By Kendall Worth
The Legislature is going back into session, at a time when there is a lot on the plate of every Nova Scotian, whether we are living in poverty, or, are better off. Regular readers of my BLOG already know, I do my journalism from the First Voice Perspective (New to reading my BLOG? I invite you to and read the many posts here, to educate yourself on what I mean by the First Voice Perspective).
As a result I am making three calls to action for this new session of the legislature:
Since the last sitting of the Legislature - February 23rd, 2026, which I wrote about here, began; and, after an austerity budget was approved by the current Tim Houston PC government; and, where many lost their jobs due to Nova Scotia Government cuts, as this post reports on; many Nova Scotians downsized their expectiations following the budget. The current feeling in the air, from First Voice persons, is that the population of those on income assistance, and living in poverty, is slowly increasing. In a nutshell every First Voice I have spoken to, tell me that this upcoming sitting is where the Nova Scotia Government is going to have a serious, robust look at the connection between poverty, mental health, social isolation, and the causes of these issues. They need to look at inflation. They made mistakes by ensuring many government employees lost their jobs, and have done nothing but batter at the homeless population in Nova Scotia. We must not forget that these cuts are affecting couples (and singles) who have kids. If required, downsizing, as rents continue to increase, is going to be no fun for these families.
On my BLOG, I report on issues within the Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) program which is through the Department of Opportunities and Social Development. (Once known as Community Services) I have always reported on the fact that the issues in Halifax are very visible. It is not hard to notice the line-ups at Food Banks and Soup kitchens, but... in rural Nova Scotia, the population of people living in poverty, is not so visible. If attention to the effects of living in poverty in Nova Scotia, does not get serious government attention, this session, the population of people living in poverty in rural and small town Nova Scotia, is going to become more visible. First Voice I am speaking to, all agree that improvements needs to happen during this upcoming sitting of the House.
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My First Call to Action: Bring back the Employment Support and Income Assistance Transformation.
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With the Nova Scotia Legislature returning on September 8th, 2026, my first Call to Action is directed to Premier Tim Houston, the Minister of Opportunities and Social Development, and every MLA sitting in the Nova Scotia Legislature: Bring the Employment Support and Income Assistance Transformation back to the table during this fall sitting.
So, first let me provide some examples of the current situations facing "welfare" recipients in Nova Scotia.
Emma (not her real name), receives $1022.00 per month, which is the Standard Household rate on Income Assistance in Nova Scotia. She also receives the $324.00 Disability Supplement and a $315.00 Rental Supplement. Her rent is $1050.00 per month. So when you add $1022.00 + $324.00 +$315.00 = $1661.00 per month. Once rent is paid $1661.00 - $1050 = $611.00. She does get the $40.00 telephone allowance and $81.00 for 3 Special Diets. $611.00 + $40.00 + $81.00 = $732.00. Having $732.00 left after rent is paid may at first sound and look like a Sweet Deal, but it is not. Her Nova Scotia Power bill is $120.00 a month on budget billing. So, $732.00 - $120.00 = $612.00 left per month. Then the $81.00 per month for her Special Diets goes directly onto her Special Diet needs. So $612 - $81.00 = $531.00 left per month. Then $40.00 for her phone goes directly onto her phone bill. So $531- $40.00 = $491.00 per month, left over. So she has $491.00 for paying the remainder of her cell phone bill, groceries, a once a month cab ride home from the store, (because the nearest Grocery is not within walking distance), and for personal hygiene products.
Kate and Robie's (not their real names) situation is different, from Emma’s, primarily because they are a Common-Law couple, living together. They are effected by the cohabitation polices of the Employment Support and Income Assistance Program.
They get the standard amount for a couple living together ---$1442 per month, + the $324.00 a month Disability Supplement + a $330.00 rental Supplement = $2096.00. Their rent is $1100.00 per month and their Nova Scotia Power Bill on Budget Billing is $145.00 per month. So 1100.00 + $145.00 = $1245.00 a month for rent and power combined. Now, $2096.00 - $1245.00 = $851.00 left over for everything else. In their case, their doctor will not provide the required medical documentation for their Special Needs telephone because he believes the policy does not make sense. They Get 0 Dollars for Special Diets because their Doctor filled out the information for the caseworker incorrectly. Kate and Robbie are affected by Section 6.1.8 of the ESIA Policy Manual.
The examples of Emma, Kate and Robbie above, are not included simply to show readers some numbers on a page. They are examples of the day-to-day arithmetic that people living on Income Assistance have to work with every single month. After rent, power and other necessary expenses are paid, the question becomes: What is actually left over to live a healthy, dignified and socially connected life?
Increasing Income Assistance rates with inflation may be a step in the right direction, but First Voice is telling us that this alone is not enough. The current standard household rate is $1,022 per month, and not every Income Assistance recipient even receives that full amount. Circumstances such as disability, housing costs, relationships and cohabitation policies, access to special-needs allowances, and other individual circumstances can make one person's financial situation very different from another person's. That is why government cannot look only at the headline monthly rate when deciding whether the ESIA system is working.
My Call to Action is for MLAs from all political parties to use this fall sitting to ask serious questions about where the ESIA Transformation stands today, what remains unfinished, and what changes are needed to make Income Assistance truly responsive to the real costs and circumstances people face in 2026.
Considering these two examples, this is the sitting where the government needs to bring the Employment and Income Assistance Transformation back onto the Table. The message I am hearing from First Voice is clear: Do not allow another sitting of the Nova Scotia Legislature to come and go without seriously addressing poverty and the future of Employment Support and Income Assistance. Bring the Transformation back to the table, listen directly to the people affected by it, and turn those conversations into meaningful action.
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My Second Call to Action: Nova Scotia MLAs need an education in Social Prescribing
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My second Call to Action is directed to every MLA, regardless of political party: Take the time to educate yourself about Social Prescribing and why it matters to Nova Scotians.
I am not asking every MLA to immediately agree with every detail of my proposed Social Prescribing Organization. I am asking MLAs to learn about the idea, ask questions, listen to First Voice, and become part of the conversation. Before our elected representatives can decide whether Social Prescribing deserves greater government attention, they first need to understand what Social Prescribing actually means and what problems it could help address.
During this upcoming sitting, I would like to see MLAs asking questions in the legislature, about Social Prescribing, and having conversations with: the Department of Health and Wellness; the Department of Opportunities and Social Development; health-care professionals; community organizations; researchers; advocates; and, most importantly - the people with lived experience of poverty and social isolation.
I also call on MLAs to look beyond the question of whether Nova Scotia already has programs that could technically fall under the Social Prescribing umbrella. The bigger questions need to be: Are people who are socially isolated actually reaching these programs? Are opportunities affordable and accessible? What happens after somebody receives a referral? Are people developing meaningful and lasting social connections? And what gaps remain for people who do not have strong networks of friends and family?
And finally, I ask MLAs to keep an open mind about my proposal for a Social Prescribing Organization in Nova Scotia, and to recognize that social isolation is real and that people need meaningful human connections outside of professional services.
Here is an open letter, from myself, to the Department of Health and Wellness on the idea, and in this post, is my recent interview with Susan LaBlanc, the Dartmouth North MLA, where Social Prescribing came up in the conversation. For more on Social Prescribing see here, and, for more on my specific Social Prescription organization see here.
The reason why I believe all Nova Scotia MLAs should educate themselves on Social Prescribing is social isolation can be connected to poverty, mental health, disability, housing circumstances, transportation barriers, unemployment, aging, and whether or not a person has a strong network of friends, family and community supports around them. These are issues that MLAs regularly hear about from the people they represent. Sometimes what a person needs is greater connection to their community, opportunities to meet other people, meaningful activities, peer support, friendships, or simply somewhere they feel they belong.
If the Nova Scotia Legislature is going to have serious conversations about poverty, mental health, health care and the growing problem of social isolation, then Social Prescribing deserves to be part of those conversations. The first step toward determining what role it should play in Nova Scotia is making sure the people elected to make provincial policy understand what Social Prescribing is, what it is not, and why First Voice people believes it deserves their attention.
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My Third Call to Action: Reform Nova Scotia's ESIA Cohabitation Policies
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My Third Call to Action, for the upcoming sitting of the Nova Scotia Legislature, is for MLAs from all political parties to educate themselves about Nova Scotia's Employment Support and Income Assistance cohabitation policies and seriously consider changing Section 6.1.8 of the ESIA Policy Manual.
I have been writing about this issue for years. See here, and here. I have also continued raising concerns about these policies more recently, like here. When two people live together , they are going to live on a reduced income compared to the one that they have separately.
Why should MLAs educate themselves about this? Because when we talk about addressing social isolation and improving people's mental well-being, we also need to examine whether government policies are creating barriers to the very human connections we say we want to improve.
People receiving Income Assistance should not have to fear that developing a closer relationship with another person, deciding to live together, or creating a mutually supportive household could result in financial consequences that make their already difficult financial circumstances even harder.
This issue also connects directly with my Second Call to Action about Social Prescribing. Social Prescribing is about helping people become more socially connected and improving their quality of life outside of the traditional professional health-care system. Reforming cohabitation policies needs to be looked at through a similar lens. Healthy relationships, companionship, having someone to come home to, sharing responsibilities, helping one another through difficult times, and simply knowing somebody is there for you can all contribute to reducing social isolation.
There are practical benefits as well. Two people living together may be able to help one another with grocery shopping, preparing meals, household responsibilities and other aspects of everyday life. Having a supportive person in your life can also become extremely important when somebody needs help following a medical procedure or during another difficult period.
Most importantly, I challenge MLAs to recognize what I believe is a contradiction that needs serious attention:
Government cannot say that reducing social isolation and improving mental well-being are important goals while maintaining Income Assistance policies that discourages the very relationships and living arrangements that could help people become less isolated.
During this fall sitting, put Section 6.1.8 of the ESIA Policy Manual on the table. Listen to First Voice. Study the consequences of the current cohabitation rules. Look at possible alternatives. And ask whether Nova Scotia can create an Income Assistance system that supports—not financially discourages—people who are trying to build healthier, more connected and mutually supportive lives.
Lets hope for better moving forward!
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Kendall Worth is an award-winning anti-poverty activist who lives with disabilities and tries to make ends meet on income assistance.
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