Pallister’s plan to transform welfare system met with skepticism

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This article was published 04/03/2020 (2187 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Brian Pallister said mandating his minister of families to transform Manitoba welfare from a system “that encourages dependency” into a “short-term bridge to meaningful employment” is about helping people who want to escape the social “safety net,” rather than punishing them with workfare.

“The people I’ve met want to work,” Pallister told reporters Wednesday, when asked about his mandate letter to Heather Stefanson, directing the Tory minister to reduce dependency on government programs. Those who are able should have “an opportunity to grow their skills and feel better about their day,” he said.

“We need to make sure we’re focused on helping people escape from the safety net — they don’t want to be captured by it,” the premier said. He said it’s too soon to talk about reducing benefits or eligibility requirements for those who don’t “escape.”

“Let’s see if we can help people escape from a life of dependency on government,” Pallister said. “That’s a noble pursuit.”

Stefanson said in an interview there’s been a “culture of dependency” created in Manitoba.

“We want to provide tools to those individuals with the hand up they need to live independently in the community,” the families minister said. She said the province will work with Red River College, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, and the private sector on training to help people get to work.

“We’ve heard loud and clear from the private sector that there’s a shortage of properly trained individuals. So I think there’s a big opportunity to work together to transition people from living dependently on government programs to living independently in the community with jobs in the private sector,” said Stefanson.

Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew was not convinced.

“I have a lot of skepticism that his motivations are about anything else… than just saving money,” Kinew told reporters after question period.

“If they were serious about transitioning people from EIA (Employment and Income Assistance) into the workforce, they would not have cut the Access program at universities and colleges,” Kinew said. “That is the exact program that helps someone on EIA get into school so they can get a good job at the end of it, so I’ve got a lot of skepticism.”

During question period, Kinew’s calls for the government to implement a school breakfast program to ensure children aren’t hungry and are ready to learn, were dismissed by Pallister, a former teacher.

“It’s absurd to suggest we’re not working hard as a government to get food in the mouths of hungry children,” Pallister told the legislature.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca