QP - What was the Premier thinking when he cut the Caregiver Benefit?

CLAUDIA CHENDER : Speaker, the Premier called what happened yesterday courage. It looks a lot more like damage control and shame from where we sit. This government is in chaos, but they seem to think they should get credit for making only some of the cruel cuts they initially proposed.

Caregivers in this province have been caring for their loved ones at tremendous personal cost for about $400 a month, an amount that's been frozen by both the PC and Liberal governments for the last 16 years, and instead of giving the respect and support they deserve, the government wants them to be grateful.

If the Premier thinks Nova Scotians will thank him for being slightly less thoughtless, it's a rude awakening he's waiting for. What was the Premier thinking when he cut the Caregiver Benefit program?

THE PREMIER  : Speaker, caregivers - we all know them. We all know the energy and the compassion and the effort they put in. We know the value they bring to this province. We are recognizing that in the budget. We wish we could do more than $400 a month, for sure, but we are trying to do what we can and balance a number of things.

I just want to assure the member, the decisions that we're making are about people. They are not about politics. We are trying to do the best we can. The member is trying to insinuate that - well, I don't know. I won't ascribe any motive, but I just want to assure the member that what we are focused on is doing the best we can for Nova Scotians in a challenging financial situation.

CLAUDIA CHENDER : These cuts were cold math, and the Premier said it himself. It should have been more people-centred, but it wasn't, because if it was, caregivers would not have been on the chopping block. They take care of family members so that they can live in their homes surrounded by loved ones. They are relieving strain from our overburdened health care system, and they do that work for $13 a day.

An NDP government brought that benefit in, and the amount hasn't increased in 16 years. People are worried about their loved ones, and they aren't asking for much, just a fair shot at supporting their families.

Will this government double that benefit to keep up with inflation, saving money in our health care system and making sure that Nova Scotians have the support they need?

THE PREMIER : Speaker, if you look at the budgets across the provinces, there are significant financial challenges across the country. There isn't a program that the member could ask me if I wish I could do more that I wouldn't say that I wish I could do more. Every single dollar that goes out the door in support of Nova Scotians, I wish we could do more.

Nova Scotians understand that there are limits to what government can afford, to what government can do. That Caregivers Benefit was never under threat. It was a question of capacity and how much it would be needed, because beside that, we put direct benefits. Beside that we've opened up nursing home beds. So we are doing what we can.