Opinion on the latest household income stats in Nova Scotia – Nova Scotians deserve a fairer share
The latest economic report, Daily Stats: Household income, consumption, and wealth (Q1); UK CPI (Jun) for Nova Scotia, presents us with a lot to consider, as it tells two distinctly different stories not covered in the mainstream media. On the one hand, it highlights the value of the public services we all rely on. The report notes that each household receives approximately $8,341 in “social transfers in kind.”
Let’s be clear about what this means: it’s the value of our public healthcare, our kids’ schools, and other government services that make our communities strong. These aren’t handouts; they are essential services funded by our tax dollars that support every family in the province. The report also shows that our pension assets are among the highest in the country, a testament to the hard work and foresight of workers who have fought for and contributed to decent retirement plans. But this is where the good news ends. The other story in this report is one of inequality, and it’s deeply concerning.
The fact is, Nova Scotian workers are falling behind the rest of Canada. The average household income here is just 81.8% of the national average. Worse yet, when you look just at employee compensation, meaning the money people earn from their jobs, we are at a shocking 74.8% of the Canadian average. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a reality for thousands of families. It means that for every dollar an average Canadian household earns, a Nova Scotian household earns less than 82 cents. It means our paychecks are smaller, making it harder to afford groceries, housing, and gas. It’s no wonder that the report shows Nova Scotian households have negative savings, forcing people to take on more debt to make ends meet.
Strong public services and pensions are vital, but they don’t pay the bills. They are the foundation, not the whole house. We cannot have a strong economy when the people who build it are not being paid fairly for their work. It’s time to say that this is not good enough. We need to do better. We need employers to pay fair wages that reflect the value of their workers. We need a government that actively works to close this income gap and not take away good union jobs and privatize services. We must ensure that the prosperity of our province is shared by everyone, not just a select few. The working people of this province deserve their fair share of the benefits. It’s time we made that a reality.
