A Nova Scotia MLA is calling on the government to address poverty in our province amid concerns over kids’ safety.
Dartmouth South NDP MLA Claudia Chender has taken to Twitter to say we should be worried if school is the only way to keep some kids safe.
Chender says the province needs immediate plans for affordable housing and poverty reduction along with a universal school food program.
If we acknowledge that children need a place to be warm and to eat then I’d like to hear the immediate plan for #housingforall and #povertyreduction generally, and action on deferred maintenance for Nova Scotia schools and a universal school food program, specifically. #nspoli
— Claudia Chender (@ChenderClaudia) January 5, 2022
The critique is in response to Premier Tim Houston’s report many children rely on schools for food, warmth, and to not feel alone.
He stated during the COVID-19 update on Wednesday the “brutal reality” for some kids is that school is the place where they’re safest.
“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,” Houston says. “The reality for many children is that school is where they get food. It’s heartbreaking and it’s a terrible reflection on our society, but we can’t ignore it,” Houston says.
The province announced on Wednesday the return to in-person learning would be delayed by one week to help classrooms better prepare for the Omicron COVID-19 wave.
