A single grandmother in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, says she barely ate in December after the government of Nunavut slashed her daughter's income assistance. For two months, the family's food allowance was cut down because of poor school attendance — which she says was the result of health issues.

It's a government policy that those who receive income assistance have to be involved in the "Productive Choice program," where the recipient must choose between school, employment, training, harvesting, volunteering or receiving counselling.The recipient must continue with their productive choice — for a minimum of 20 hours a week or 80 per cent attendance at school — in order to receive income assistance. Those older than 60 or people with disabilities are exempt from the requirements. Leer Más