Providing income security and addressing deepening poverty is the foundation for any social safety net. Understanding that women, gender diverse individuals and the families they are responsible for caring for are more at risk of low wage work, and poverty, is key to any gender based analysis of the social safety net. Women and gender diverse people are also more likely to rely on the social safety net to escape intimate partner violence and to top up their income from reliance on part time and precarious employment, including workplaces where sexual harassment, bullying and gender based violence and abuse goes unaddressed, often forcing them out of work.
Historically there has been a reticence on the part of governments to invest in income security programs to bring people even close to the poverty line. This has been out of fear that people working for a low income will opt not to work. During the pandemic when people were laid off and stayed home to collect the CERB, there has been an upheaval in employment patterns, many businesses closed during the pandemic while some prospered. The phenomenon of “quiet quitting” or and a lot of movement in employment coupled with inflation and growing escalation in the cost of living, labour shortages and labour disputes in organized workplaces contribute to the need for effective policy analysis in consideration of a guaranteed livable basic income. “The pandemic revealed the inequality and economic insecurity people were already living with and it has forced us to acknowledge the limitations of our existing social safety net”.
There is ample research into the benefits but at this time no clear plan is in place to transition from the various income supplement programs in Manitoba to a basic livable income system. The Reweaving Support Project will share this research and evidence to build such a plan. Reweaving Support recognizes that some stakeholders are currently not in support of basic income and collaboration is needed to address concerns about the basic income approach, then build agreement and support for improved income security.
While many people do not understand or have concerns about the basic income approach, Basic income, sometimes called the guaranteed livable income, will ensure that everyone would receive enough money to live a dignified life.
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Key Groups |
The lead organization is Basic Income Manitoba. Many other groups in Manitoba are dedicated to addressing poverty through various strategies. The Reweaving Support Project will be engaging as many as possible in re-imaging the EIA or welfare program, transitioning to a basic livable income. |
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System Mapping |
Who are the partners in providing child care and early learning services? How do they relate and communicate. |
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Reweaving Support Baseline Change Matrix |
This tool shows the current spending and fiscal framework, legal and policy framework, staffing and programming, public education, community engagement or partnerships and governance frameworks for income security programs. |
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Historical overview and evolution of our income support and income security systems |
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Situation Assessment |
Drivers of gender based violence – sense making and situation analysis |
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Change Matrix for a new child care and early learning system
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The main work of the project is engaging as many Manitobans as possible with experience in income assistance initiatives and services in re-imagining our income security systems, our supports for all people, all parents and families, all Manitobans no matter their age, ethnicity, gender, location, ability or citizenship. |
Key Reports and Strategies local, other jurisdictions
Basic Income - Making the Case for Women & Gender Equity
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Author: Tracy Smith-Carrier (MSW, PhD, OCT, RSW), Chloe Halpenny (MSc, MPhil) Date: October 2020 |
Transforming Child Welfare Legislation in Manitoba - Opportunities to Improve Outcomes for Children and Youth Report of the Legislative Review Committee
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Author: Manitoba Government Date: September 2018 |
