CANADIAN CENTRE for POLICY ALTERNATIVES MANITOBA OFFICE
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CCPA CANADIAN CENTRE for POLICY ALTERNATIVES MANITOBA OFFICE ABOUT THE COVER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The view from here: Manitobans call for a poverty reduction plan, is a Canadian CCPA thanks Rhian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Manitoba (CCPA-MB) publication. The view Brynjolson for kindly from here brings together the ideas and hard work of many individuals and allowing us to use the organizations. Kirsten Bernas, CCPA-Manitoba research assistant and Shauna image of her artwork MacKinnon, director of CCPA-Manitoba co-wrote the final report with help from the authors of the CCPA-B.C. Poverty Reduction Plan for B.C., who allowed us to titled The View From use much of their framework. Many of the actions recommended in the report Here. The original derived from consultations organized by Make Poverty History Manitoba. artwork is acrylic CCPA-MB thanks: latex on canvas, 26” x 30”. Rhian The many individuals who participated in consultations and all those individuals Brynjolson is a visual that graciously responded to our requests for information, clarification and input into the final document as well as all of the organizations and individuals who artist, children’s book have endorsed our action plan. illustrator and author of Art & Illustration Make Poverty History Manitoba (MPHM) member organizations and especially the founding members including and Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence, for the Classroom. Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, and Women’s s Health Clinic for taking the Rhian teaches Art early lead in consulting with Manitobans over a four-year period that led to many and English in an of the policy actions included in this report. alternative high school Gail Watson, the chair of Make Poverty History Manitoba and MPHM members in Winnipeg. Margaret Haworth-Brockman, Sid Frankel, Wayne Helgason, Marianne Cerilli, Madeline Boscoe for their active role throughout the process. CCPA would also like to thank the Provincial Council of Women and Joseph Zuken Memorial Association and Trust Fund for their financial contributions CANADIAN CENTRE FOR toward the project. POLICY ALTERNATIVES- MB MPHM thanks those who assisted with funding for the forums and community 309-323 Portage Ave. consultations including Campaign 2000, HRSDC; Manitoba Association of School Trustees: Manitoba Family Services and Housing; Assiniboine Credit Union; Winnipeg, MB Community Living Manitoba; University of Manitoba Faculty of Social Work; Canada R3B 2C1 Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg; Status of Women Canada; and the Kinsmen Club ph: (204) 927-3200 of Winnipeg: CAHRD. fax: (204) 927-3201 MPHM also thanks the many individuals who served on organizing committees, [email protected] presented, facilitated, recorded results and those who participated in the www.policyalternatives.ca consultations and forums; Mary Smith, Central Regional Health Authority for coordinating the six consultations in the Portage la Prairie area; Joel Masniuk and Tara Rudy, formerly of the Social Planning Council, for work on early drafts of MPHM documents.; and Rob Marriott of the Social Planning Council. the view from here Manitobans call for a poverty reduction plan June 2009 CAW 567 ISBN - 978-1-897569-65-8 CONTENTS ENDORSEMENTS ............................................................................ iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................vii Our Poverty Indicators .......................................................................... viii Our Recommendations ........................................................................... ix 1. HOUSING .................................................................................................IX 2. INCOME SECURITY .....................................................................................X Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) ................................................ x Jobs .............................................................................................................. x Wages ........................................................................................................... x Employment Standards and Labour Legislation ............................................ xi 3. EDUCATION ..............................................................................................XI Early Learning and Child Care ..................................................................... xi Kindergarten to Grade 12 ............................................................................ xi Post Secondary Education ........................................................................... xii Adult Learning and Training ........................................................................ xii 4. NEIGHBOURHOOD AND COMMUNITY approaches .........................XII 5. TRANSPORTATION .................................................................................XIII 6. DISABILITY SUPPORTS ...........................................................................XIII 7. HEALTH ....................................................................................................XIII INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1 Poverty Reduction Plans: lessons from other jurisdictions ........................ 2 Important Features of a Poverty Reduction Plan ...................................... 5 The Case for a Made in Manitoba Poverty Reduction Plan ...................... 7 Fighting Poverty Is Just and Ethical ................................................................ 8 Fighting Poverty Is Fair .................................................................................. 8 Fighting Poverty Is Affordable ....................................................................... 8 Fighting Poverty Is Economical ...................................................................... 9 Fighting Poverty Reflects Fundamental Canadian Values ............................... 9 A Call to Action ..................................................................................... 10 THE STATE OF POVERTY IN MANITOBA ....................................... 12 Measuring Poverty ................................................................................. 13 Who Is Poor? ......................................................................................... 14 Gender Age and Family Type ...................................................................... 14 Aboriginal Population ................................................................................ 16 Recent Immigrants ...................................................................................... 18 Persons with disabilities .............................................................................. 18 Make Poverty History Principles ...................................................... 20 THE VIEW FROM HERE i OUR PLAN FOR MANITOBA ......................................................... 20 Consultations ......................................................................................... 20 A Comprehensive and Coordinated Approach ....................................... 21 Targets and timelines to measure progress ............................................. 22 Accountability Mechanisms ................................................................... 23 Recommended Priority Actions .............................................................. 24 1. HOUSING ................................................................................................. 24 2. INCOME SECURITY ................................................................................... 27 Employment and Income Assistance ........................................................... 28 Jobs ........................................................................................................... 29 Wages ......................................................................................................... 31 Employment Standards and Labour Legislation ........................................... 32 3. EDUCATION ............................................................................................. 34 Early Learning and Child Care .................................................................... 34 Kindergarten to Grade 12 ........................................................................... 36 Post-Secondary Education ........................................................................... 38 Adult Learning and Training ........................................................................ 40 4. NEIGHBOURHOOD AND COMMUNITY approaches ......................... 41 5. TRANSPORTATION .................................................................................. 45 6. DISABILITY SUPPORTS ............................................................................ 46 7. HEALTH ..................................................................................................... 47 CONCLUSION ............................................................................... 50 ENDNOTES .................................................................................... 52 REFERENCES .................................................................................. 57 ii THE VIEW FROM HERE ENDORSEMENTS CCPA Manitoba and Make Poverty History Manitoba will continue to reach out to Manitobans to endorse The view from here: Manitobans call for a poverty reduction plan. The following organizations have endorsed