An advocate for those struggling to make ends meet says it’s time that Newfoundland and Labrador revert back to the way it calculated benefits during the days of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

From 2006-2012, benefits were calculated taking inflation into account to cover increases in the cost of living. However, Josh Smee, executive director of Food First NL, says the inflation connection no longer applies, and that means people are, financially, sliding backward.

Since 2012, people are being provided with less each year because of inflation, says Smee. One of the simplest things we can do is tie benefits and supports to inflation, he says. While it won’t solve everything, it will at least prevent people from sliding backward.