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Common Front for Social Justice |
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Common Front For Social Justice 96, ave Norwood, #208 Moncton, NB E1C 6L9 Tel.: 851-7084 fcjsnb@nbnet.nb.ca |
Bernard Lord, Premier
Moncton East
P.O. Box-C.P. 6000
Fredericton, NB
E3B 5H1
Thursday, October 16th, 2003
Dear Premier,
On this, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we would like to remind you of your promise as the Government of New Brunswick, to increase Social Assistance benefits.
People who receive Social Assistance in New Brunswick find it simply impossible to provide for all their needs because of the small amount of money they receive each month. During the last provincial election, the Common Front for Social Justice in New Brunswick invited the candidates to produce a personnal budget pretending they were on the social assistance program. Not surprinsingly, no one could present a reasonable budget with the current provincial rates. Moreover, we believe it is impossible to create a budget with these ridiculous amounts.
In your plan for a stronger New Brunswick, you clearly committed to increase social assistance benefits. The time has come to honnor your commitment. In fact, we believe this is an urgent priority as thousands of men, women and children in New Brunswick live in poverty, and need this assistance immediately.
Poor people want to stop the vicious cycle of poverty; but sometimes they require a little help in achieving this. We are asking you to show compassion, and solidarity by respecting your pledge to the people of New Brunswick, and by increasing social assistance benefits. This could make all the difference for the most needy men, women and children of our society.
Respectfully,
John Gagnon & Marie-Anne Leblanc
co-chairs for the Common Front for Social Justice of N.B.