FACE representatives from faith communities in the HRM work together to eliminate poverty. A fundamental tenet of each faith is "love thy neighbour". One way to do this is to ensure that all our neighbours have shelter, food, health services, and access to education and employment - the very things we desire for ourselves. Persons living in poverty do not have these basic necessities. Moreover, poverty forecloses choices and options that many of us take for granted. Poverty deprives people of experiences that contribute to meaning and human development. Something needs to be done about poverty - right now. |
Canada is a signatory to the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that states all citizens have a right to adequate shelter, food, income, health, and employment. Indeed, the Human Rights Act of Nova Scotia "…(e) recognize[s] that the government, all public agencies and all persons in the Province have the responsibility to ensure that every individual in the Province is afforded an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life and that failure to provide equality of opportunity threatens the status of all persons …". If people cannot earn enough money, they are dependent on others to help them with the necessities of life. |
Governments can change this situation. Louise Arbour, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, now the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said (CBC IDEAS, November 2005) Canada takes a charity attitude to human rights when it should view human rights as entitlements for citizens. We agree with her that governments have been content to take this "feel good" attitude toward the elimination of poverty while churches and community agencies struggle to supply even "band-aids" for our citizens. |
Bold innovation by governments is required. Governments have the power - and the obligation - to provide justice for all citizens. |
The ultimate goal for the Employment Support and Income Assistance Program is to help individuals and families out of poverty and into independent citizenship. To do this, cost effectiveness must be looked at from the long-term point of view. The cost effectiveness of early intervention to help people to have adequate shelter, food, jobs, education, etc. should be compared to the later costs of our current system of minimum support which results in chronic health problems, unemployment, and law enforcement issues. This calls for co-operation among provincial government departments - Community Services, Health, Health Promotion, Education, Justice, Environment, and Labour. Co-operation is not a new idea but needs emphasis in Cabinet decision making. We urge the implementation of a Guaranteed Annual Adequate Income in Nova Scotia. |
It is a human right to be free of poverty. Canadians value our safety nets and want to assist their fellow citizens to a full life. Members of faith groups, volunteers in community organizations, and workers in many occupations give countless hours of their time, energy, and money to help those in need. Citizens actively support efforts to redress the inequities in our society. |
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