A new poverty-reduction campaign is asking the Manitoba government to overhaul how it supports residents struggling to make ends meet and top up monthly allowances.
Make Poverty History Manitoba appealed to the public Thursday — the United Nations’ International Day for the Eradication of Poverty — to join the coalition’s calls for a “livable basic benefit.”
“Somehow, people are supposed to stretch $274 to pay for not only food, but clothing, medication, toiletries, laundry, transportation, phone service and household goods,” Samantha Klassen of Make Poverty History Manitoba told a news conference inside the Manitoba Legislative Building.
That monthly sum breaks down to about $9 a day for a single recipient’s basic needs, which Klassen noted is barely enough to cover the cost of a meal at a fast-food restaurant.
The advocacy group organized the event to draw attention to gaps in the current employment and income assistance program, and propose a solution.
Members want the province to transform EIA into a livable basic benefit to raise the incomes of all households to at least meet Canada’s official poverty line.
The proposal is to adjust income allotments to 75 per cent of the poverty line, as defined by the market basket measure, and lobby the federal government to reach 100 per cent.
The Statistics Canada measurement establishes thresholds based on the cost of a basket for food, clothing, shelter and other items that reflect a basic standard of living.
A handful of speakers called the status quo — EIA currently meets 40 per cent of the poverty line for single individuals — a human-rights issue, as well as a reconciliation issue and one that is costing the health-care and justice systems.
Make Poverty History Manitoba is pitching a change that would index allowance to inflation, ensure sums are “portable” so recipients continue to be eligible as they transition out of EIA and end behavioural conditions to eligibility.
The coalition also wants its livable basic benefit to decline in value gradually as other income sources rise. EIA recipients benefits are currently clawed back if they earn more than $200 per month.
“It’s time to take this to the next level,” said Klassen, who noted she has benefited from Manitoba’s Rent Assist program since it was introduced in 2014 in response to a grassroots campaign that paved the way for this one.
“Rent Assist expanded the shelter portion of EIA. What we’re launching today is a campaign to transform the basic-needs portion.”
Supporters are encouraged to write a message of support on the coalition’s website, request presentations on the proposal and show solidarity by writing to elected officials.
“Do we really want to live in a world where our relatives commit a crime so they can go to jail for the winter because they can get three meals a day and a guaranteed warm place to sleep?” said Glynis Quinn, executive director of non-profit 1JustCity.
“Too many people have told me that this is their winter plan.”
Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine acknowledged the proposal and told the coalition she was committed to listening during the afternoon event.
Fontaine noted her department is preparing to undertake consultations on its next five-year strategy to reduce poverty and increase social inclusion.
Maggie Macintosh
Education reporter
Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., Maggie was an intern at the Free Press twice while earning her degree at Ryerson’s School of Journalism (now Toronto Metropolitan University) before joining the newsroom as a reporter in 2019. Read more about Maggie.
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