The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg urges all political parties and candidates to pledge to implement policies and programs to prevent and reduce child poverty in Manitoba. We believe preventing child poverty by lowering its prevalence will result in substantial savings to our health education and social services and will provide opportunities for our children to make life-long contributions to Manitoba's economy and society. Currently Manitoba has chosen to deduct the amount of the Federal Child Tax Benefit supplement dollar for dollar from the cheques of social assistance recipients. By following the example of Newfoundland and New Brunswick and not clawing back this amount, we would help to equalize income-related developmental opportunities for children.
Most child poverty is created in the labour market by low wages.
A growing number of working families are finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet. About one in seven workers will benefit from an increase in the minimum wage. An incremental increase, fair to both workers and employers, would give employers a reasonable amount of time to adjust to the increases. Having a job is no guarantee of pulling a child out of poverty. Despite significant economic growth and a stable unemployment rate, child poverty continues to be a persistent problem.