Nova Scotia Ties Income Assistance to Inflation for First Time

The 3.1% increase aims to address rising living costs but falls short of alleviating poverty, advocates say.

Nova Scotia has implemented annual indexing of income assistance to the consumer price index starting January 1, 2025.
The initial 3.1% increase comes on top of a 2.5% raise introduced in July 2024, benefiting over 37,000 recipients.
Advocates acknowledge the move as a positive step but argue it is insufficient to lift people out of poverty amid soaring living costs.
Feed Nova Scotia reports a 52% increase in food bank usage since 2022, with over 23,000 people relying on its services monthly.
Calls for bold government action include establishing a living wage, addressing affordable housing shortages, and expanding access to basic necessities.