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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Anti-Poverty Group Warns Poor Could Be Targeted

The Common Front for Social Justice is worried the provincial government will try to reduce its burgeoning deficit on the backs of the poor.

Jean Claude Basque tells CHSJ News he gets concerned when he hears Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs talking about managing the caseloads which translates into cutting the number of people who get help.

Basque points out the number of people receiving social assistance has gone up but that's more a reflection of the poor state of the economy and quite a high number are unable to work anyway.

He argues if the Alward Government returned to the taxation rates that were in place before 2008, there would be plenty of money.

According to the province's fiscal update, overspending by Social Development in the first quarter exceeded 9 million dollars.