Opposition Leader James Aylward wants to know what actions the government has taken over the last year to reduce poverty and food insecurity in P.E.I.
On April 6, 2017, The Guardian devoted an entire-print edition to the issue of poverty and its impact on Islanders. MLAs also dedicated a full day of debate in the P.E.I. legislature to discuss the issue.
Aylward decided to bring the issue back before the legislature Friday during question period.
“What specific actions has your government taken to reduce poverty and food insecurity here on P.E.I. over the last year?”
Premier Wade MacLauchlan said in the past year, government has implemented the fourth of five increments to the food allowance for recipients of social assistance.
“When those five increments are in place, the increase will be upwards of $3 million on an annual basis,” said MacLauchlan. “That comes together with two increments, roughly a 70 per cent increase, to the personal comfort allowance.”
Aylward’s response: “Great words, little action.”
“All you have to do is get out and actually travel across this Island and speak to those Islanders that are actually facing poverty and food insecurity,” said Aylward. “The complex economic and social issues created by poverty continue, unfortunately, to plague our Island.”
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The provincial government tabled the 2018 budget Friday, which included free tuition for more than 1,000 low-income college/university students, up to 1,000 new low-income housing units and increased food rates and shelter allowances for social assistance clients.
Related: One year later, many in P.E.I. are still paying the price
Matthew MacKay, MLA for Kensington-Malpeque, also spoke about poverty during question period. MacKay said social assistance clients only receive $25 a month for transportation, yet the costs for a monthly bus pass in Summerside is $30 and $65 in Charlottetown.
“Does it seem strange that monthly transportation allowance for social assistance clients is less than half the cost of a bus pass?”
MacLauchlan said there are many areas where social assistance clients are supported, including the allowance for personal items.
MacKay said the social assistance mileage rate was last adjusted 12 years ago and said using 2006 rates isn’t helping reduce poverty in 2018.
MacLauchlan said government has increased rates in other areas, including food, comfort and home renovations.
Brad Trivers, MLA for Rustico-Emerald, brought up carbon tax and gas prices as well as public transit.
He wanted to know whether the price of a litre of gas will go up or down when the carbon tax is adopted and whether the province has plans to expand access to public transit to support more low-income Islanders and seniors.
Transportation Paula Biggar said her department can’t control gas prices, but her staff plan to work with Islanders through the energy strategy and Efficiency P.E.I. to help Islanders save energy and dollars.
Responding to public transit concerns, Biggar says last year, the department provided extra funding to Pat and the Elephant as well as Transportation West and is committed again to the County Line Express between Charlottetown and Summerside.
She adds that a transportation committee is looking at how to improve travel across P.E.I.
