BILL NO. 481
(as introduced)
1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
3 Charles III, 2024
Private Member's Bill
Social Safety Net Security Act
The Honourable Derek Mombourquette
Sydney–Membertou
First Reading: September 12, 2024
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act to Index Social Supports to Inflation
AND WHEREAS Nova Scotians on fixed incomes have seen the price of food, fuel and housing grow beyond their means;
AND WHEREAS Nova Scotia's social safety net must address the needs of our most economically vulnerable;
THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Social Safety Net Security Act.
2 Subject to Section 3, the Government shall annually index the following to the Consumer Price Index for the Province, as calculated by Statistics Canada:
(a) assistance and supplementary assistance provided under the Employment Support and Income Assistance Act;
(b) the eligibility criteria and payment amounts for the Nova Scotia Child Benefit Program;
(c) the net annual income threshold for a person eligible to receive care under the Caregiver Benefit program;
(d) the payment to caregivers under the Caregiver Benefit program;
(e) the total assessed value of a qualifying residential property under the Homeowner Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Programs;
(f) the total household income limit for homeowners to be eligible for funding under the Family Modest Housing Program;
(g) the household income threshold for eligibility under the Heating Assistance Rebate Program;
(h) the rebate payable under the Heating Assistance Rebate Program;
(i) through a funding agreement to be established with the Salvation Army, the household income threshold and maximum eligible assistance available under the Salvation Army's Home Energy Assistance Top-up Fund.
3 The money required for the purpose of this Act must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.
4 This Act has effect on and after October 1, 2024.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2024 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created September 12, 2024. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
