 till 2021.
As reported in my January 9th, 2025 post, the income assistance rates may now seem in the public eye to be at a better level of money to live on. In reality it is not! Improvement in the Income Asistance rates is still needed, especially where we live day to day, dealing with high grocery prices, and as my January 25th, 2025 post reports we are seeing no increase in affordable housing here in Nova Scotia. Also, as posted January 12th 2025 there are a lot of unanswered questions coming from my community on why the name changed from Department from Community Services, to what is now Department of Opportunities and Social Development. In the eyes of some people I have spoken with, this name change has happened with no plans in place for any new programs. There are no announcments that the Department is going to implement, or of any improvements to existing programs.
So there is a lot for the Tim Houston government to focus in this upcoming sitting.
One thing that is concerning all Nova Scotians these days, whether rich or poor, is the number of Nova Scotians still without a family doctor. According to This Report from October 4th 2024 145,114 Nova Scotians are still without a family doctor. Considering this is January 2025, it is expected the number of Nova Scotians without a family doctor has not decreased or not by much. Another issue, is that these days there is no Increase in public housing or access to other affordable housing in Nova Scotia.
So overall, there is a lot of issues that attention needs to be drawn to, in this upcoming session of the legislature.
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