HALIFAX – Looking through flyers for savings is a way of life for Ann Duffy. The mother of two says she’s been living in poverty for more than 20 years.
Duffy was among dozens of protesters who marched to Province House on Friday to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
According to Statistics Canada, 15.1 per cent of Halifax’s population is considered to be low-income.
Paul O’Hara, a social worker with 30 years of experience, also attended the march and says a current freeze on income assistance rates has been especially challenging to people in the region who are economically poor.
“Provincial governments have been increasing the welfare rate minimally for at least the last six years, and for the first time in more that six years, this government has chosen not to increase the rates,” he said.
In a statement sent to Global News, the department of community services said it is not able to increase rates every year:
“We know the assistance system needs to change and are focusing on supporting clients to become independent and to remove barriers to employment because their best hope for long-term security is employment.
At this time, Community Services is conducting a comprehensive review of income assistance system. We will identify ways to create a more transparent, effective benefit policy that will be fair and easily understood by clients and stakeholders.”
O’Hara says the public needs to understand that employment isn’t an option for everyone.
“All of us tend to think all we need is work,” he said. “There’s probably 70 to 80 per cent of people on welfare that will not work and will never be economically independent, and we’re forgetting about them.”
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