Halifax, Nova Scotia

Income Assistance Reform General Assembly

5:00pm
- 7:00pm
Mercredi Mai 27 2015

The Benefits Reform Action Group (BRAG), a coalition of community organizations and individuals
People on income assistance and their allies are gathering to form demands of the government around progressive income assistance reform. 

The Nova Scotia Department of Community Services has been saying they are transforming income assistance since last year. Given the secretive nature of this transformation, and two years of freezes and cuts from the McNeil Liberal government, we have reason to be concerned about the shape this transformation will take.

If the government is not going to consult those effected, it is up to us to make our voices heard.

After holding three townhall meetings for people on income assistance to talk about problems in the system, BRAG has identified three main areas where income assistance is failing people:

1. Affordability: Assistance does not provide enough for housing and decent food.

2. Employment and education support: DCS makes it very difficult for people on assistance to access education, and fails to support people to find good jobs that provide adequate income.

3. Special Needs and people with disability: DCS has been making it increasingly difficult for people with disabilities to have their health needs met, placing hardships on people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

We will be breaking down into three groups to form demands of the government to fix these problems, before reassembling as a group and voting on our platform to improve income assistance.

While everyone is welcome, the event will privilege the participation of people on income assistance. 

Registration is preferred, especially if childcare is required.

Bus tickets, child care and a meal will be provided.

For more information, contact Evan Coole at Dalhousie Legal Aid Service: 902 423 8105 or evan.coole@dal.ca

Over 60 actions organized internationally in response to... janv. 12

GROUNDWIRE OCTOBER 8 | MMIW HEARINGS AND VIGILS, MASS... oct. 16

GroundWire | Housing in the Budget, Fontaine Boushie... mars 16

Activist Court Support: Kinder Morgan wants permanent ban... mars 15