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. |
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Key Reports and Strategies local, other jurisdictions
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Basic Income - Making the Case for Women & Gender Equity Author: Tracy Smith-Carrier (MSW, PhD, OCT, RSW), Chloe Halpenny (MSc, MPhil) Date: October 2020 |
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Social Welfare: Converting Employment & Income Assistance to Liveable Basic Needs Author: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Date: 2020 Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) as it currently does not meet the basic needs of the households who rely on it. This is true of all family types, and especially for single individuals |
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Income Security to End Poverty in Manitoba Author: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Date: 2017 Income security programs in Manitoba and Canada are not keeping pace with the growing problem of poverty. Change is needed to ensure low income and vulnerable people and families do not become entrapped in a lifetime of poverty |
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Manitoba Poverty Central Report Author: National Campaign 2000 Date: 2020 |
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The Manitoba Basic Annual Income Experiment: Lessons Learned Author: Wayne Simpson, Greg Mason, Ryan Godwin Date: 2017 The recent announcements of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot and Finland’s cash grants to jobless persons
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An Examination of Employment and Income Assistance and Housing Affordability in Six Urban Centres in Manitoba Author: Public Interest Law Centre of Legal Aid Manitoba Date: March 2010 This objective of this research was to determine whether the rate of Employment and Income Assistance (EIA), as paid by the Province of Manitoba to eligible recipients, is sufficient to obtain and maintain adequate shelter in six urban centres in Manitoba. These communities are: Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach and Selkirk. Special consideration was given to persons who are experiencing mental illness.
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Income Security Author: CANADIAN COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NETWORK, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Date: 2015 A multi-pronged approach is needed to provide Manitobans with income security. Those who are able to work should be supported to access the training and education they need to enter the labour market. Particular attention should be given to providing comprehensive supports to Manitobans with multiple barriers to employment as they transition through training into employment.
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SYSTEM PATHWAYS INTO YOUTH HOMELESSNESS CASE STUDY EMPLOYMENT & INCOME ASSISTANCE Date: 2014 The Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) program of Manitoba provides financial help to those with no other means of support. When youth become homeless, their lives fall into chaos, without a stable address and place to keep belongings. Addictions, trauma and learning disabilities contribute to numerous difficulties navigating the social assistance system. Finding other means of financial support, from employment or scholarships, becomes extremely difficult. Without adequate financial resources, finding and keeping housing is nearly impossible.
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Basic Income Canada Network Author: Sheila Regehr (Chair) Date: 2020 The report highlights that a basic income can be used in Canada to ensure everyone has their basic needs met, participates in society and lives with dignity regardless of work status. As both models aim to reduce income insecurity, the Basic Income Guarantee model is based on income and showed evidence of positive outcomes and the Universal Basic Income model remains untested in developed countries and raises concerns regarding the potential for high-income individuals to benefit without changes to Canada's tax system.
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Poverty, the Pandemic, and the Province-Manitoba Child and Family Poverty Author: Social Planning Council of Winnipeg Date: 2023 Report on Campaign 2000 for ending child poverty and recommendations for the government. Proposed enhanced income support measures include the introduction of a Livable Basic Needs Benefit capable of bringing the income of Manitoba to or above the poverty line as measured using the Census Family Low Income Measure After Tax (CFLIM-AT). These recommendations serve as an initial step toward implementing a basic income system in Canada by eliminating conditionalities from assistance, broadening its accessibility, and enhancing its effectiveness.
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Making Space for Change The Story of Manitoba's Rent Assist Benefit Author: Josh Brandon & Jessie Hajer Date: 2019 The introduction of the Rent Assist Program in 2014, fully implemented in 2016, significantly impacted low-income renters thanks to the efforts of the Make Poverty History Manitoba coalition. Rent Assist transformed into a program that extended benefits beyond the Employment Income Assistance (EIA) system, making it one of Canada’s most vigorous shelter allowance programs, with fewer restrictions than other provinces. This program is a significant achievement for anti-poverty advocates in Manitoba and across Canada.
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Manitoba Child and Family Poverty Report Card 2016 Author: Sid Frankel Date: 2016 In 2014, child poverty in Manitoba was the highest rate in Canada. More than 1 in 3.5 children lived in poverty. This report analyses and explains different graphs demonstrating the depth and prevalence of child poverty in Canada and Manitoba. The report concludes with recommendations for the government, including announcing an in-depth poverty reduction plan with a detailed timeline to accomplish the targets proposed. Another is increasing the provincial government transfers to families with children to help decrease child poverty, referring to raising Employment and Income Assistance Benefits and the Manitoba Child Benefit.
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Basic Income Canada Network Author: Basic Income Canada Network Date: 2017 A basic income (BI), an idea with a long history, is crucial for Canada’s future. A basic income can provide all Canadians the chance to live with dignity and have their basic needs met and not have it tied to their work status. Funding for a BI program can be derived from the redistribution of general revenue, including resources from old programs replaced by BI and redesigning tax benefits that most often benefit the wealthy and other practical mechanisms.
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The basic income experiment 2017-2018 in Finland: Preliminary results Author: Kangas, Olli; Jauhiainen, Signe; Simanainen, Miska; Ylikännö, Minna Date: 2019 A basic income experiment run in Finland between 2017-2018 revealed some key findings. Participants receiving the basic income reported improved overall wellbeing compared to the control group. In addition, they also reported higher levels of confidence regarding their future employment opportunities compared to the control group. Although the experiment appeared to have no significant difference in finding employment, it did reveal a significant increase in the overall wellbeing of the participants receiving a basic income.
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Southern Ontario's Basic Income Experience Author: Ferdosi, Mohammad; McDowell, Tom; Lewchuk, Wayne; Ross, Stephanie Date: 2020 A basic income experiment run in Finland between 2017-2018 revealed some key findings. Participants receiving the basic income reported improved overall wellbeing compared to the control group. In addition, they also reported higher levels of confidence regarding their future employment opportunities compared to the control group. Although the experiment appeared to have no significant difference in finding employment, it did reveal a significant increase in the overall wellbeing of the participants receiving a basic income.
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