A vision for Nova Scotia's future

A report from the Social Policy Committee

Throughout 2019 the Social Policy Committee worked with the Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to guide the development of a new social policy framework.

The committee was delighted to work with lead author Tammy Findlay, who is an associate professor and chair in the political and Canadian studies department at Mount Saint Vincent University. Tammy’s research focuses on feminist intersectionality and public policy, social policy, child care policy, women’s representation and democratic governance. She is the author of several publications about gender, democracy and public policy, a research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Nova Scotia, and a board member of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women.

The committee was also incredibly grateful to work with Christine Saulnier, the Nova Scotia Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. She has a doctorate in political science from York University, leads the living wage calculations for communities in Atlantic Canada, and has served as co-author of the annual child and family poverty report cards for Nova Scotia. She is a frequent media commentator on fiscal policy, minimum wage and a range of social policies, including child care and income assistance.

The framework was launched in March of 2020 and shows through data and analysis that over the past three decades, we have seen increasing globalization, the rise of neoliberalism and unprecedented technological change affecting the labour market. Governments have enacted policies that have resulted in greater inequity, and a general retrenchment of the welfare state, either by explicit austerity measures or by non-decisions and lack of public investment in social infrastructure. These trends have combined to leave the most vulnerable Nova Scotians to carry the greatest burden of these policies.

The framework offers blueprints for achieving goals for our province. It is a roadmap to improve quality of life through policy. Social policy frameworks are tools that guide complex decision-making, set future positive direction, and identify important intersections that impact intended and unintended outcomes of policy.

The Social Policy Committee also worked on advocacy strategy to ensure that framework was integrated and used by progressive communities across Nova Scotia. It is the goal of the NSCSW to use this framework to support advocacy efforts to promote health, prevent harm and proactively address government policy. The Social Policy Framework will be a living document that can serve as a guide to organize, mobilize and ensure all Nova Scotians have opportunities for wellbeing and fulfillment.

Advocacy strategy summary

Goal:

Nova Scotians demonstrate an active political discourse utilizing the language and the ideas within the Social Policy Framework.

Strategies:

1. Launch framework in partnership with CCPA NS

2. Build campaign with community partners using framework to mobilize discourse

3. Build training for social workers and members of the public on how to use framework in daily work

4. Collaborate with Dalhousie School of Social Work to integrate framework into course work.

Committee members:

Patricia Auchnie, Andre Deszi, Cheryl Hebert, Laurette McGaughey, Alicia Nolan, Janet Pothier, Alec Stratford (Staff), Jennifer VanKessel.