Write to your representative.
Investment in infrastructure
Invest in public and social infrastructure, including extended universal public health care (mental health care, pharmacare, dental care, vision care), strengthen inclusive public education, make post-secondary education more affordable, and invest to ensure essential costs are available and affordable (e.g., food, internet).
Development of a robust Poverty Eradication Plan
Use the CCPA-NS social policy framework to develop a comprehensive, robust Poverty Eradication Plan, that incorporates an outcomes-based framework, includes targets and timelines that are embedded in legislation.
Implementation of the Recommendations of the Housing for All Report
Housing is health and the province must Implement the 95 recommendations in the Housing for All report to ensure that all Nova Scotians have meaningful access to safe, permanently affordable, secure, supported, and adequate housing.
Creation of a Child and Youth Advocate Office
Create a Child and Youth Advocate office to protect and promote the rights of Nova Scotia’s children and youth.
Instituting Regular Public Reporting
Institute regular public reporting to the legislature on progress towards achieving goals to eradicate poverty, as well as specifically reporting on outcomes relating to children and youth well-being and support.
Investment in Proactive Strategies
Invest in proactive strategies developed in collaboration with communities that have particularly high poverty rates to ensure policies and programs meet their needs.
In Your Letter, Demand:
Support of First Nations in Nova Scotia
Continue to support First Nations in Nova Scotia to assume self-governance over child and family services to ensure they meet their cultural, historical, and geographical needs and circumstances.
End to Practice of Removing Benefit When Child Is Brought Into Temporary Care
Immediately end the practice of removing the Canada Child Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, from families when a child is brought into temporary care and custody,
Increase in minimum wage
Increase the minimum wage to $15 in the next year with a plan to make it a living wage.
If you live in Scotia, write a letter to your MLA
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Re: Nova Scotia government must take action to eradicate poverty
Sent VIA Email
Dear <insert MLA’s name>,
As your constituent, I am aware that poverty is a political choice that leaves 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 through chosen policy approaches to social welfare followed by a refusal to fix social programs we know are inadequate to bring families and people above the poverty line.
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 your constituent I demand that you;
1. Invest in public and social infrastructure, including extended universal public health care (mental health care, pharmacare, dental care, vision care), strengthen inclusive public education, make post-secondary education more affordable, and invest to ensure essential costs are available and affordable (e.g., food, internet).
2. Use the CCPA-NS social policy framework to develop a comprehensive, robust Poverty Eradication Plan, that incorporates an outcomes-based framework, includes targets and timelines that are embedded in legislation.
3. Housing is health and the province must Implement the 95 recommendations in the Housing for All report to ensure that all Nova Scotians have meaningful access to safe, permanently affordable, secure, supported, and adequate housing.
4. Create a Child and Youth Advocate office to protect and promote the rights of Nova Scotia’s children and youth.
5. Institute regular public reporting to the legislature on progress towards achieving goals to eradicate poverty, as well as specifically reporting on outcomes relating to children and youth well-being and support.
6. Invest in proactive strategies developed in collaboration with communities that have particularly high poverty rates to ensure policies and programs meet their needs.
7. Continue to support First Nations in Nova Scotia to assume self-governance over child and family services to ensure they meet their cultural, historical, and geographical needs and circumstances.
8. Immediately end the practice of removing the Canada Child Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, from families when a child is brought into temporary care and custody
9. Increase the minimum wage to $15 in the next year with a plan to make it a living wage.
As your constituent member we must use our collective resources to fight to eradicate poverty.
Sincerely,
<Your name>,
<Your address>
If you are a teacher, write to the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union
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Ryan Lutes President
Dr. Tom Parker Building
3106 Joseph Howe Drive
Halifax, N.S.
B3L 4L7RE: NSTU must take action to eradicate poverty
Sent VIA Email: president@nstu.ca
Dear Mr. Lutes,
I am a teacher working for _________. Poverty is a political which places more stress on a student, that can negatively impact the their ability to succeed in school. Students living in poverty often have fewer resources at home to complete homework, study, or engage in activities that helps equip them for success during the school day.
Children and youth who responded to the 2018-2019 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey in Nova Scotia and whose families had the lowest quintile of income based on a validated Family Affluence Scale were more likely to report low life satisfaction and to feel sad, depressed, or lonely. They were more likely to report low self-confidence. They were less likely to trust others or to think it’s safe for kids to play outside. They were less likely to eat fruits and vegetables or to be involved in organized sports. Making Positive educational outcomes that much more challenging.
The Nova Scotia Teachers Union must take political action to fight for the eradication of child poverty and advocate for the following policy changes.
1. Invest in public and social infrastructure, including extended universal public health care (mental health care, pharmacare, dental care, vision care), strengthen inclusive public edu-cation, make post-secondary education more affordable, and invest to ensure essential costs are available and affordable (e.g., food, internet).
2. Use the CCPA-NS social policy framework to develop a comprehensive, robust Poverty Eradication Plan, that incorporates an outcomes-based framework, includes targets and timelines that are embedded in legislation.
3. Create a Child and Youth Advocate office to protect and promote the rights of Nova Scotia’s children and youth.
4. Institute regular public reporting to the legislature on progress towards achieving goals to eradicate poverty, as well as specifically reporting on outcomes relating to children and youth well-being and support.
5. Invest in proactive strategies developed in collaboration with communities that have particularly high poverty rates to ensure policies and programs meet their needs.
6. Continue to support First Nations in Nova Scotia to assume self-governance over child and family services to ensure they meet their cultural, historical, and geographical needs and circumstances.
7. Immediately end the practice of removing the Canada Child Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, from families when a child is brought into temporary care and custody.
8. Increase the minimum wage to $15 in the next year with a plan to make it a living wage.
As a union member we must use our collective resources to fight to eradicate poverty
Sincerely,
Name,
Email address
Phone number -
MLA Address here
RE: Nova Scotia government must take action to eradicate poverty
Sent VIA Email:
I am a teacher working for__________, poverty is a political choice that places more stress on a student, which can negatively impact the student's ability to succeed in a school. Students living in poverty often have fewer resources at home to complete homework, study, or engage in activities that helps equip them for success during the school day.
Children and youth who responded to the 2018-2019 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey in Nova Scotia and whose families had the lowest quintile of income based on a validated Family Affluence Scale were more likely to report low life satisfaction and to feel sad, depressed, or lonely. They were more likely to report low self-confidence. They were less likely to trust others or to think it’s safe for kids to play outside. They were less likely to eat fruits and vegetables or to be involved in organized sports. Making Positive educational outcomes that much more challenging.
The Nova Scotia government must take political action to fight for the eradication of child poverty and advocate for the following policy changes.
1. Invest in public and social infrastructure, including extended universal public health care (mental health care, pharmacare, dental care, vision care), strengthen inclusive public education, make post-secondary education more affordable, and invest to ensure essential costs are available and affordable (e.g., food, internet).
2. Use the CCPA-NS social policy framework to develop a comprehensive, robust Poverty Eradication Plan, that incorporates an outcomes-based framework, includes targets and timelines that are embedded in legislation.
3. Create a Child and Youth Advocate office to protect and promote the rights of Nova Scotia’s children and youth.
4. Institute regular public reporting to the legislature on progress towards achieving goals to eradicate poverty, as well as specifically reporting on outcomes relating to children and youth well-being and support.
5. Invest in proactive strategies developed in collaboration with communities that have particularly high poverty rates to ensure policies and programs meet their needs.
6. Continue to support First Nations in Nova Scotia to assume self-governance over child and family services to ensure they meet their cultural, historical, and geographical needs and circumstances.
7. Immediately end the practice of removing the Canada Child Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, from families when a child is brought into temporary care and custody.
8. Increase the minimum wage to $15 in the next year with a plan to make it a living wage.
As your constituent member we must use our collective resources to fight to eradicate poverty.
Sincerely,
Name,
Email address
Phone number
If you are a health care provider, write to your professional association
-
Professional association’s address
RE: Professional association name must take action to eradicate poverty
Sent VIA Email:
Dear,
I am <insert profession> working for__________. Poverty is a political choice that limit the ability of children to grow up healthy and happy and to develop to their full potential. Children and youth in Nova Scotia are not and cannot be fully secure in the face of child and family poverty. Too many children and youth live in poverty in Nova Scotia. They feel its effects in nearly every aspect of their wellbeing. Poverty in childhood is a direct affront to multiple children’s rights.
The organization name here must take political action to fight for the eradication of child poverty and advocate for the following policy changes
1. Invest in public and social infrastructure, including extended universal public health care (mental health care, pharmacare, dental care, vision care), strengthen inclusive public education, make post-secondary education more affordable, and invest to ensure essential costs are available and affordable (e.g., food, internet).
2. Use the CCPA-NS social policy framework to develop a comprehensive, robust Poverty Eradication Plan, that incorporates an outcomes-based framework, includes targets and timelines that are embedded in legislation.
3. Housing is health and the province must Implement the 95 recommendations in the Housing for All report to ensure that all Nova Scotians have meaningful access to safe, permanently affordable, secure, supported, and adequate housing.
4. Create a Child and Youth Advocate office to protect and promote the rights of Nova Scotia’s children and youth.
5. Institute regular public reporting to the legislature on progress towards achieving goals to eradicate poverty, as well as specifically reporting on outcomes relating to children and youth well-being and support.
6. Invest in proactive strategies developed in collaboration with communities that have particularly high poverty rates to ensure policies and programs meet their needs.
7. Continue to support First Nations in Nova Scotia to assume self-governance over child and family services to ensure they meet their cultural, historical, and geographical needs and circumstances.
8. Immediately end the practice of removing the Canada Child Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, from families when a child is brought into temporary care and custody.
9. Increase the minimum wage to $15 in the next year with a plan to make it a living wage.
As a member of the professional association, we must use our collective resources to fight to eradicate poverty
Sincerely,
Name,
Email address
Phone number -
RE: Nova Scotia government must take action to eradicate poverty
Sent VIA Email:
Dear,
I am <insert your profession> working for__________. Poverty is a political choice that limit the ability of children to grow up healthy and happy and to develop to their full potential. Children and youth in Nova Scotia are not and cannot be fully secure in the face of child and family poverty. Too many children and youth live in poverty in Nova Scotia. They feel its effects in nearly every aspect of their wellbeing. Poverty in childhood is a direct affront to multiple children’s rights.
The organization name here must take political action to fight for the eradication of child poverty and advocate for the following policy changes
1. Invest in public and social infrastructure, including extended universal public health care (mental health care, pharmacare, dental care, vision care), strengthen inclusive public education, make post-secondary education more affordable, and invest to ensure essential costs are available and affordable (e.g., food, internet).
2. Use the CCPA-NS social policy framework to develop a comprehensive, robust Poverty Eradication Plan, that incorporates an outcomes-based framework, includes targets andtimelines that are embedded in legislation.
3. Housing is health and the province must Implement the 95 recommendations in the Housing for All report to ensure that all Nova Scotians have meaningful access to safe, permanently affordable, secure, supported, and adequate housing.
4. Create a Child and Youth Advocate office to protect and promote the rights of Nova Scotia’s children and youth.
5. Institute regular public reporting to the legislature on progress towards achieving goals to eradicate poverty, as well as specifically reporting on outcomes relating to children and youth well-being and support.
6. Invest in proactive strategies developed in collaboration with communities that have particularly high poverty rates to ensure policies and programs meet their needs.
7. Continue to support First Nations in Nova Scotia to assume self-governance over child and family services to ensure they meet their cultural, historical, and geographical needs and circumstances.
8. Immediately end the practice of removing the Canada Child Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, from families when a child is brought into temporary care and custody.
9. Increase the minimum wage to $15 in the next year with a plan to make it a living wage.
As your constituent member we must use our collective resources to fight to eradicate poverty.
Sincerely,
Name,
Email address
Phone number
If you are a legal and social service provider, write to your professional association
-
Professional association’s address
RE: Professional association name must take action to eradicate poverty
Sent VIA Email:
Dear ____,
I am a <insert profession> working for__________. Poverty is a political choice that been detrimental to provision of child welfare. Specifically in 2017, changes were made to the Children and Family Services Act including expanding the definition of neglect to include: the chronic and serious failure to provide to the child adequate food, clothing or shelter, adequate supervision, affection or cognitive stimulation, or any other similar failure to provide care. This provision opens a punitive process for marginalized families for the failures of society. This change has expanded the reporting obligations of professionals, officials and others who work with children and families contributing to the over surveillance of racialized and vulnerable communities.
The government is itself responsible for providing inadequate income supports that ensnare people in poverty and instead of addressing its own responsibility this change has led to the continued overrepresentation of Indigenous and Black families involved in the child welfare system. The entire system needs transforming with careful attention to “disentangling the issues of poverty and maltreatment, particularly neglect. In other words, being poor does not make someone a poor parent, though poverty can create conditions under which maltreatment is more likely to occur. Similarly, addressing economic risk and poverty is necessary, but not sufficient to end child maltreatment or the need for child protective services.
The organization name here must take political action to fight for the eradication of child poverty and advocate for the following policy changes
1. Remove “failure to provide to the child adequate food, clothing or shelter” from the Children and Family Services Act.
2. Invest in public and social infrastructure, including extended universal public health care (mental health care, pharmacare, dental care, vision care), strengthen inclusive public education, make post-secondary education more affordable, and invest to ensure essential costs are available and affordable (e.g., food, internet).
3. Reform the Employment Supports and Income Assistance (ESIA) program incorporating the principles of social inclusion and respect for human dignity. The ESIA’s benefit level must include regular cost of living increases taking into account housing/rental inflation and food inflation in particular. In combination with an enhancement of current income supports namely, the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Affordable Living Tax Credit, the Poverty Reduction Credit, the government must ensure that the total federal-provincial income support meets and even surpasses a recognized low-income level.
4. Use the CCPA-NS social policy framework to develop a comprehensive, robust Poverty Eradication Plan, that incorporates an outcomes-based framework, includes targets and timelines that are embedded in legislation.
5. Create a Child and Youth Advocate office to protect and promote the rights of Nova Scotia’s children and youth.
6. Invest in proactive strategies developed in collaboration with communities that have particularly high poverty rates to ensure policies and programs meet their needs.
7. Continue to support First Nations in Nova Scotia to assume self-governance over child and family services to ensure they meet their cultural, historical, and geographical needs and circumstances.
8. Immediately end the practice of removing the Canada Child Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, from families when a child is brought into temporary care and custody.
9. Increase the minimum wage to $15 in the next year with a plan to make it a living wage.
As a member of the professional association, I am calling on the profession too use our collective resources to fight to eradicate poverty
Sincerely,
Name,
Email address
Phone number -
RE: Nova Scotia government must take action to eradicate poverty
Sent VIA Email:
Dear ___,
I am a <insert profession> working for__________. Poverty is a political choice that been detrimental to provision of child welfare. Specifically in 2017, changes were made to the Children and Family Services Act including expanding the definition of neglect to include: the chronic and serious failure to provide to the child adequate food, clothing or shelter, adequate supervision, affection or cognitive stimulation, or any other similar failure to provide care. This provision opens a punitive process for marginalized families for the failures of society. This change has expanded the reporting obligations of professionals, officials and others who work with children and families contributing to the over surveillance of racialized and vulnerable communities.
The government is itself responsible for providing inadequate income supports that ensnare people in poverty and instead of addressing its own responsibility this change has led to the continued overrepresentation of Indigenous and Black families involved in the child welfare system. The entire system needs transforming with careful attention to “disentangling the issues of poverty and maltreatment, particularly neglect. In other words, being poor does not make someone a poor parent, though poverty can create conditions under which maltreatment is more likely to occur. Similarly, addressing economic risk and poverty is necessary, but not sufficient to end child maltreatment or the need for child protective services.
The organization name here must take political action to fight for the eradication of child poverty and advocate for the following policy changes
1. Remove “failure to provide to the child adequate food, clothing or shelter” from the Children and Family Services Act.
2. Invest in public and social infrastructure, including extended universal public health care (mental health care, pharmacare, dental care, vision care), strengthen inclusive public education, make post-secondary education more affordable, and invest to ensure essential costs are available and affordable (e.g., food, internet).
3. Reform the Employment Supports and Income Assistance (ESIA) program incorporating the principles of social inclusion and respect for human dignity. The ESIA’s benefit level must include regular cost of living increases taking into account housing/rental inflation and food inflation in particular. In combination with an enhancement of current income supports namely, the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Affordable Living Tax Credit, the Poverty Reduction Credit, the government must ensure that the total federal-provincial income support meets and even surpasses a recog-nized low-income level.
4. Use the CCPA-NS social policy framework to develop a comprehensive, robust Poverty Eradication Plan, that incorporates an outcomes-based framework, includes targets and timelines that are embedded in legislation.
5. Create a Child and Youth Advocate office to protect and promote the rights of Nova Scotia’s children and youth.
6. Invest in proactive strategies developed in collaboration with communities that have particularly high poverty rates to ensure policies and programs meet their needs.
7. Continue to support First Nations in Nova Scotia to assume self-governance over child and family services to ensure they meet their cultural, historical, and geographical needs and circumstances.
8. Immediately end the practice of removing the Canada Child Benefit, Child Disability Benefit, and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, from families when a child is brought into temporary care and custody.
9. Increase the minimum wage to $15 in the next year with a plan to make it a living wage.
As your constituent member we must use our collective resources to fight to eradicate poverty.
Sincerely,
Name,
Email address
Phone number