Nova Scotia anti-poverty groups call for immediate increase to income assistance
HALIFAX — Representatives from 13 community and anti-poverty groups are calling for an immediate increase to Nova Scotia’s basic income assistance rates, but they received no firm commitment from the province on Thursday.
Fiona Traynor of the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, said income assistance rates have been static for the last three years while the cost of food and shelter continues to increase.
Traynor said although the province has previously said there would be no increase until the 2019-20 budget, the need exists now.
“People have not received any increase whatsoever, and people are falling into further depths of poverty as a result.”