ACORN protests cuts to bus passes and food allowance

Protesters from a non-profit group that supports low-income people in Canada took to the streets of downtown Halifax Friday afternoon to draw attention to the effects budget cuts made by the Department of Community Services have had on the poor and disabled.

"These cuts create a nightmare for people who are struggling already," Lisa Fairn, an ACORN board member who is on disability said. "We want to show the minister we're not backing down. We want more."

ACORN Nova Scotia is a chapter of the national organization. About a dozen supporters met at Halifax's Grand Parade and marched to Province House to protest funding cuts to disability and income assistance programs.

The group's anger was directed at Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard and the cuts made by her department in the spring provincial budget.

The cuts included the cancellation of free bus passes for people with disabilities on social assistance.

Back in May, a department spokeswoman said the bus passes were never based on the need to get around but rather the need to get to medical appointments.

Fairn disagrees with that assessment.

"We need our bus passes. For people with disabilities especially, taking away the bus pass can trap you in your own home," she said.

Fairn said people are leaving the province to they get the services they need elsewhere.

"I know a person now, she had to leave the province. Her bus pass was cut and she was in a wheelchair," she said.

"They sent her a letter asking her how far she can walk. And now she had to leave the province and go back to Toronto."

ACORN is also concerned about the cancellation of an allowance for people with medically-required special diets.

The group claims Bernard does not want to meet with them.

"She doesn't want to sit down and say 'this is why we are doing it, this is why we're not doing it' she just wants to cut back and it's not fair to the people of Halifax," Fairn said.