N.S. virtual learning decision underscores ongoing childhood poverty issues

A report published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says Nova Scotia's childhood poverty rates have decreased by less than a percentage point over the past 30 years.

Nova Scotia’s premier has frequently raised the harmful impacts keeping school doors closed, even for the interim, has on thousands of families across the province living in poverty.

“The brutal reality in this province is that for some kids, school is the place where they are safest, they’re safest at school. It’s sad but it’s true,” Premier Tim Houston said during the Jan. 5 provincial briefing.

“And, the reality for many children in this province, particularly as we move into the depths of winter, is that school is the place where they are most warm.”

A report published in November 2021 by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives states that Nova Scotia’s childhood poverty rates have decreased by less than one per cent over the past 30 years.

The report states that in 1989, the rate was 24.4 per cent and since then the province has reduced childhood poverty by 0.1 percentage point, despite a pledge to eradicate it by 2000.

“We still have thousands and thousands of children living in poverty in our province and largely that’s on the shoulders of our provincial government,” said Christine Saulnier, a policy researcher and co-author of the report.

Front-line community support organizations, like the YWCA Halifax, have dealt first-hand with the disproportionate impacts school closures can have, particularly on single mothers and caregivers.

“There was a hugely disproportionate impact on women who are unable to work from home, who we know are very concentrated in caring sectors — child care, elder care, nursing,” YWCA Halifax executive director Miia Suokonautio said.