Families struggle because governments want them to.
41,230 children are living in poverty in Nova Scotia
1 child in every 4 children.
In 1989, when the government promised to eradicate child poverty by the year 2000, Nova Scotia’s child poverty rate was 24.4%.
In 2000, when it was supposed to have been eradicated, it was 27.8%.
Nova Scotia’s child poverty rate in 2019 was 24.3%.
This is a 0.1 percent reduction in 30 years.
Behind these numbers are real people.
Parents choosing between paying rent, buying groceries, and heating homes; precarious employment that puts stress on families; the inability to engage in community life through opportunities that make life worthwhile.
Poverty has been legislated into existence.
This is done through chosen policy approaches to social welfare. And a refusal to fix social programs we know are inadequate to bring families and people above the poverty line.
It costs us in more ways than one.
We know that ending poverty in this province would have a considerable return on investment, with government inaction on poverty costing Nova Scotia $2 billion per year in economic loss, $279 million in excess public services cost, and $231 million in foregone revenue.
As Nova Scotians, we have all experienced or been impacted by poverty.
As teachers, healthcare providers, social services, and legal providers poverty has impacted our ability to deliver quality around us. Learn more about how poverty impacts child welfare, health care and education here.
Help us bring the statistics of poverty to life. Help us add faces and stories to what government inaction on poverty looks like. Add your voice to this demand for political action to eradicate poverty in Nova Scotia.
