FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 18, 2025
KJIPUKTUK (HALIFAX, NS) – The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) voices deep concern over the 2025-2026 provincial budget, which disregards critical investments needed to safeguard the well-being of children and youth. While the budget includes baseline measures on gender-based violence, income supports and minimum wage, it fails to offer a comprehensive approach, which leaves children and families vulnerable to worsening economic instability.
Among the most troubling oversights is the lack of funding for the Office of Children and Youth, which a legislative framework was established for last year. This office is vital to ensuring that the rights and needs of Nova Scotia’s youngest citizens are prioritized amidst growing uncertainty. “The establishment of this office represents a necessary step in protecting children’s rights,” said Alec Stratford, executive director/registrar of the NSCSW. “By failing to fund it, the government sends a troubling message about the value it places on protecting our province’s most vulnerable population.”
Poverty rates in Nova Scotia reflect this growing crisis, with the CCPA-NS 2024 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Nova Scotia revealing a staggering 16% increase in child and family poverty. Addressing poverty requires systemic solutions, yet the measures outlined in the budget fall far short. While increasing minimum wage and tying income assistance to inflation offers some relief, these incremental steps lack the scale and scope required to solve entrenched poverty.
The government’s narrative link between resource extraction and poverty reduction is also misleading. Experiences of Canada’s resource-dependent provinces reveal the shortcomings of focusing solely on economic growth or resource extraction to tackle poverty. Provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador, which are heavily reliant on resource extraction, exhibit significant poverty rates (10.1%, 11.1%, and 11.4%, respectively). Despite huge revenues from sectors like oil, gas, and mining, resource wealth rarely benefits those who need it most. Instead, income inequality persists, with corporate profits and high-skilled job opportunities largely bypassing marginalized communities. Economic volatility tied to the boom-and-bust cycles of global markets further exacerbates these issues, with job losses and reduced public spending during downturns deepening poverty.
In contrast, despite deriving only 12.7% of its economy from natural resources, Quebec maintains the lowest poverty rate in Canada (6.7%) thanks to a diversified economy and robust social safety nets. The lesson is clear—poverty is alleviated through systemic investments, not by relying on volatile resource economies that fail to support the wider population.
“Poverty is driven by structural inequalities, not solved by expanding resource extraction,” Stratford emphasized. “Nova Scotia needs a comprehensive, equitable approach to poverty reduction. This includes massive investments in affordable housing, universal childcare, mental health supports, and income security programs that go beyond inflationary adjustments. Without these measures, economic growth will continue to disproportionately benefit a privileged minority, leaving too many people—especially children—behind.”
The NSCSW is calling on the Nova Scotia government to recognize the urgency of this crisis and commit to bold, evidence-based interventions for poverty reduction. Failure to act not only puts children and youth at risk, but threatens the province’s long-term economic and social stability.
“The government must prioritize equity and dignity,” Stratford concluded. “Investments in children and families today will yield immense returns for all Nova Scotians tomorrow. However, without meaningful action, the risks to our collective future are undeniable.”
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About us:
The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers serves and protects Nova Scotians by effectively regulating the profession of social work. We work in solidarity with Nova Scotians to advocate for policies that improve social conditions, challenge injustice and value diversity.
For more information or to arrange interviews with NSCSW spokespersons, contact: Rebecca Faria, communication coordinator for NSCSW (902-429-7799 ext. 227, [email protected]).