The Common Front for Social Justice will be watching today’s provincial budget closely.

They held a banner drop off of the overpass in downtown Moncton yesterday to highlight the predicament and the state of the province right now.

Provincial Coordinator Janelle Leblanc there are a lot of people struggling out there because of the cost of living, “In 2021, the social assistance rates in the province were the lowest in Canada. People cannot make ends meet. They can’t pay for their rent or groceries or expenses.”

Leblanc adds they’ll also be paying close attention to Social Development,  looking for investments in social housing and affordable housing in all communities, not just big cities, “We also want to ensure they are accessible for people with disabilities and also big enough for a family.”

The provincial budget will be handed down at 1 pm Tuesday afternoon.

“The Government of New Brunswick must invest in people and communities. There must be permanent measures to help,” Leblanc says.

In addition to budget announcements, the organization urges the government to take the following actions:

• Invest the current provincial budget surplus in social programs including social
  assistance, healthcare, social housing and improving frontline workers’ working
  conditions.
• Increase the minimum wage to a living wage ($20 per hour across the province)
• Add 10 employer-paid annual sick days to the Employment Standards Act
• Compensate workers for mandatory work clothing and equipment
• Increase and simplify access to overtime pay.