New Income Assistance System for Nova Scotia

Nova Scotians are being asked to comment on the redesign of the province's income assistance system. The new system, which comes into effect in April of 2001, will help people become more self- reliant.

"The redesign process that began in 1997 is nearing completion," said Peter Christie, Minister of Community Services. "The goal has always been to develop a modern income assistance system that is fair and equitable. It must also be a system that the government and taxpayers of the province can afford."

In April of 2000, an interim system was put in place for people who were coming into the assistance program. The department will monitor and assess the impact of these standardized rates as the new system is developed. For people already on Family Benefits or Social Assistance before May 1, 2000, their current rates are being maintained until next April.

"Our focus remains on how best to help people overcome barriers to employment," said Mr. Christie. "The most immediate and effective way to address poverty is to provide employment opportunities.

"We realize that some people will need longer-term assistance and the new system will address those situations in a compassionate manner," said Mr. Christie. "However, we also have to build a system that doesn't create dependency. We have to encourage and support people to move into the labour force and remain there."

This stage of the redesign process follows extensive public consultation in 1998. Written submissions, telephone calls and e- mails were received from community groups, organizations and individuals. The department's consultation process was supplemented by a number of public sessions held throughout the province by the legislature's standing committee on community services.

The input from the consultation process suggested the department was headed in the right direction by developing a standardized single-tier assistance system. It confirmed the current system was confusing for people on assistance, and for the public. The department released a progress report last year that presented a summary of the feedback. It is available at www.gov.ns.ca/coms/progress.htm .

Comments, suggestions, and questions on this final phase of the redesign process can be sent to webcoms@gov.ns.ca or by writing Redesign Project, Community Services, PO Box 696, Halifax, NS B3J 2T7. Submissions should be received before July 31, 2000.

Department staff will be busy over the summer developing the policy and legislation that will be introduced at the next session of the provincial legislature.

More than 13,000 people on social assistance have been matched with employment opportunities since 1996. At the same time, the number of people on assistance in Nova Scotia has dropped from about 49,000 to about 38,000.