MANITOBA is slowly shedding its place as the child poverty capital of Canada, according to Statistics Canada and the Doer government.
Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh said Tuesday Manitobans living in poverty, including the number of children living in poorer families, has dropped in Manitoba, according to the latest report by Statistics Canada on income trends in Canada.
But Mackintosh said the numbers are no reason to celebrate.
"It's grounds for some optimism, but not enough," he said. "Statistics like these are absolutely no comfort to a struggling family."
Statistics Canada said the poverty rate for children living in single-mother families has decreased by 63 per cent from 1999 to 2006 -- the biggest drop in the country. Also, the number of children living in poverty overall decreased by 36 per cent to 12.4 per cent in 2006 from 19.3 per cent in Manitoba.
Mackintosh added since 1999, the year the New Democrats formed government, the number of people collecting welfare has gone down by more than 12,500 people or 18 per cent.
He said while the numbers show a positive trend, they are not an accurate reflection of how many people live in poverty as Statistics Canada does not include First Nations communities in its research.
"That is unacceptable," Mackintosh said. "All Canadians should be included in a measure."
Myfanway Bowman, Chair of the Social Planning Council's Campaign 2000 committee, said the decreased rates are a good sign.
"The rates are down and my hopes are up," Bowman said . "However, it took us eight years to achieve that drop and that pace is just too slow for the 12.4 per cent of children still living in poverty in Manitoba."
Brown said the 12.4 per cent of children left in poverty translates into 31,000 children who are continuing to suffer.
Mackintosh said the province is taking additional steps to reduce poverty rates, including:
- Increasing shelter rates this July for non-disabled single adults on assistance to $285 from $271 per month plus an additional $35 a month directly from the Manitoba Shelter Benefit for a total increase of 18 per cent. Non-disabled childless couples will also receive $35 a month for an increase of nine per cent.
- Increasing rooming house rates by $49 per month to $285 from $236, plus an additional $35 directly from the Manitoba Shelter Benefit, for a total increase of $84 per month, a 36 per cent increase.
- A new $50-per-month benefit under the Rewarding Work Allowance is being introduced to help non-disabled single adults and couples without children pay their rent after they leave welfare for work. Other people who leave assistance can receive Manitoba Shelter Benefits. The benefit will be paid for up to one year and eligible recipients will receive it in the month after they leave assistance. The first cheques will be issued at the end of October to help pay rent for November.
- A one-time benefit under the Get Started! program that will be paid to people who leave welfare for work to help them pay for costs related to starting a new job, such as work tools. Disabled people can receive $325, parents $250 and others $175. Recipients will begin to receive Get Started! in February 2009. People will get the benefit in the month after they leave welfare.
- The Rewarding Work Health Plan will be provided to single parents and persons with disabilities who leave welfare for work. It extends coverage for prescription drugs and dental and optical services for up to two full years after people leave assistance. People will begin receiving the enhanced coverage in December 2008.
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