An Open Letter to Minister Barbara Adams

 


By Kendall Worth

 Dear minister Barbara Adams;


 

My name is Kendall Worth, and I am writing to you today as an advocate for people living in poverty in Nova Scotia, especially those who rely on the Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) program. On October 21st, 2025, you were appointed as the Minister of Opportunities and Social Development. Many people who are struggling day to day now look to you with hope—and high expectations.

You know the system well. From 2017 to 2021, as the MLA for Eastern Passage and the PC Critic for Community Services, you witnessed firsthand the ongoing challenges facing individuals and families on social assistance. You are also familiar with the ESIA Transformation process that began under the previous government—a process that aimed to create a fairer, more dignified system, but remains unfinished.

Before I explain why I’m writing today, I’d like to briefly share who I am and the work I do. I am the creator of “For What Matters Journalism,” a blog where I document the lived experiences of people in poverty, highlight systemic issues, and offer possible solutions. You can read my introduction post Here

A  another post, titled “Building the Case,” explains why my blog exists and who it aims to support: Building the case

Before starting my blog, I wrote for the Nova Scotia Advocate (Nova Scotia Advoacte Archives) and the Halifax Media Co-op (Halifax Media Co-op Archive), often reporting on social assistance and poverty. I also send updates of my work to all 55 MLA offices, including yours, to ensure the stories of those living in poverty are not ignored.

The people I advocate for face constant hardship. Many are disabled, experiencing health issues, or dealing with mental illness that prevents them from working full-time. Many live on $1,00near enough to live with dignity in today’s economy.

You may recall the Benefits Reform Action Group (BRAG), a grassroots organization that fought to improve income assistance and end stigma against people in poverty. You attended a BRAG-hosted event in September 2018, showing solidarity with the movement.

The biggest concern now is that the transformation process that once gave hope has stalled. While your government renamed the Department of Community Services to the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, many feel that real change has not followed. A name change is not enough. People are still suffering. The system still promotes isolation, discourages shared living, penalizes small earnings, and forces people with disabilities to live below the poverty line.


There are still large, urgent pieces of unfinished business that require your leadership:

  1. Cohabitation rules that punish people for living together and sharing expenses.

  1. More details: Making Sure Oppertuinity is real The Career Seek program, which needs a full overhaul to meet the real needs of people trying to return to the workforce.

  1. Clawbacks affecting persons with disabilities, which trap people in a cycle of poverty and prevent them from improving their standard of living.

Minister Adams, with your history in this file and your new position of authority, you have an opportunity to lead a transformation that truly changes lives. But the community is watching, and they are hoping for more than small adjustments. They want a system that treats them with dignity, allows them to live without constant struggle, and supports—not punishes—those who cannot work due to disability or illness.

I hope you will put the unfinished transformation back on the table and make meaningful, lasting change.

Yours sincerely,
Kendall Worth
Poverty Advocate and Journalist
For What Matters Journalism


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