Manitoba

Manitoba

Updated June 26, 2009
Page révisée le 26 juin 2009

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[ Go to Canadian Social Research Links Home Page ]

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NEW from the Manitoba Office of Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA):

Manitoba’s poverty reduction plan:
All Aboard – Destination Unknown (PDF - 500K, 2 pages)
June 22, 2009
On May 21st, the Manitoba government released All Aboard: Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The 8-page glossy document outlines some solid “values and guiding principles” that provide a foundation for a plan, as well as a list of initiatives that the NDP government has introduced since first elected in 1999. (...) However, All Aboard falls seriously short as a comprehensive plan and their “strategy” will be meaningless without a clear destination and a map to get there. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Manitoba recently released The view from here: Manitobans call for a poverty reduction plan. Our plan, developed in collaboration with Make Poverty History Manitoba and others brings together several years of research and consultation with individuals and community organizations directly involved with Manitoba’s most vulnerable citizens. Over 70 organizations representing thousands of Manitobans have now endorsed The view from here and more continue to sign on. (...) Our plan is comprehensive, and most importantly it outlines timelines and targets that, if implemented within the context of a legislated framework, would hold governments, present and future, accountable to ensuring that poverty is significantly reduced. But the Doer government has been consistently resistant to setting timelines and targets and they appear unlikely to pass supporting legislation.

Related links from CCPA:

The view from here:
Manitobans call for a poverty reduction plan (PDF - 1.9MB, 76 pages)
June 2009 (file dated May 21)
This report looks at the emergence of poverty reduction plans in other jurisdictions; it outlines the essential components of a meaningful poverty reduction plan; it makes the case for a made in Manitoba poverty reduction plan; it includes the latest poverty statistics for Manitoba; it proposes indicators with targets and timelines to measure progress; and it outlines a large package of policies and programs that should be at the heart of a comprehensive poverty reduction plan, highlighting items for immediate action.

Research for Communities:
The view from here – Manitobans call for a poverty reduction plan - PDF File, 177K, 4 pages)
Spring 2009
This booklet offers information about elsewhere in Canada, what should be included in a poverty reduction plan for Manitoba, common elements of successful poverty reduction programs, etc.
Source:
Manitoba Office - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
[ More publications from CCPA-Manitoba ]
[ Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - National Office ]

Related links from
the Government of Manitoba:

ALL Aboard: Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy
On May 21, 2009, Manitoba announced its poverty reduction strategy, ALL Aboard, which formalizes and builds upon poverty reduction efforts underway in the province.
- incl. links to : *ALL Aboard Report * ALL Aboard News Release * HOMEWorks! Homeless Strategy * Housing and Supports for People with Mental Illness * Contacts

All Aboard - Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PDF - 562K, 8 pages)
In Manitoba, we believe that all people deserve a high quality of life and the opportunity to realize their potential.
Taking action to reduce poverty is the right thing to do.
Source:
Manitoba Family Services and Housing

$30-Million strategy opening doors for Manitobans with Disability
New Investments Kick-start Consultations to Build Foundation for Comprehensive Strategy
June 4, 2009
News Release
The province is renewing its commitment to a long-term strategy for Manitobans who have disabilities with a $30-million down payment on more accessible housing, enhanced access to public buildings, more support for children with disabilities in child care, better employment services and improved supports for caregivers, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh, minister responsible for persons with disabilities, announced today. (...) As a basis for consultations, Mackintosh released a document that focuses on 10 priorities for action as the province seeks to build on its 2001 strategy: Full Citizenship: A Manitoba Strategy on Disability.

The new discussion paper:

Opening Doors: Manitoba's Commitment to Persons with Disabilities (PDF 1.83MB, 46 pages)
June 2009
(...) In 2001, the Manitoba Government released Full Citizenship: A Manitoba Provincial Strategy on Disability – a policy document detailing the province’s vision for the full participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Manitoba. Over the past eight years, this strategy has guided the province’s approach to disability. We have made significant strides in each of the strategy’s four building blocks: income support, access to government, disability supports and employment for persons with disabilities. (...) The goal of this discussion paper is to expand on the vision for persons with disabilities that was outlined in the 2001 strategy.

Manitoba's 2001 strategy:

Full Citizenship: A Manitoba Strategy on Disability (2001)
The White Paper, Full Citizenship: A Manitoba Strategy on Disability, proposes a comprehensive Provincial strategy on disability. It responds to recommendations from the disabilities community in the areas of access to government, employment, disability supports, services to Aboriginal persons with disabilities and income supports. It further proposes measures to enhance government accountability for access and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Source:
Manitoba Disabilities Issues Office
[ Manitoba Family Services and Housing ]

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ALL Aboard: Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy
On May 21, 2009, Manitoba announced its poverty reduction strategy, ALL Aboard, which formalizes and builds upon poverty reduction efforts underway in the province.
- incl. links to : *ALL Aboard Report * ALL Aboard News Release * HOMEWorks! Homeless Strategy * Housing and Supports for People with Mental Illness * Contacts

PROVINCE MARKS 10 YEARS OF FIGHTING POVERTY WITH NEW STRATEGY CALLED ALL ABOARD
Vision Sets Goals for Affordable Housing, Training, Jobs and Healthy Families: Selinger, Mackintosh
May 21, 2009
A poverty-reduction strategy called ALL Aboard, based on an annual investment of more than $744 million including $212 million of new investments, will focus on long-term solutions to help low-income Manitobans, Finance Minister Greg Selinger and Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
(...)
The ministers said poverty is about more than a lack of money alone; it is a combination of problems that keep people from participating in the economy or in society. In recognition of this complexity, ALL Aboard has four priorities: to create more affordable housing, strengthen training and income supports, enhance child development, and ease access to co-ordinated services and programs.

Initiatives fall under four pillars:

Safe, affordable housing in supportive communities:
· an expanded HOMEWorks! program,*
· a new vision for Manitoba Housing,*
· a new homeless and mental-health housing strategy,
· Manitoba Shelter Benefit enhancements,*
· more Lighthouses,*
· a SafetyAid expansion for low income seniors,* and
· an expanded Neighbourhoods Alive! program.

Education, jobs and income support:
· a graduation rate initiative including a new northern Aboriginal Youth Internship program;*
· stronger post-secondary education access initiatives through Bright Futures;
· a new strategy for people with disabilities;*
· Rebound, Manitoba’s back to work action plan;*
· new Rewarding Work Initiatives including mental-health support and recreational opportunities pilots;*
· a minimum wage increase in October 2009;
· property and personal tax credit increases and an increase in the low-income threshold;
· the Manitoba Saves! asset building program; and

Strong, healthy families:
· new family resource centres in community schools,*
· a Healthy Foods action fund,*
· a new family-enhancement stream in child welfare,* and
· more affordable, quality child care.*

Accessible, co-ordinated services:
· ServiceLink, a new navigation strategy to help Manitobans access benefits and services;*
· MYTEAM, a youth transition employment assistance program to help youth aging out of child welfare;* and
· the new Career Development Gateway, providing single-window access to help people develop their careers.

(*Full announcement pending.)

(...) The province will consult on the proposed strategy with a view to concluding a series of measures that are expected to be reported in 2010-11.

Source:
Province of Manitoba News Releases

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AllAboard - Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PDF - 562K, 8 pages)
In Manitoba, we believe that all people deserve a high quality of life and the opportunity to realize their potential.
Taking action to reduce poverty is the right thing to do.
Source:
Manitoba Family Services and Housing

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Also from the Government of Manitoba:

May 21, 2009
Province launches homeless strategy with focus on mental-health housing
Up to 2,000 Manitobans to Benefit from 285 More Mental-health Housing Units, 600 to Benefit from New Portable Housing Benefit: Ministers
A new strategy to reduce and prevent homelessness will connect homeless people and those with mental-health challenges to stable, secure housing and support services, Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross and Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh said today.
The HOMEWorks! homeless strategy includes 10 new initiatives in the following program areas:
* Emergency Shelters * Outreach * Housing with Services * Prevention

For more information on Manitoba's HOMEWorks! Homeless Strategy homeless strategy, go to the
ALL Aboard: Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy home page, where you'll find links (in the right-hand margin) to:
* Homeless Shelters * Emergency Homeless Shelter Standards * The Salvation Army Project * Cold Weather Strategy * Homeless Outreach Team * Project Breakaway * Housing with Services * Portable Housing Benefit * Community Wellness Initiative * Homelessness Prevention Summit * Housing First * The Mental Health Commission of Canada * Housing and Supports for People with Mental Illness * Contacts

Related links:

A Poverty Reduction Plan in Manitoba
The government of Manitoba has come up with a plan to reduce poverty in the province. But the plan doesn't commit to specific timelines and targets to reduce poverty, nor does it ask for significant input from community groups or those most affected by poverty.
Source:
Make Poverty History

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$212 million to battle poverty
Province to place greater emphasis on housing needs
May 22, 2009
WINNIPEG — After years of sniping from left-wing critics that it has done too little to fight poverty, the Doer government fired back Thursday with a new "comprehensive" strategy that brought kudos from social agencies and business leaders alike. The province announced it has earmarked $212 million in new funding this year for bricks-and-mortar projects, as well as programming for low-income Manitobans.
It also signalled a change in how it deals with people with mental-health issues and addictions, placing greater emphasis on housing. The "housing first" approach means the government will try to put a roof over a person's head before offering other supports.
Source:
Winnipeg Free Press

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The view from here:
Manitobans call for a poverty reduction plan (PDF - 1.9MB, 76 pages)
June 2009 (file dated May 21)
This report looks at the emergence of poverty reduction plans in other jurisdictions; it outlines the essential components of a meaningful poverty reduction plan; it makes the case for a made in Manitoba poverty reduction plan; it includes the latest poverty statistics for Manitoba; it proposes indicators with targets and timelines to measure progress; and it outlines a large package of policies and programs that should be at the heart of a comprehensive poverty reduction plan, highlighting items for immediate action.

Research for Communities:
The view from here – Manitobans call for a poverty reduction plan - PDF File, 177K, 4 pages)
Spring 2009
This booklet offers information about elsewhere in Canada, what should be included in a poverty reduction plan for Manitoba, common elements of successful poverty reduction programs, etc.
Source:
Manitoba Office - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
[ More publications from CCPA-Manitoba ]
[ Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - National Office ]

An earlier report from the Manitoba CCPA Office:

Poverty and Social Exclusion
Solving Complex Issues through Comprehensive Approaches (PDF - 249K, 4 pages)
September 2008
* Definitions of social exclusion
* Government strategies to address poverty and social exclusion (Europe - Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador - Québec - Ontario)
* Common features of poverty and social exclusion strategies (targets - timelines - citizen consultations - action plans/strategies - accountability and reporting - evaluation of progress)
* Why Manitoba needs a Strategy

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United Way commends province for new measures to reduce poverty
May 22, 2009
United Way of Winnipeg is thrilled with a new provincial strategy to reduce poverty, announced May 21, 2009. (...) Among the organizations acting in conjunction with ALL Aboard is the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council. United Way of Winnipeg is founder of, and provides office space and technical assistance to the council.

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May 25, 2009
New resource from the Canadian Council on Social Development:

Poverty Reduction Policies and Programs in Manitoba (PDF - 371K, 34 pages)
By Tom Carter and Chesya Polevychok, University of Winnipeg

Source:
Poverty Reduction Policies and Programs
Social Development Report Series, 2009
[ Canadian Council on Social Development ]

Also from CCSD :

Poverty Reduction Policies and Programs in Canada (PDF - 341K, 29 pages)
By David I. Hay, Information Partnership

Related links ===> Go to the Anti-poverty Strategies and Campaigns page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/antipoverty.htm

Manitoba Budget 2009 - scroll down past the grey section below (on the page you're now reading). ---- Rewarding Work - Manitoba's strategy to address poverty - this link takes you further down the page you're now reading, or go to the Anti-poverty Strategies and Campaigns page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/antipoverty.htm

Hotlinks The links below will take you directly to the following Manitoba government and non-governmental web pages: Government of Manitoba Home Page Human Services Guide Departmental Index Daily News Releases Department of Family Services and Housing Disabilities Issues Office Department of Finance Department of Education, Training and Youth Manitoba Agriculture Womens' Directorate Department of Health Legislative Library of Manitoba Manitoba Human Rights Commission Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat Manitoba WorkInfoNet (MBWIN) Laws and Regulations of Manitoba Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg Harvest City of Winnipeg Social Planning Council of Winnipeg Manitoba WORKink Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation

Key welfare links Department responsible for welfare Department of Family Services and Housing Name of the welfare program Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Legislation Employment and Income Assistance Act - Employment and Income Assistance Regulation Source: Laws and Regulations of Manitoba Policy Manual EIA Administrative Manual Online - online welfare policy manual, includes legislation Welfare statistics Go to the Departmental. annual report - welfare stats are under "Employment and Income Assistance Division" See also: Number of People on Welfare, March 1995 to March 2005 (PDF file - 133K, 1 page) Source: National Council of Welfare Welfare rates (benefits) Employment and Income Assistance Facts See also Schedule "A" of the EIA Regulation (above) Latest search results on Google.ca for "welfare, -child, -animal, Manitoba" - Web search results - News search results - Blog search results Related Links * The Social Inclusion and Anti-Poverty Act, Bill 226 Second reading on May 22th, 2008 * Bill 226 - The Social Inclusion and Anti-Poverty Act (Blog entry by the Liberal MLA who tabled the private member's bill) - Source: Jon Gerrard's Blog * $4.3 Million to Support Manitobans to Move Into Jobs, Increase Shelter Welfare Rates (May 6/08) * Rewarding Work (four-year Manitoba strategy to address poverty) * Annual Reports - Manitoba Family Services and Housing (2001-2002 to 2006-2007) * Anti-poverty initiatives to help Manitobans help themselves (November 26/07) * New Child Benefit, Lower-cost Child Care, Stronger Work Incentives, And Skills Package in 10-point Reconstruction of Income Supports (April 10, 2007) * The Cost of Raising a Child: 2004 (July 2004) - From Home Economics [ Manitoba Agriculture ] NOTE: this report is no longer updated by Manitoba Agriculture, nor is it still on their website. In early December 2005, Manitoba Agriculture confirmed that the report has been discontinued. The link above takes you to an archived version of this report, available from The Wayback Machine - www.archive.org For more information about welfare in other Canadian jurisdictions, see the Canadian Social Research Links Key Provincial/Territorial Welfare Links page

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Manitoba Budget 2009 - main Budget page - incl. links to all budget papers (some of which appear below) Budget charts a balanced, steady course Continues to Invest in Health, Training and Skills Development; Stimulates Economy with $1.6-billion Infrastructure Investment: Selinger News Release March 25, 2009 Budget 2009 charts a balanced, steady course by investing in health, education and training, stimulates the economy through infrastructure investments and is the 10th consecutive balanced budget since 1999, making this the first full decade of balanced budgets by a government in Manitoba in more than 50 years, Finance Minister Greg Selinger said today. * Budget Speech (PDF - 968K, 26 pages) * Budget In Brief (PDF - 1MB, 2 pages) * Budget (PDF - 687K, 46 pages) * Budget Papers - The Economy - Supplementary Financial Information - Recent Developments in Fiscal Arrangements -Taxation Adjustments - The Manitoba Advantage - Improved Infrastructure and Fiscally Sound Economic Stimulus * Estimates of Expenditure and Revenue (PDF - 1.3MB, 188 pages) * Budget-related news releases: --- Budget 2009 Highlights --- Budget 2009 Keeps Manitoba Deficit Free With 10th Consecutive Balanced Budget --- Manitoba's Economic Plan --- Budget 2009 Continues To Reduce Taxes Without Running A Deficit Source: Manitoba Finance Related links: Manitoba hikes user fees, boosts spending — and posts small surplus March 25, 2009 The government of Manitoba tabled a $12.7-billion balanced budget Wednesday that tries to stave off economic contraction by hiking tobacco taxes and user fees to pay for $226 million in new spending. While most provinces are projecting multi-year deficits, Manitoba is forecasting a $48-million surplus for the upcoming fiscal year. But the province's accumulated debt will still climb by $861 million in 2009-10 as a result of pension obligations and increased capital investments. Source: CBC - Go to the Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ More Manitoba Budget info (this link takes you further down on the page you're now reading)

Government of Manitoba Home Page

Page d'accueil du Gouvernement
NOTA: Certains ministères offrent une version en français de leur page. Cliquez sur "version française" pour y accéder.
Répertoire des ministères

Daily News Releases

Search Manitoba Government Pages
Departmental Index
Statutory Publications

Laws and Regulations of Manitoba - Manitoba provincial laws and regulations are available online for free.
This online service makes laws and regulations accessible for reference, research and private use.

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Human Services Guide - contains information on services provided by Manitoba Advanced Education; Manitoba Education, Training and Youth; and Manitoba Family Services and
Housing. You can choose to browse the full list or a list by service category (recommended), or do a keyword search.  This is an extensive list of programs and services, and it includes descriptions and links to further information in the following areas: Adoption - Child day care - Counselling - Emergency Assistance - Employment - Financial Assistance - Housing - Parent and Caregiver Supports - Protection of Children and Adults - Services for Employers - Supports for Adults with a Disability - Supports for Children with a Disability - Training - and more.

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Province Hosts Round Table Meetings On Social Union Framework Agreement
Government of Manitoba
September 13, 2002
"Manitobans are being encouraged to be a part of a review of the Social Union Framework Agreement, which guides funding, co-operation and action on key social programs such as health care, social services, post-secondary education and training, and labour market development."

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Full Citizenship: A Manitoba Strategy on Disability (PDF - 8.1MB, 47 pages)
May 4, 2001
The White Paper, Full Citizenship: A Manitoba Strategy on Disability, proposes a comprehensive provincial strategy on disability. It responds to recommendations from the disabilities community in the areas of access to government, employment, disability supports, services to Aboriginal persons with disabilities and income supports. It further proposes measures to enhance government accountability for access and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Source:
Disabilities Issues Office
In 2002, the Government of Manitoba established the Disabilities Issues Office (DIO) to support and report to the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities. The DIO works independently across government and acts as a centerpiece for coordinating policy and programs for persons with disabilities.

Government Departments

Manitoba Family Services and Housing...........................version française
"As a Department of the government of Manitoba, we are committed to social, economic and labour market inclusion for all citizens. We strive to ensure that people feel accepted, valued and safe. We work with the community to support Manitoba's children, families and individuals to achieve their fullest potential."

Use the sitemap to see everything on one page.

For links to general information about the site and the Department, start on the Departmental home page - it also includes links to Popular Topics and Key Initiatives including child care, housing, welfare (Employment and Income Assistance), Manitoba's Five-Year Plan for Child Care, the Affordable Housing Initiative, Child and Family Services Restructuring, the Manitoba Provincial Strategy on Disability, the National Child Benefit Restoration and more.

Annual reports of the Department of Family Services and Housing

Province Fights Poverty With Jobs: Ministers
October 17, 2007
Rewarding Work Invests $4.75 Million To Remove Barriers to Employment
Four new programs to get Manitobans off welfare and into work under the Rewarding Work strategy were announced today by Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh and Competitiveness, Training and Trade Minister Jim Rondeau.
Source:
Family Services and Housing
Competitiveness, Training and Trade

Related links:

Backgrounder (Word file - 35K, 1 page)
October 17, 2007

Rewarding Work
Last April ['07], the province announced Rewarding Work, a four-year, $27-million plan to bring down barriers to employment and help Manitobans on employment and income assistance find employment. The program complements other poverty-fighting measures announced in the last budget including tax changes that benefits 6,000 low-income Manitobans and an enhanced property credit of $125 a year for working low-income renters and homeowners. Other supports for low-income Manitobans include a minimum wage increase to $8 per hour last April and lower child-care costs.

`Protesters pan welfare rates
NDP announces incentives to work
October 18, 2007
Poverty was the topic of the day yesterday at the Manitoba Legislature, with the government announcing new measures to entice people on social assistance to work shortly after demonstrators held a rally outside to demand increases to welfare rates.
Source:
Winnipeg Sun

`REWARDING WORK' TO HELP LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES,
AND MOVE MORE MANITOBANS FROM WELFARE TO WORK: MACKINTOSH
New Child Benefit, Lower-cost Child Care, Stronger Work Incentives, And Skills Package in 10-point Reconstruction of Income Supports
News Release
April 10, 2007
Filling thousands of job vacancies and increasing family prosperity are the objectives of a ground-breaking, four-year action plan to move Manitobans from welfare to work, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today. “Manitobans should always be better off working than on welfare. Yet in getting a job, too often you lose. Benefits are reduced for child allowances, child care, drug, dental and optical coverage, which makes work less attractive,” said Mackintosh. “We must dismantle this welfare wall.”

Backgrounder:

Rewarding Work - Gateway To Opportunities (PDF file - 21K, 3 pages)

Source:
Province of Manitoba

Related link:

Reducing Poverty in Manitoba (PDF file - 134K, 17 pages)
Budget Paper E
Source:
Manitoba Budget 2007 (April 4, 2007)

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Manitoba, "Rewarding Work", welfare"
Web search results page
News search results page
Blog Search Results page
NOTE: the Blog Search Results page had zero results as at April 11 (early morning).
However, because these are dynamic links, the results will vary depending on when you access the above links for all three types of search results pages
Source:
Google.ca

Low-income Families in the North Get Increased Assistance to Address High Cost of Food and Essentials
March 15, 2007
Employment and income assistance (EIA) for residents of Manitoba’s northern and remote communities will increase effective April 1 to help residents buy expensive essential goods and nutritious food, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.

2005-06 Annual Report - Family Services and Housing
- incl. links to earlier annual reports back to 2001-2002 and Social Services Appeal Boards reports

An Eye on Early Learning and Child Care in Manitoba (PDF file - 1,160 KB, 11 pages)
The Manitoba Child Care Program's online newsletter for child care providers.
October 2005 issue
Source:
Manitoba Child Care Online
[ part of Manitoba Family Services and Housing ]

2002/03 - 2003/04 Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD) Report
May 18, 2005
"This Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD) Report describes activities that were cost-shared under the EAPD Agreement during the 2002/03 and 2003/04 fiscal years. The EAPD Agreement provides for the transfer of federal funding to provinces and territories for a range of programs and services that enhance the economic participation of working age adults with disabilities in the labour market. Programs and services eligible for funding under the EAPD Agreement must provide the skills, experience and supports necessary to assist persons with disabilities prepare for, attain and retain employment. Funding is also provided for programs and services for individuals who are experiencing vocational crisis."

Related Links:

Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPD)
Baseline Report 2004-2005
November 2004
"This Canada-Manitoba Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPD) Baseline Report describes objectives, services, target populations and planned expenditures for programs and services to be cost-shared under the LMAPD Multilateral Framework for the 2004/05 fiscal year. Societal indicators of labour market participation from Statistics Canada.s Participation Activity Limitation Survey for Canada and Manitoba are also included. The LMAPD provides for the transfer of federal funding to provinces and territories for a range of programs and services that enhance the economic participation of working age adults with disabilities in the labour market. Programs and services eligible for funding under the LMAPD must recognize the unique labour market challenges faced by persons with disabilities and consider the distinct needs of each individual with a disability in determining the set of interventions required to prepare for, attain and retain employment."

Manitoba Services for People with Disabilities
Source:
Manitoba Family Services and Housing

EAPD Annual Report 2000/01 - 2001/02
Full Report (PDF - 662 KB; 51 pages)
Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD) Agreement Annual Report
Source:
Persons with disabilities (links to resources for people with disabilities)
[ Manitoba Family Services and Housing ]

Family Services and Housing Progress Report (PDF file - 709K, 5 pages)
April 2003
- incl. references to January 2004 rate increases, the restoration of the National Child Benefit to families, enhancements to income assistance for persons with disabilities and to child care, affordable housing, Building Independence, and more...

Channels
[Each channel is a portal to further resources on a particular theme (including online publications)]
- Children and families - all services to families and children, from adoption, day care and child welfare to the Shelter Assistance for Family Renters program
- Persons with disabilities - covers a range of programs, including : day care for children with disabilities - services for children in care with disabilities - children's special services - Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence - Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities - Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Persons with Disabilities - Supported Living - Vocational Rehabilitation - and more...
- Financial assistance - An expanded view of this section appears below.
- Housing - links to the following : Subsidized Rental Accommodations (incl. Rural and Native Housing) - Rent Assistance (School Tax Assistance for Tenants 55 Plus - Shelter Allowance for Elderly Renters - Shelter Allowance for Family Renters
- Service locations - for program information and applications
- Publications - sorted by target population : Children and Families - Persons with disabilities - Financial Assistance
- About the Department

Employment and Income Assistance Facts
- incl. links to the following info: Basic Assistance (Rate Information) - Shelter Assistance - Health Needs - Other Assistance - Employment - General Information

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Financial assistance -
Programs covered in this section include :

Building Independence - offers opportunities to Employment and Income Assistance participants who are looking for work

Child Day Care Subsidy - helps eligible families with the costs of child care

Child Related Income Supplement Program (CRISP) - assists lower-income families with the cost of raising their children by providing a monthly income supplement

Children's Special Services - support for families to care for children who have physical and/or mental disabilities

Employment and Income Assistance - provincial program of last resort for Manitoba individuals and families in financial need

55 PLUS - income supplements to lower-income Manitobans who are 55 or older

Health Services - provides essential drug, dental, and optical supplies and services to Employment and Income Assistance participants and children in care

Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities - financial assistance for low-income adults with a disability

Municipal Assistance - assistance provided by a local municipality to those in financial need who live outside of Winnipeg

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Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Administrative Manual
This is the provincial social assistance (welfare) policy manual. It contains comprehensive and current information about eligibility, benefits and the administration of the EIA program. The above link will take you to a general index of the 24 sections of this extensive manual - or you can go directly to the detailed Table of Contents. The manual includes the complete text of the Employment and Income Assistance Act and Regulation.
NOTE: for the most recent version of both the statute and the regulations, see the next two links below

Employment and Income Assistance Act
- Employment and Income Assistance Regulation

Improvements to Exemptions for People with Disabilities Receiving Employment and Income Assistance Announced
April 14, 2003
"Manitobans with disabilities living in the community can now use certain lump-sum payments to improve their quality of life, without affecting their Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) benefits (...) The new exemptions for EIA were developed with the community and allow people to obtain enhanced disability supports."

Manitoba Announces New Support For Families And Children
April 28, 2003
"More for Day Care and Children with Disabilities, Legislation to Improve Collection of Child Support Payments"
Related Links:
Health Child Manitoba
Source: Department of Family Services and Housing

Social Services Appeal Process Improved By New Legislation
News Release
February 19, 2002
"The new Social Services Appeal Board Act, which ensures Manitobans have a fair and impartial appeal process for a variety of social services programs, has been proclaimed."
- Go to the Social Services Appeal Board website

Sale announces initiatives to improve housing
Family Services and Housing
October 11, 2000
The provincial government has introduced the Neighbourhood Housing Assistance Program (NHA) to help communities improve housing stock and has taken over
administration of the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) from the federal government. As well, a more generous heating allowance is being used
to calculate rental payments for public housing accommodations. More...

Government Restores Increase to the National Child Benefit Supplement
July 27, 2000

Building Independence : Lowering Barriers to Employment
Initiatives Designed to Help People Looking for Meaningful Work

$9.1 Million Increase In Funding For Manitoba’s Child Care System
Family Services Minister Announces New Direction For Employment Income Assistance Recipients
Manitoba Ministers Critical of Federal Homelessness Announcement
December 17, 1999
Family Services and Housing Minister to Chair Ministerial Council
Increased Spending to Enhance Programs, Services for Children and Youth
National Child Benefit Reinvestments Support Lower-income Families
Manitoba Government Introduces New Legislation to Support New Welfare Reform Initiatives
July 5, 1999
Learnfare: Providing Young Parents And Their Children With The Keys To Success Parents Under 18 on Welfare Required to Stay in School, Take Parenting Courses
June 18, 1999
Work Requirements for Able-bodied Recipients : New Policy Initiatives Build on Successful 1996 Welfare Reform Strategies
June 17, 1999
Province Looks To Improve Income Program For Disabled
June 1999

Employability Assistance For People With Disabilities (EAPD)
April 17, 1998

Provincial and City Social Assistance Merge
March 1999
New One-tier System to Improve Service For Manitobans in Need: Minister Bonnie Mitchelson 
$1.5 Million More Announced for Training
October 1998
Program to Assist Lower Income And Income Assistance Families (NCB Reinvestment) 
Manitoba Invests in Children and Families
June 17, 1998 
Manitoba to Invest in Children and Youth: Province Surpasses the National Child Benefit To Invest in Manitoba's Future
March 1998 
Investing in Children and Youth a Priority
March 1998 
Manitoba Reaffirms Commitment to National Child Benefit
January 1997 

New Directions in Child and Family Services (July 1996) 
Statement of Government Policy on Manitoba Children and Youth 
March 1998 
Province Releases ChildrenFirst Status Report
May 31, 1999
$9.1 Million Increase In Funding For Manitoba’s Child Care System

Department of Finance ------------------ version française

Budgets

Manitoba Budget 2008 - Opportunity and Stability
[ version française ]
April 9, 2008
- incl. links to * Minister's Budget Message * Speech * Budget In Brief * Budget and Budget Papers * Estimates of Expenditure and Revenue * Tax Savings Estimator * News Releases

April 9, 2008
Budget 2008 charts steady course : selinger
Province Continues to Invest in Skills Training, Doctors, Nurses, Police Officers
News Release
Budget 2008 charts a steady economic course with strategic tax cuts for manufacturers, small businesses and families, boosts skills training, saves for the future and makes key investments in more doctors, nurses, police officers, water protection and climate change, Finance Minister Greg Selinger said today.
[ Links to seven more budget 2008 news releases - April 9]

Budget 2008 Highlights
(Excerpt)
Healthy Families, Healthy Communities
· Investing $16.6 million more in housing through HOMEWorks!
· Providing new funding for people making the transition to employment.
· Investing an additional $5 million in child care to provide more spaces, a new training and recruitment fund and higher wages.
· Providing $3.5 million to extend the Manitoba Shelter Benefit to help single adults and couples on income assistance and to support a pilot project for individuals with mental health challenges.
· Increasing the supported-living program by $12.4 million.
· Adding $23 million to continue making changes to better protect Manitoba children.
· Supporting young adults affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the areas of housing, education and training, recreation, crisis services, family connections and mentoring.
· Increasing Children’s Special Services funding by six per cent to $23.7 million for physical, speech and language, and occupational therapies and services.

Budget In Brief : Strong Families

Source:
Government of Manitoba

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Manitoba budget 2008"
- Web search results page
- News search results page
- Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

---

Manitoba Budget 2007 : The Building Budget
April 4, 2007
- incl. links to : Minister's Budget Message - Speech - Budget In Brief - The Summary Budget - Budget Papers - The Manitoba Advantage - Manitoba's Action Strategy for Economic Growth - Estimates of Expenditure and Revenue -
Tax Savings Estimator - News Releases - 2007 Budget Documents Request Form

Budget 2007 Highlights

Earlier Manitoba Budgets

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Manitoba provincial budget 2007, analysis"
Web search results page
News search results page
Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

-----------------------------------------------

Manitoba 2006 Budget - March 6, 2006
- incl. links to : Minister's Budget Message Speech - Budget In Brief - Budget Papers - The Manitoba Advantage - Community Economic Development - Modernizing Government - Revenue and Expenditures - Tax Savings Estimator - News Releases - 2006 Budget Documents Request Form
[ version française ]

Budget in Brief
Budget at a Glance (press release)

Google.ca News Search Results : "Manitoba Budget 2006"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Manitoba Budget 2006"
Source:
Google.ca

-----------------------------------------------

Manitoba Budget 2005 : Balancing Priorities. Building Opportunities. Investing in Tomorrow.
March 21, 2005
- incl. links to : Minister's Budget Message - Speech - Budget In Brief - Budget Papers - The Manitoba Advantage - Addressing Poverty in Manitoba - Manitoba's Action Strategy for Economic Growth - Revenue and Expenditures - Tax Savings Estimator - News Releases - 2005 Budget Documents Request Form

Addressing Poverty in Manitoba
[2005 Budget Paper]
"Finding the right mix of policy options to ensure that all members of society who are able to, have the opportunity to participate in the work force is a key challenge facing governments across Canada. In Manitoba, the challenge is complicated by several factors..."
[Previously published as “Welfare to Work: Creating a Community Where all Can Work,” Canadian Journal of Career Development 3, #2 2004]

Google.ca News Search Results : "Manitoba Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Manitoba Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

-----------------------------------------------

Manitoba Budget 2004
April 19, 2004

Budget Highlights

Google News search Results : "Manitoba budget 2004"
Google Web Search Results : "Manitoba budget 2004"
Source:
Google.ca

For info on other Canadian jurisdictions' budgets, go to the Canadian Social Research Links Canadian Government Budgets page

Manitoba Budget 2003
April 22, 2003
- incl. links to : Minister's Budget Message - Speech - Budget Papers - The Manitoba Advantage - Revenue and Expenses - Manitoba's Action Strategy for Economic Growth - Tax Savings Estimator - News Releases - Budget 2003 Home / Budget Tour

Womens' Directorate

 Manitoba Women's Advisory Council
" The Manitoba Women's Advisory Council advises the Manitoba government on issues concerning the status of women. The Council, a self-governing organization operating at arms-length from government, ensures that the voices of women throughout the province are heard."
- inl. links to Who We Are - Events/Information (Manitoba) - Parenting on your Own (resources for single parents, see link below) - Links to Women's Organizations

Parenting on Your Own - Manitoba (and some national) resources for single parents, incl. descriptions and links under the follwoing headings : Aboriginal Services - Abuse - Child Care - Disabilities - Employment/ Education/ Training - Health - Housing - Income Assistance - Legal - Money Management & Stretching The Dollar - Recreation And Wellness - Support For Families
Introduction - Parenting on Your Own
Table of Contents - Parenting on Your Own

Single Parent Families to Benefit from New Online Resource Guide
News Release
April 05, 2002
- Release of the sixth edition of Parenting on Your Own, a guide designed to support single parents, and launch of the Internet version of the guide.
"The handbook provides information about and resources for health, child care, finances, housing and many other topics. Hundreds of resources as well as contact information for community organizations are included. Over the years, more than 60,000 copies have been printed."

 Department of Health ..................................version française

Legislative Library of Manitoba.

Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat
[ version française ]

Manitoba Seniors' Guide 2008-2009 (PDF - 2.2MB, 100 pages)
Table of contents:
* Personal Information/Frequently Called Numbers * Information * Seniors Organizations * Community Resource Councils * Senior Centres * Finances * Housing * Health Services (Provincial, Community) * Community Living * Resources for Newcomers * Safety and Security * Index

Other Manitoba Sites - Autres sites du Manitoba

“We got evicted...did I leave that out?”
Stories of Housing and Mental Health (PDF - 1.4MB, 52 pages)
By Ian Skelton and Richard Mahé
February 2009
This study begins to explore ways of supporting processes of community transformation through enhancing the provision of housing and supports for people living with mental illness. In particular, the study is concerned with factors that mediate between individuals living with mental illness and the broader social environment. (...) In-depth, face-to-face interviews were held over the summer of 2008 in Winnipeg
with people living with mental illness, family members with responsibility for giving care and key informants. This report attempts to portray experiences of housing and mental health as recounted by the interview participants.
Source:
Manitoba Office - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
[ More publications from CCPA-Manitoba ]

Manitoba at Crossroads. Child and Family Report Card 2008 (PDF - 1.95MB, 22 pages)
November 2008
"(...)there has been little significant difference in the rate of poverty in Manitoba over the last nine years, nine years that have seen unprecedented economic growth. The statistics also show that the wealth generated in those years overwhelmingly ended up in the pockets of the richest Manitobans and has done little to lift people out of poverty."
Source:
Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

Related links From Campaign 2000:

Family Security in Insecure Times:
The Case for a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Canada -
2008 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada (PDF - 167K, 6 pages)
[ version française:
Rapport 2008 sur la pauvreté des enfants et des familles au Canada (PDF - 565K, 8pages) ]

Poverty Reduction a Strategic Move in Downturn--Campaign 2000 Released New Report Card
Press Release
21 November 2008
OTTAWA – The federal government would make a timely strategic move if it invested now to reduce stubborn poverty rates in Canada, says a new report by Campaign 2000. The 2008 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada, available at www.campaign2000.ca, shows the nation’s child poverty rate is almost what it was in 1989 when Parliament unanimously resolved to end child poverty by the year 2000.

Provincial report cards
- includes links to the latest report and earlier years for : * British Columbia * Alberta * Saskatchewan * Manitoba * Ontario * New Brunswick * Nova Scotia

Campaign 2000
Campaign 2000 is a cross-Canada public education movement to build Canadian awareness and support for the 1989 all-party House of Commons resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000.

Poverty and Social Exclusion
Solving Complex Issues through Comprehensive Approaches (PDF - 249K, 4 pages)
September 2008
* Definitions of social exclusion
* Government strategies to address poverty and social exclusion (Europe - Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador - Québec - Ontario)
* Common features of poverty and social exclusion strategies (targets - timelines - citizen consultations - action plans/strategies - accountability and reporting - evaluation of progress)
* Why Manitoba needs a Strategy

Source:
CCPA Manitoba Office

CCPA National Office link:

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan research institute concerned with issues of social and economic justice. Founded in 1980, the CCPA is one of Canada’s leading progressive voices in public policy debates.

The Housing Circumstances Of Recently Arrived Refugees:The Winnipeg Experience
By Dr. Tom Carter et al.
(July 2008 for Prairie Metropolis)

Housing is a central component of the settlement experience of refugees. A positive housing situation can facilitate many aspects of integration. Unaffordable, crowded, unsafe housing, however, can cause disruptions in the entire settlement process. A two-year study of recently arrived refugees in the city of Winnipeg illustrates the significant housing challenges they face. In the first year 75 households who had been in the city a year or less were interviewed. Fifty-five of these households were re-interviewed a year later. The research findings highlight the housing and neighbourhood challenges the households faced in the first year and the changes in their circumstances that had occurred by the time interviews were conducted in the second year.

Download full report (PDF - 2.3MB, 146 pages)
Research Highlights (PDF - 35K, 4 pages)

Source:
Institute of Urban Studies, University of Winnipeg

Manitoba Chamber of Commerce calls for welfare hike
March 28, 2008
In an unusual pairing, the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg to urge the province's NDP government to raise welfare rates.After a year of talks with anti-poverty groups, chamber president Graham Starmer has concluded the money welfare recipients receive to pay for shelter falls well below what they need. Social assistance recipients have to dip into other funds because their shelter rates haven't kept pace with inflation, he said.
Source:
CBC

Related links:

Manitoba Chamber of Commerce

Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

Echoes of Inner City Voices (PDF File - 3.6MB, 56 pages)
April 2005 (posted online Feb. 22/08)
By Mike Maunder and Virginia Maracle with Tom Carter, Chesya Polevychok and Tom Janzen
From June 1997 to September 1999, the Winnipeg Free Press ran a weekly series of stories – Inner City Voices – that gave voice to people in the inner city. (...) Five years later the authors revisited some of the people they interviewed to see how their lives had changed and how the inner city had changed.
- incl. statistics profiling inner city characteristics and change; program and policy based material; and, socio-economic, demographic and housing information.
Source:
Winnipeg Inner City Alliance
[ Institute for Urban Studies - University of Winnipeg ]

NOTE : the Winnipeg Inner City Alliance has also just released a January 2008 report on financing providers (PDF file - 311 K, 37 pages) in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario and to three New Local Social Economy Research Projects.

A Province Left Behind.... Where's our poverty eradication plan,
Prime Minister Harper, Premier Doer and Mayor Katz? (PDF file - 971K, 38 pages)
November 2007
Source:
Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

Related links:

Child poverty rate in Manitoba remains too high: Social Planning Council of Winnipeg (November 26, 2007)
Source:
CBC

Campaign 2000 Report on Child and Family Poverty in Canada
Main page - includes links to both the French and English media releases and reports, as well as links to national report cards for previous years and for selected Canadian provinces.
[ Campaign 2000 ]

Panhandling In Winnipeg: Legislation versus Support Services
by Tom Carter - Canada Research Chair in Urban Change and Adaptation -
with Anita Friesen, Chesya Polevychok, John Osborne
May 2007
In June 2005, The City of Winnipeg passed an amendment to By-Law 7700/2000 prohibiting some methods of panhandling, and placing restrictions on some aspects of panhandling activity, particularly related to specific types of services or locations. This project addresses the following questions regarding the need for, and the effectiveness of, this legislation:
- Given the nature, number and activity of panhandlers in the city, is this legislation an appropriate response to the circumstances?
- Is the legislation likely to be effective? and,
- Are there more effective means of addressing the issues of panhandling? Is legislation the answer or should the focus be on services and programs to address systemic problems that lead to panhandling in the first place?

The report is available in four volumes:

(scroll to the bottom of the list of journals for a brief summary of the content of each of the four volumes whose links appear below)

Volume 1: Executive Summary (PDF file - 300K, 8 pages)
This volume presents an overview of Volume 2, 3 and 4, and summarizes the findings of the Panhandling in Winnipeg research project.

Volume 2: Literature and Legislation Review (PDF file - 598K, 55 pages)
Academic literature provides valuable insights into who panhandles and why they are on the streets of North American cities. The studies reviewed here document the increasing diversity and overall growth in the numbers of people panhandling. Negative reactions to panhandling have prompted many municipal governments to attempt to control panhandling through legislation and/or program approaches that assist panhandlers to “get off the street”. The main legislative/program approaches to addressing panhandling are reviewed here.

Volume 3: Mapping of Panhandling Activity (PDF file - 10.2MB, 76 pages)
This volume presents the results of field observation of panhandling activity in central Winnipeg. It focuses on the mapping of panhandling locations and panhandling methods, including distribution of panhandlers throughout the study area, priority or high traffic locations for panhandling activity, and proximity to “sensitive services.” The types of panhandling methods used, and the distribution and frequency of occurrences of different methods was also recorded and mapped.

Volume 4: Interviews with Panhandlers (PDF file - 403K, 83 pages)

If you have any comments or questions about the report, please direct them to Tom Carter at t.carter@uwinnipeg.ca or you may contact him by phone at (204)982-1148.

Source:
Journal articles, research reports ===> See also : * Research Highlights * Background and Resource Documents * Community Briefs
[Institute of Urban Studies (University of Winnipeg)]

Also from the Institute for Urban Studies:

Twelve recent reports on panhandling (special focus on Winnipeg)
Click the link above to access 20 reports of the Canada Research Chair in Urban Change and Adaptation at the Institute of Urban Studies (University of Winnipeg).
The titles of the 12 most recent reports appear below; click the link above to access these studies and more...
* Why Panhandlers are on the Streets of North American Cities (June 2007)
* Who Panhandles in Winnipeg? (June 2007)
* Panhandling in Winnipeg Project: Mapping Methodology (June 2007)
* Location of Panhandling Activity in Winnipeg (June 2007)
* Panhandling Alone or in Groups: What is the Approach in Winnipeg? (June 2007)
* When Panhandlers are Active in Downtown Winnipeg (June 2007)
* Different Groups' Perception of Panhandling in Winnipeg (June 2007)
* Legislative Approaches to Panhandling (June 2007)
* Program Approaches to Panhandling (July 2007)
* Housing Circumstances of Panhandlers in Winnipeg (July 2007)
* Does Panhandling Provide a Living (July 2007)
* Why do Panhandlers Panhandle in Winnipeg? (September 2007)

Source:
Publications / Research Highlights
[ Journal articles, research reports ] ===> See also : Background and Resource Documents * Community Briefs
[ Canada Research Chair in Urban Change and Adaptation ]
[ Institute of Urban Studies, University of Winnipeg ]

Society for Manitobans with Disabilities

Aboriginal People in Manitoba (872K, 101 pages)
April 2006
The information contained in this publication is intended to:
* Serve as a resource for policy makers
* Provide general information for those who want to learn about Aboriginal Manitobans
* Provide factual information to aid in eliminating misinformation and stereotypes
* Provide baseline information for measuring program results.
Aboriginal People in Manitoba was produced by Service Canada in co-operation with the Province of Manitoba.
Source:
Service Canada

Service Canada Regional Information:
Manitoba
This page provides information on region-specific services for Individuals, Business and Organizations.
Services include: Jobs * Financial Benefits * Employment Insurance * Taxes * Training and Careers * Identification Cards * Travel and Passports * Health * Consumer Information * Canada and the World * Environment and Resources * Economy * Public Safety * Culture and Recreation * Science and Technology.
Source:
Service Canada
Human Resources and Social Development Canada

Manitoba Office - CCPA
- Publications
Related Link:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) - National Office
"The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan research institute concerned with issues of social and economic justice. Founded in 1980, the CCPA is one of Canada’s leading progressive voices in public policy debates. By combining solid research with extensive outreach, we work to enrich democratic dialogue and ensure Canadians know there are workable solutions to the issues we face. "

Recent reports:

Panhandling should not be criminalized, says study
Press Release
September 20, 2007
Restrictions on peaceful panhandling—such as City of Winnipeg Bylaw No. 128/2005—constitute an illegitimate use of state power, says a study released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The study, by Arthur Schafer, director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, says there is no moral or legal justification for turning peaceful beggars into criminals.

Complete report:

The Expressive Liberty of Beggars:
Why it matters to them, and to us (PDF file - 282K, 28 pages)

Report on the Manitoba Economy: 2007
September 13, 2007

FastFacts: Manitoba's Minimum Wage? Be Realistic! - PDF file - 32K, 2 pages)
August 4, 2005
"A job at $10.00 per hour, with benefits and opportunities for advancement, would draw many into the labour force. Such jobs provide dignity and respect. A wage of $7.25 does not. Nor does it make economic sense."

In for the Long Haul: Women’s Organizations in Manitoba - PDF File - 199 K, 24 pages)
August 16, 2005
"Just as women in Manitoba have done for decades past, feminist and women’s organizing for cultural, economic, political, and social change continues unabated. Indeed, many of the issues remain the same as during the second wave women’s movement. Although there may not be a province-wide group mobilizing women under one banner, this study has demonstrated that there is a substantial amount of activity taking place across a wide range of issues emanating from diverse perspectives and experiences."

FastFacts: Let’s Make a (New) Deal
September 2, 2005
"Just a year ago, Ottawa geared up its official propaganda machine to praise NAFTA’s 15-year record at stimulating trade and boosting efficiency (seemingly oblivious to the almost weekly headlines bemoaning Canada’s poor productivity performance). Now, quickly, most Canadians (even in official circles) acknowledge the painful truth: this trade deal is a dud."

Source:
Manitoba Office Publications (CCPA)

"There are No Banks Here"
Financial & Insurance Exclusion in Winnipeg's North End (PDF file - 276K, 56 pages)
by Jerry Buckland & Bruce Guenther with Georgi
Boichey, Heather Geddie & Maryanne Mutch
September 2005
"Financial exclusion is a matter of growing concern in Canada considering the decline in the number of mainstream bank branches in some inner-cities and the concurrent rise in the number of fringe banks. This study reports on results from a survey of residents from Winnipeg's North End, a low-income area of the city. The study seeks to understand resident's experiences with financial and insurance services: which ones they use, which ones are important to them and how accessible the services are. As a follow-up to research completed in 2002-2003 in the North End this survey asked questions about a greater number of services (banks, fringe banks, informal financial services and insurance services and financial support services) in a semi-random fashion to a broader range of respondents (low- and middle-income).
Source:
Publications (links to 18 studies and reports)
[ Winnipeg Inner City Research Alliance (WIRA) ]
[ Institute of Urban Studies, University of Winnipeg ]

Nodice Elections: Manitoba
http://www.nodice.ca/elections/manitoba
Source:
Nodice Elections
Related Links:
- Go to the Political Parties and Elections Links in Canada (Provinces and Territories) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/politics_prov_terr.htm

Surviving on Hope is not Enough:
Women's Health, Poverty, Justice and Income Support in Manitoba
May 28, 2004
Executive Summary
" Women are more likely to live in poverty than men. Women with disabilities, Aboriginal women, and single mothers have higher rates of poverty. Women who live in poverty have poorer physical and mental health than those with higher incomes."
Complete report (PDF file - 725K, 56 pages)

Policy-Related PWHCE Projects
- incl. links to research in the following areas:
Aboriginal Women's Health - Health Reform and Policy - Immigrant / Refugee Women's Health - Informal Caregivers' Health - Lesbian Health - Literature Reviews - Women, Poverty and Health - Older Women's Health - Rural Women's Health - Women's Mental Health - Women, Violence and Abuse - Women-centred Health Programs and Services

Source:
Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence (PWHCE)
Related Links:
Centres of Excellence for Women's Health (Health Canada)
- "The Women’s Health Contribution Program supports policy research and education on women’s health issues. Managed by the Women's Health Bureau, Health Canada, the Program is a partnership between community and academic researchers."
Women's Health Bureau
[ Health Canada Online ]

Also from PWHCE:

Women and Social Assistance Policy in Saskatchewan and Manitoba
May 2005
By Josephine Savarese, Department of Justice Studies, University of Regina and
Bonnie Morton, Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry
"The Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence (PWHCE) Research Program on Poverty and Women's Health has supported several studies that examine the links between public policy, women's poverty and women's health. In 2003, PWHCE initiated three research projects designed to examine income assistance policies in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and their effects on women's health. Reports from two of these projects were published in 2004: Don't We Count As People: Saskatchewan Social Welfare Policy and Women's Health and Surviving on Hope is Not Enough: Women's Health, Poverty, Justice and Income Support in Manitoba. These two studies were based on several focus groups held in each province and were designed to bring forward the voices and perspectives of those most directly affected by income assistance policies. As Wharf and MacKenzie have noted, 'the knowledge and experience gap between those who make policy and those who must live with the consequences is enormous.' The research helps bridge that gap by providing an important critique of income assistance policies from the perspectives of women living on welfare. The women's descriptions of their experiences reveal the inadequacy of income assistance benefits and the harmful effects on their physical and emotional health."

Complete report (PDF file - 927K, 62 pages)
NOTE: the complete report includes both studies noted above.

Including Low-Income Women with Children:
Program and Policy Directions (PDF file - 596K, 57 pages)
Research Report
September 2007
By Lynn Scruby and Rachel Rapaport Beck

Overview of the report (HTML)
"(...) This qualitative research project draws on principles from feminist and participatory action research methodology. A total of nine focus group interviews were conducted at four Family Resource Centres (FRCs) located in two urban communities in Winnipeg and two rural communities in Eastern Manitoba. Fifty-six low-income women and 29 FRC service providers participated in these interviews..."

List of PWHCE publications by subject
- including : Aboriginal Women's Health * Gender and Health Planning * Health Reform and Policy * Immigrant/Refugee Women's Health * Informal Caregivers' Health * Lesbian Health * Literature Reviews * Women, Poverty and Health * Older Women's Health * Rural Women's Health * Women's Mental Health * Women, Violence and Abuse * Women-Centred Health Programs and Services

Related links:

Including Low-Income women with Children: Program and Policy Directions
September 12, 2007
This report examines information on the issues that affect the health and well-being of low-income women with children, their families and the communities in which they live as well as several of the key policy implications of these findings and recommendations for action.
Source:
WinnipegFirst.ca - Your first source for Winnipeg news

Just Income Coalition - Increase Manitoba's Minimum Wage Now!
"The Just Income Coalition was developed in the fall of 2002 to promote economic justice for low-income individuals and families in Manitoba by addressing the issue of inadequate minimum wage levels. The Coalition consists of representatives from a variety social service, community, Aboriginal, labour and faith based organizations."
- incl. links to : News - Take Action - Just Income Facts - Coalition Partners - Other Organizations - Contact Info
Online Petition [Manitoba residents only...]

Just Income Facts - a dozen articles and reports about minimum wages, with a special focus on Manitoba, from groups including Canadian Policy Research Networks, the Manitoba office of Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Manitoba Federation of Labour, etc.
Here's a recent sample:
Why Increase the Minimum Wage?
April 2003
"This article from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba discusses the social benefits of a strong minimum wage, and debunks myths about the effects on the business community."
Working for Low Pay (PDF file - 954K, 24 pages)
February 2003
"In this presentation to Alberta Human Resources and Employment, CPRN’s President, Judith Maxwell, explores the dimensions and consequences of low-wage work, and examines where responsibility might lie for measures designed to make work pay"

Child Care Coalition of Manitoba
"The Child Care Coalition of Manitoba (est. 1993) is a broadly-based and unincorporated coalition of groups and individuals. The Coalition currently has nearly 50 group memberships. Our members include parents, the labour movement, women's groups, the childcare community, educators and researchers and organizations committed to social justice, among others."

Child care sector has huge economic and social impact for Winnipeg: Time for action, say leading Winnipeggers
News Alert
May 20, 2004
Winnipeg Project
"Child care is an essential element in urban infra-structure. Yet, childcare in Winnipeg is characterized by serious inequities: some neighourhoods have much worse access and service than others."

Complete report:

Time for Action:
An Economic and Social Analysis of Childcare in Winnipeg (PDF file - 2.1MB, 38 pages)
May 2004

Related Link:

The Winnipeg Project
Childcare Research as a Tool for Development:
A Social and Economic Impact Study of Childcare in Winnipeg
- one-year research and action project on childcare in Winnipeg, ending in 2004, funded by Status of Women Canada's Women's Program

Frontier Centre for Public Policy
"The Frontier Centre for Public Policy is an independent public policy think tank whose mission is "to broaden the debate on our future through public policy research and education and to explore positive changes within our public institutions that support economic growth and opportunity."

Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation
University of Manitoba
The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation is a research unit in the Faculty of Medicine at the U. of Manitoba. MCHPE conducts research on the way health care services are used by Manitobans. It examines patterns of illness in the population, and studies how people use health care services. It also researches the factors that affect health, since there is considerable evidence that many factors influence our physical well-being, including income, education, employment and social status, as well as nutrition, early childhood programs and even highway safety.
This site contains a raft of studies and reports on a variety of health issues.

Taking Charge! Inc. is a company committed to providing client driven services to single parents on social assistance. It empowers them to meet their goal of economic self-sufficiency and take charge of their lives...  

Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Harvest (Food Bank)

City of Winnipeg

Social Planning Council of Winnipeg (SPCW)
- incl. links to : About Us - Happenings - Resources - Links - Media - Guestbook - Join SPC - Photo Gallery - Contact Us.

Welfare funds fall short of rent: study
Over 75 per cent dip into food-assistance cash to cover shelter costs
August 30, 2008
More than three-quarters of welfare recipients in Manitoba have been unable to cover their monthly rent with the money they receive from the province, a new report says. That means more than 10,000 households have been tapping into social assistance funds meant for food in order to pay their shelter costs. The report by the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg shows shelter allowances have not kept pace with rental rates, leaving 77 per cent of welfare recipients facing a so-called rent deficit each month. Two years ago, the percentage of households faced with a rent deficit was 73 per cent.
Source:
Winnipeg Free Press

Provincial welfare rates debated
By Leah Kellar
September 25, 2007
A recent call by Social Planning Council of Winnipeg to raise provincial social assistance rates has already been answered, according to Ministry of Family Services and Housing.
“In 2006, we invested over $22.4 million in shelter assistance rates,” said Charles McDougall, press secretary for Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh. “We also increased rates for couples and single persons by $20 a month in January 2004.”
This conflicts with a media statement from the council to promote its new Raise the Rates anti-poverty campaign.
Source:
Portage Daily Graphic (Portage la Prairie, Manitoba)

Manitoba government urged to raise welfare rates
September 21, 2007
The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg is asking the provincial government to raise social assistance rates, saying the current rates are driving recipients into crime and despair. To get their message across, the council has launched an anti-poverty campaign it's calling "Raise the Rates," which includes a petition being circulated around the province.
Source:
CBC

Raise the Rates Campaign (SPCW Poverty Advisory Committee)
Manitoba’s welfare system, as it currently stands, is failing and is in need of a major overhaul. The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg has launched a new campaign to “Raise the Rates” of Manitoba’s Employment and Income Assistance (welfare) program to improve the circumstances of the nearly 60,000 people who receive its assistance, and who are among the poorest of all Manitobans.
- incl. links to : Could you live on $6 a Day? - What kind of home would you choose? - Raise the Rates Fact Sheet - Raise the Rates Pamphlet - Printable Petition

Inspired by the “Raise the Rates” campaign in British Columbia which calls for changes to their provincial welfare program and increases to the minimum wage, the Manitoba campaign focuses exclusively on the low levels of assistance provided by the EIA program and the punitive policies that prevent people from getting ahead.

The campaign centres on two major pieces -- a petition, which began circulation earlier this year and two posters depicting the main recommendations and messages of the campaign. Our primary objective is to collect as many signatures to the petition as we can between now and November 15th to reach our target of 6,000.

Where There's a Will There's a Way: If Not Now, When?
Manitoba Child and Family Report Card 2005. [pdf, 21pp, 658KB]
November 2005

Related Link (national child poverty report):

New from Campaign 2000:

First Ministers told to take action to lower shameful poverty rates
News alert - Campaign 2000
Kelowna, BC, 23 Nov 05
"Activists took their annual child poverty report directly to the First Ministers meeting here today. The findings are discouraging. For almost 30 years the poverty rate has been stuck at one-in-six children. Whether families are mother-led, have two parents, are working full time or on social assistance the numbers are static. A particularly disturbing finding is that child poverty rates for Aboriginal, immigrant, and visible minority children are twice the national rate. Campaign 2000 National Coordinator Laurel Rothman, whose organization prepares the annual update, was joined by Peter Dinsdale of the National Association of Friendship Centres. They are clearly frustrated by misplaced government priorities and jurisdictional wrangling."

Complete report:

Decision Time for Canada: Let’s Make Poverty History
2005 Report Card on Child Poverty in Canada [pdf, 12pp, 500KB]

Paid to be Poor:
Report of the 2005 Manitoba Low Wage Community Inquiry (PDF file - 2.2MB, 86 pages)
October 2005
"The Just Income Coalition sponsored a series of community hearings in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson. A balanced, broadly-based panel of independent “listeners” heard the first-person stories of Manitobans affected by low wages — 34 low-income individuals, and 38 spokespersons for community organizations (unions, health and social services, faith leaders, etc.). For these hearings, the Coalition widened its focus beyond the minimum wage issue to include all workers in low wage employment. The majority of Manitoba’s low wage workers are women. The Panel heard from single mothers and couples, students and workers, Aboriginal people and immigrants, and those with disabilities and long-term illness. According to data purchased from the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, over one-quarter of the work force received less than a living wage ($10.25 per hour) in 2004. Just over 6 percent received the current minimum wage of $7.25 or less. This survey [see Appendix I] explodes the myth that most low wage employees are teenagers or single adults with no family responsibilities."

Press Release (PDF file - 111K, 2 pages)
October 5, 2005

Source:
Just Income Coalition (Manitoba)
"The Just Income Coalition formed in the fall of 2002 when a group of representatives from labour, human services, faith, women's, and Aboriginal organizations came together out of a shared concern over the inadequate minimum wage and its impact on low income Manitobans."

Related Link:

Social Planning Council of Winnipeg (SPCW)
NOTE: check the SPCW Resources and Links pages for dozens of online resources

15 years and counting: Manitoba child poverty report card 2004 [pdf, 26pp, 726KB]
November 2004
Source:
Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

Related Links:

Child poverty: setting new goals
[NOTE: this article is no longer available]
November 24, 2004
CAROL GOAR
"Giving up is not an option. But clinging to a faded dream is not a solution.
So today, on the 15th anniversary of his parliamentary resolution to end child poverty by 2000, Ed Broadbent will set a new goal. He will challenge Canadians to reduce the child poverty rate to 5 per cent within 10 years. His new target lacks the tidy finality of the one he persuaded all MPs to endorse on Nov. 24, 1989, shortly before his retirement as leader of the New Democratic Party. It is less ambitious, less appealing.But Broadbent, who returned to active politics this year, believes it is realistic and achievable. He calls it 'a new agenda for a new time.'
The child poverty rate currently stands at 15 per cent. It was 15.2 per cent when Broadbent issued his clarion call 15 years ago."
Source:
The Toronto Star

Complete report:

One million too many: Implementing solutions to child poverty in Canada
2004 report card on child poverty in Canada [pdf, 12pp, 186KB]
November 24, 2004

Source:
Provincial Child Poverty Report Cards: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia
NOTE: click the link above to access current and historical poverty reports for all six provinces.

Source:
Campaign 2000

Poverty Barometer - May 2004 (PDF file - 217K, 4 pages)
May 2004
Overview of the early childhood care and education situation in Canada and in Manitoba, what we can do about it and at what cost --- includes a recommendation for "a national universal early childhood care and education system, with public funding, for all children from birth to age 12."

Acceptable Living Level 2003 - January 2004 (PDF file, 391K, 82 pages)
"The 2003 Acceptable Living Level Report represents a continued effort to inform and educate the public on the realities of poverty in Manitoba. It seeks to address and abolish the myths and stereotypes of poverty by providing an honest analysis of poverty in Manitoba. The primary goal of the report is to determine an adequate and disposable income or expenditure level on a market basket of goods and services that can sustain a fair, modest and acceptable
living level. This report asks “how much is too little” rather than “how much is too much.” We believe that every Manitoban has the right to an acceptable living level. The Acceptable Living Level Report originated as a challenge to devise a “better” measure of poverty for Winnipeg. The first A.L.L. Report was released in 1997 by Winnipeg Harvest and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.
Source:
Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

Community Legal Education Association (CLEA) 

Canadian Union of Public Employees Manitoba (CUPE) 

CUPE Manitoba Local 500

Manitoba WORKink - "The Virtual Employment Resource Centre"
Career and Employment Resources for Persons with Disabilities 
- Links to a wide range of information for people with disabilities and those who support them. 
Source:
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work

Manitoba WorkInfoNet (MBWIN) - "An Internet directory that provides information on different aspects of the Manitoba labour market and helps Manitobans connect to the information and resources they need for success in the changing job market."
Incl. links to information in the following areas: Financial Help and Issues - Jobs, Work and Recruiting - Labour Market Information and Outlook - Learning,
Education and Training - Self Employment - At Work and In the Community - Occupations and Careers

Search the Web Search Canadian Social Research Links Only

TIP: How to Search for a Word or Expression on a Single Web Page  Open any web page in your browser, then hold down the Control ("Ctrl") key on your keyboard and type the letter F to open a "Find" window. Type or paste in a key word or expression and hit Enter - your browser will go directly to the first occurrence of that word (or those exact words, as the case may be). To continue searching using the same keyword(s) throughout the rest of the page, keep clicking on the FIND NEXT button. Try it. It's a great time-saver!

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