A poverty reduction strategy for Nova Scotia

The Working Group proposed that any strategy to tackle poverty be organized around four main goals: • meaningful collaboration to ensure consistent and coordinated action • poverty alleviation to meet the needs of those with long-term work barriers • poverty reduction to meet the needs of low-income workers and their families • poverty prevention to build a foundation for prosperity. [...] It suggested, for example, the following enhancements to the last-resort Employment Support and Income Assistance Program (i.e., welfare): • increasing food and shelter allowances, with special attention to the needs of persons with disabilities • allowing recipients to retain more of their earned income • reviewing the special needs list to better reflect the actual cost of goods and services • p [...] The Working Group also proposed that the Government of Nova Scotia adopt a program similar to the Saskatchewan Employment Supplement, which bolsters the earnings of low-wage workers. [...] Additional recommendations included the engagement of the disability community in formulating a Disability Strategy and coordinating the provision of programs and services. [...] For the purposes of determining available income, the program will exempt the value of the federal Working Income Tax Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan.