Prejudice hurts those who rely on social assistance to survive

This article is part of a series on poverty by Janelle LeBlanc of the NB Common Front for Social Justice. Read the first part here.

The Government of New Brunswick announced an increase in social assistance rates in the latest provincial budget tabled in March. This annual increase, based on the Consumer Price Index, was anticipated through the social assistance reform. Monthly social assistance rates are still low, ranging from $637 to $786 for a single person. This is an increase of $40 to $50 per month. Who can live on this meager income?

In 2021, social assistance rates in NB were the lowest in Canada and are still among the lowest in the country. People are living in extreme poverty and cannot make ends meet. The rising cost of living has had an impact on everyone, especially people living in poverty. It is no coincidence that food bank usage and homelessness rates have increased in the past year.

​​There are circumstances that can lead to the need for social assistance, such as a disability, a workplace accident or even a divorce. However, the same prejudices about social assistance have long circulated and play a role in the underfunding of this social program. “People are lazy and don’t want to work.” “Jobs are easy to find.” “People choose to rely on social assistance and have children to get more money.”

These prejudices hurt. The reality is quite different. People face many barriers in their efforts to enter the workforce or find a job. Not everyone has access to reliable or accessible transportation, the Internet, a computer and child care. Many workplaces are not accessible to people with disabilities and people with mental health issues. The minimum wage is not a living wage and the cost of living is rising, making it difficult for people to get through the month. In addition, the majority of social assistance recipients are single people, some of whom have no social or family networks. Social assistance becomes a necessary aid and not an abuse.

My heartfelt plea is that empathy, compassion and openness to others are needed. Let’s start by listening to the stories of social assistance recipients. Let’s think about the consequences of underfunding our social programs, health care and public services. Poverty costs are over $1 billion a year in New Brunswick. The government has recorded budget surpluses since the beginning of the pandemic. How is this possible? Let’s demand an immediate reinvestment in our social programs and a significant increase in social assistance rates. When we invest in our population, everyone benefits!

Janelle LeBlanc is provincial coordinator of the New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice.