October 12th, 2021
KJIPUKTUK (HALIFAX, NS) – With the election of new MLA’S, and their return to the legislature today the province has a crucial opportunity to impact the well-being of all Nova Scotians. This is a decisive moment in which ending poverty in Nova Scotia is possible by implementing progressive public policy. The provinces’ current political juncture offers an urgent policy opportunity to end poverty by demanding transformative action from our newly elected MLA’S.
Today the Nova Scotia Action Coalition for Community Well-Being is launching a video campaign. The Policy Not Charity Campaign is calling on all Nova Scotians to take action by calling on their newly-elected MLAs to implement progressive policy to end poverty.
As Nova Scotians, we are known for our strong social fabric and our caring communities. We take care of one another. But our political choices do not reflect our compassion for our neighbors. Despite our strong values of caring and connection, our politicians have made policy choices that have left over 100,000 Nova Scotians suffering in poverty.
The problem is not lack of solutions. Policy is the pathway that will end poverty in the province. The belief that poverty and human suffrage is at the fault of the individual is deeply untrue. The reality is poverty is a product of poor policy decisions. Poverty overwhelms the lives of families, children, seniors, adults, when Nova Scotians are not protected and supported by public policy.
Stella Lord from the Community Society to End Poverty Nova Scotia agrees, “If we really want a healthier province, our governments need to start addressing poverty, housing affordability, and social inclusion.”
“It continues to be fiscally reckless for any government to allow poverty to fester,” says Stratford “poverty costs the Nova Scotia economy 2 billion dollars in lost productivity and excessive government services.”
The campaign video is hosted on the website https://www.policynotcharity.ca/ and lists the progressive policy needed to end poverty in Nova Scotia. The NSACCW urges Nova Scotians to recognize the very real possibility of ending poverty in the province and demand their MLA for progressive policy change.
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For more information contact Alec Stratford, Alec.Stratford@NSCSW.org (902)410-2420
About us: NSACCW consists of community members dedicated to working strategically and collaboratively towards community well-being and a better quality of life for everyone.