On October 17th, 2022, the Nova Scotia Action Coalition for Community Well-Being and its partners will be holding an event to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This event will also mark the launch of our “Poverty is a Political Choice” campaign so we are hoping for a large presence at this event so that we can build meaningful action and momentum to eradicate poverty in Nova Scotia.

You can join us in person at the Halifax Central Library in the Paul O’Regan Hall or join us online at 6:30 pm.

You can register for the event here

Although all provinces have reduced poverty since 1989, Nova Scotia has performed the worst in reducing child poverty from 1989 levels when an all-party House of Commons resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000 was first passed. Nova Scotia has the highest rate of child poverty in Atlantic Canada and the third-highest provincial child poverty rate in Canada, a consistent ranking over the last several years, and rising costs of living and lack of government action are making this worse.

  • Nova Scotia’s child poverty rate in 2019 was 24.3%,
  • 41,230 children are living in poverty in Nova Scotia
  • Almost 1 in 4 children in Nova Scotia live in poverty.

Behind these numbers are real people, parents choosing between paying rent, buying groceries, and heating homes. Poverty has been legislated through chosen policy approaches to social welfare followed by a refusal to fix social programs we know are inadequate to bring families and people above the poverty line.

This panel discussion will:

  • Identify the connection between the crisis in all sectors of health and social service delivery and government choices to maintain poverty.
  • Examine the action that is needed to hold governments accountable for their choices.
  • Develop momentum for action to call decision-makers towards policy choices that eliminate poverty.

If you have any questions regarding this invitation please reach out to the Coalition Coordinator Raushni Abraham at nsaccwweb@gmail.com or 902-410-2420