Latest news with #CindyMiles
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
N.B. government to spend $1.2 million to support youth in care
New Brunswick's provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld The New Brunswick government is increasing the monthly financial support received by young people in the Youth Engagement and Young Adult Services program. The province announced Wednesday it would up its overall spending by nearly $1.2 million to support people aged 16 to 26 in care. That translates to a 19 per cent increase per person, or an extra $163 to $259 each month, beginning June 1. 'Every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed,' said Social Development Minister Cindy Miles in a news release. 'This investment is an intentional step to help youth and young adults thrive by giving them the support they need when they need it most – whether that's finishing their education, finding stable housing or entering the workforce.' The province says the program also provides like-skills training, mental health support and housing stability services with a goal of: reducing the number of young people relying on social assistance or experiencing homelessness increasing high school and post-secondary completion helping young people find long-term, meaningful employment 'This kind of investment is foundational for youth who have experienced care to achieve a stable transition to adulthood; it acknowledges the unique barriers they face and helps create a more equitable future,' said Melanie Doucet, director and project lead for the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates. 'Youth in and from care deserve a starting point that is equitable and above the poverty line and allows them to pursue their interests and dreams so that they can grow into thriving adults.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
28-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Social development minister downplays youth advocate's worries about budget cuts
Minister Cindy Miles stresses opportunity to do things differently with this budget Image | Cindy Miles - Minister of Social Development Caption: Minister of Social Development Cindy Miles said the budget for child welfare services increased by $26 million this year. (Radio-Canada) Open Image in New Tab New Brunswick's Social Development minister does not share the same fears about the province's child welfare budget as the province's child and youth advocate. Advocate Kelly Lamrock released a report on Thursday that took issue with what he calls the largest cut to the child welfare budget in decades. His report said Social Development's $208.3-million budget for this year falls short of the $231.9 million spent on those same child welfare services last year. But Minister Cindy Miles doesn't agree that the budget has been cut. "Last year was budgeted $181 million, and this year was budgeted $208 million, so up $26 million," Miles said Monday during an interview with Information Morning Fredericton. While that is the case, Lamrock said last week that because the actual cost came in higher than the estimate last year, the department is effectively being asked to reduce its spending on services to children in care by $23 million. He also said since the budget speech also pledged $23.6 million for new wage increases and services, he said, existing services will be in a $46.6-million shortfall. When asked about that, Miles didn't directly address the accusation. "What I'm saying is that we haven't had a chance to sit down with the advocate to really go through what are the opportunities that are existing now with this budget and with the Child and Youth Well-Being Act," she said when asked if she thought Lamrock's calculations were incorrect "I believe Mr. Lamrock said that he had gone back to [the] finance board to talk to them, but they wouldn't have those breakdowns of what moving forward looks like," she said. "So I look forward to the opportunity coming up in the next few months to really sit down with the advocate's office." Miles said the budget was reflective of "wanting to do things differently and putting youth at the centre of everything that we do." In Lamrock's report, he recommended that the departments of Finance and Social Development reconsider the funding cuts. Miles said right now, that's not on the table. "We'll go back with the social development team and look at all the recommendations that the advocate has made," she said. "But this budget, we can really do things differently, and we need to do things differently."
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minister faces ‘lofty' poverty reduction goal amid economic uncertainty
Social Development Minister Cindy Miles says a 'clear plan' will be released by September detailing the next steps in the push to reduce poverty by 50 per cent in New Brunswick by 2030. That 50 per cent target has been a longstanding goal of the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, a provincial Crown corporation behind a five-year poverty reduction plan now in its fourth iteration since 2009. In February, the group released its 2025-30 plan, listing 16 actions to be undertaken to achieve its renewed goal of reducing poverty rates by 50 cent in the province. 'It is a lofty goal – I recognize that and I think we all recognize that, especially as we're looking at economic uncertainty around the globe – but that doesn't change that we do all that we can to make sure that we get there,' said Miles, who appeared before a legislative committee Tuesday to discuss her department's 2025-26 spending plans. New Brunswick's poverty rates steadily dropped between 2015 and 2021 despite a surge in population growth, according to the latest poverty reduction plan. But that trend came to an end in 2022 thanks in part to inflationary pressures. About 85,000 New Brunswickers lived in poverty that year, up from a low of 51,000 people in 2021 but down from a high of 126,000 people in 2015. New Brunswick's plan uses what's called market basket measure as its poverty line. That threshold is based on the level of income necessary to cover the cost of food, clothing, shelter, transportation and other necessities for a family of two adults and two children. That threshold ranged from $47,508 to $50,995 in New Brunswick in 2022, according to Statistics Canada data outlined in the plan. In its latest report, the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation called for the creation of two bodies: an advisory committee to explore 'additional options for increasing income security for New Brunswickers,' and a taskforce for the non-profit sector. These committees represent two of the 16 priority actions identified by the corporation in its latest poverty reduction plan shaped by public input. Those 16 actions are divided under three pillars: basic needs and wellbeing, income security, and people-focused service delivery. Progressive Conservative MLA Margaret Johnson asked Tuesday about the status of those committees. 'My intention is to see these committees ready to go forward by September,' said Miles, who is the minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation. 'It's also my intention to see a solid plan presented by September as well around the 16 priorities housed within those three pillars.' The Holt government has already promised to increase social assistance rates and explore a guaranteed basic income for New Brunswickers with disabilities. More than 38,200 New Brunswickers were receiving social assistance as of December, Miles said, noting her department's 2025-26 budget includes $5.3 million to index social assistance rates to 2.2 per cent. But given the economic uncertainty, Miles said the department recognizes it needs to keep a close eye on rates and be 'flexible' in discussions around where they should be set to support New Brunswickers. 'We need to continue to monitor this closely,' she said. 'New Brunswickers depend on us.' The Liberals have kept in place a monthly $200 supplement for social assistance recipients to help with the rising cost of food and housing. That measure was put in place by the former Higgs Progressive Conservative government in 2023. But under questioning, Miles acknowledged the supplement hasn't been indexed to inflation nor has the decision been made to make it permanent. 'My concern is seeing that in this budget – and it's not the first budget that it's been like this certainly – is that these (social assistance) rates are nowhere near where they need to be to not have to live in legislated poverty,' said Green party MLA Megan Mitton. Social assistance rates range from $675 per month to $1,334, depending on the size of the household and factors like employability and disability. A 2022 Maytree Foundation report found New Brunswick had the lowest social assistance rates in Canada. Miles didn't dispute that current rates aren't appropriate, but she said a review of them needs to consider how to support those who are able to return to the workforce. 'We can't just look at social assistance as the whole piece,' she said. 'There's so many other pieces that we need look at to support folks. 'What are the barriers for them leaving social assistance and leaving generational poverty and moving into spaces where they can get out into the workforce?'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Media Advisory: Funding Announcement in New Brunswick
SAINT JOHN, NB, Feb. 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Members of the media are invited to an announcement on the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative with Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay, the Honourable Cindy Miles, Minister of Social Development, and Her Worship Donna Noade Reardon, Mayor of the City of Saint John. Date: Friday, February 21, 2025 Time: 11:00 a.m. AST Location: Saint John City Hall, Foyer outside of Council Chambers (2nd floor)15 Market SquareSaint John, New Brunswick E2L 4L1 Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
