Cutting early support means paying more later

Fort Garry

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/04/2025 (197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba was once a national leader in supporting children and families. Through the Healthy Child Manitoba strategy, it was recognized that supporting early childhood development is essential. With a $30 million budget and 40 designated staff, the program tackled high rates of childhood poverty with coordinated government action focused on supporting families where it matters most.

That leadership made a real difference in Fort Garry. The Fort Garry/St. Norbert Healthy Child Coalition is one of 18 local coalitions funded by the province. It brings together passionate community members who understand that healthy development begins long before kindergarten. These coalitions offer critical support to parents, especially newcomers and young families, helping them navigate parenting, connect to services and build lasting community ties.

The programs that the Fort Garry/St. Norbert Healthy Child Coalition supports go far beyond crafts and playtime. They reduce social isolation, foster mental well-being and give parents the confidence, knowledge and networks they need to raise healthy children. These efforts are key to long-term educational success and social inclusion, especially in diverse and rapidly growing communities like we have in South Winnipeg. Currently, 80 per cent of the families served by the coalition are newcomers who rely on these programs for not only parenting resources but also for community integration, literacy support and cultural connection.

But while the need has grown, the funding hasn’t kept up. After devastating cuts under the previous Progressive Conservative government, Healthy Child Manitoba has never been properly restored. Shockingly, even under the NDP, a government that has promised to rebuild public services, funding hasn’t kept up with the pace of inflation, nor has it reflected the population growth in communities like ours.

In 2020, the Fort Garry/St. Norbert Healthy Child Coalition received $99,800 in funding. Last year, that dropped to just $86,000. It is estimated that to simply maintain current service levels and meet growing demand, the coalition would need at least $130,000 annually. That’s a modest ask when measured against the scale of the provincial budget yet would make a life-changing difference for hundreds of families.

Healthy child coalitions continue to deliver exceptional programming, but they’re doing so with fewer resources than they need. The current level of investment simply doesn’t reflect the importance of their work or the number of families depending on them. Rising costs have forced them to reduce the number of locations and services offered.

We know that early support for families is an investment that pays for itself over time. Cutting early support means paying more later. If this government is serious about addressing poverty, improving outcomes and strengthening community, it must reinvest in Healthy Child Manitoba and ensure local organizations like the Fort Garry/St. Norbert Healthy Child Coalition receive the funding they deserve.

Families aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking for a fair chance and the supports that were once a Manitoba standard.