The provincial government is proposing to increase basic rates for those living on social assistance by $5.4 million as noted in this week’s budget but an anti-poverty group says that’s not enough.
Jean-Claude Basque with the Common Front for Social Justice says the amount is far below what’s needed to lift individuals out of poverty.
“For a single employable (recipient), there has been no increase since 2010 and for all of the others since 2014. So we have estimated that all of them have lost $20 million in purchasing power.”
While it’s better than nothing, Basque argues it’s a measly increase and says social assistance rates should at least keep pace with inflation.
But he says there are some positives in the budget including more funding for the Support Services and Disability Support Services Programs and a boost in benefits like the Home Energy Assistance Program and the Low Income Seniors’ Benefit.
The upcoming increase in the minimum wage on April 1 also falls short according to Basque.
At $11.70 an hour, he says New Brunswick will have the lowest minimum wage in the Atlantic region.
Basque adds minimum wage earners only represent about six percent of the workforce and the small increase will still leave many living below the poverty line.
