Make Poverty History Manitoba

"Advocacy groups like Make Poverty History Manitoba have said a monthly increase like that could make a significant difference for Manitobans who live in poverty, and Donohue agrees. "That would go a long way," he said. "That would help people keep their fridges full. They wouldn't be so reliant on food banks, they'd be able to have more of a social life as social as you can be during the COVID, that is. They'd be able to afford things they normally couldn't afford."... That stability means more than single influxes of cash."

Great letter from local businesses in Winnipeg and West Broadway BIZ advocating for action on poverty and homelessness that prioritizes dignity & human rights. Thanks for this solidarity with the calls from community for change in housing, community safety, and more: "Our neighbours in the non-profit and community serving agencies have been calling for action and giving tangible solutions to these issues for years. Adequate, secure, affordable housing; 24/7 safe spaces, and ...Continue reading

"What the announcement means is EIA recipients in Manitoba will have their assistance cheques clawed back by 70 per cent after the first $200 in federal benefits, says Make Poverty History Manitoba. As with similar rules applied after CERB first took effect, only a handful of federal beneficiaries will continue to receive any provincial assistance, said Josh Brandon, with the anti-poverty coalition’s steering committee. He called on the province to provide more help to those ...experiencing poverty, especially amid the COIVID-19 pandemic. "Manitoba’s EIA rates are woefully inadequate, leaving the poorest Manitobans at risk of hunger and homelessness, while providing no room within their household budgets for any of the basic necessities to help them survive this public health crisis," Brandon said in a news release. "Manitoba should follow the lead of British Columbia, the Yukon and Northwest Territories, which have so far exempted federal benefits in their financial resources calculations for individuals and families who depend on EIA."

But according to Make Poverty History Manitoba, the vast majority of people who receive federal COVID-19 assistance will become ineligible for provincial EIA assistance under the new rules with EIA recipients having their cheques clawed back by 70% after the first $200 in federal benefits. Manitoba’s EIA rates are woefully inadequate leaving the poorest Manitobans at risk of hunger and homelessness, while providing no room within their household budgets for any of the basi...c necessities to help them survive this public health crisis, said Make Poverty History Manitoba steering committee member Josh Brandon. Manitoba should follow the lead of British Columbia, the Yukon and Northwest Territories which have so far exempted federal benefits in their financial resources calculations for individuals and families who depend on EIA. #kNOwPoverty #mbpoli

From MPHM Steering Committee member and Provincial Director of Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Manitoba Office about yesterday's provincial throne speech and changes to EIA: "Announcing a plan to change the Manitoba Assistance Act and move people off welfare and into jobs during a pandemic and a recession was met with derision by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. "This provincial government is attacking the poor when they are down," said Molly McCracken, ...Manitoba director. "Social assistance is atrocious, single adults can't get their heads above water with $800 a month. Thousands are joining provincial welfare rolls due to job losses and the end of (Canada Emergency Response Benefit).... They just ended the eviction moratorium without a plan, which will push, potentially, thousands into homelessness right before winter." See more