Anti-poverty group asks province to offer more support

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This article was published 02/12/2020 (2138 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MAKE Poverty History Manitoba has asked the provincial government to give more financial support to Manitobans who live in poverty as they weather the pandemic.

The group sent a letter to Premier Brian Pallister and Families Minister Heather Stefanson last month.

It says the government can reduce poverty by doing three things: ensure Employment and Income Assistance benefits are not interrupted or reduced because of other government funding programs such as CERB; increase EIA allowances for single adults by $383 a month and $236 a month for people with disabilities; and reinstate a ban on evictions.

“It’s critical that support be provided immediately for people living in poverty,” said spokesman Josh Brandon.

“We know that all Manitobans are struggling in the current pandemic crisis. But we also know that the most difficult crisis is felt by people living in poverty. They struggle to pay rent, to afford food at the best of times and in this crisis.”

On Oct. 1, the government lifted a six-month ban on evictions. An estimated 5,456 to 7,882 people are at risk of being evicted, the letter said.

Brandon said the letter was sent to the province on Nov. 10, but they haven’t received a reply from the minister. He added the issue was raised in the legislature, but there was no promise to reinstate the ban.

“The government needs to treat this as an urgent issue. People living in poverty are at an increased risk of exposure to the virus and have less capacity to bear the cost of the measures that need to be taken to fight this virus,” he said.

— Kellen Taniguchi