A Province with No Poverty

By Shaun Loney The so-called war on poverty has been an abysmal failure.  Poverty rates in Canada remain at stubbornly high levels.  Most provinces, including Manitoba, still have about one in 10 living below acceptable low-income cut-offs. Low-income …

Federal housing strategy key to improving child welfare

Before the findings of the Hughes commission report on the death of Phoenix Sinclair have been lost and forgotten and before the next child dies needlessly, we must all be reminded that there are more issues at play …

Celebrating our Success: Reaching Beyond the Converted

By Josh Brandon Policy research can sometimes be a lonely occupation. It is easy to worry that the only people listening are the ones who already mostly agree with us about our important goals of reducing poverty, promoting …

The 2014 Federal Budget: Austerity for the many, prosperity for the few

By Lynne Fernandez Observers were not expecting anything more than a middle-of-the-road federal budget for 2014, but even so the Finance Minister managed to disappoint. Why then did the government choose to release a ho-hum budget when the …

Government responds to calls to increase EIA shelter allowance

By Molly McCracken This past weekend, Theresa Oswald, Minister of Jobs and the Economy, said she agreed with a long-standing anti-poverty goal. “We agree that 75 percent as a target is the right goal”. The provincial government has …

Community Development Manitoba-style

By Molly McCracken For fashion trends the world looks to Milan; Copenhagen has become synonymous with urban planning; but for community development, Manitoba is increasingly the source for inspiration and cutting edge policy. Manitoba’s home-grown approach to community …

Understanding the Living Wage Concept

Lynne Fernandez, Errol Black Chair in Labour Studies, CCPA MB. “Living Wage Laws don’t help the most vulnerable” by the Fraser Institute’s Lammam and MacIntyre, is based on a misunderstanding that is evident in the title. Living wage …

Honouring the memory of Phoenix Sinclair: Our collective responsibility

By Shauna MacKinnon “The social and economic conditions that render children vulnerable to abuse and neglect are well beyond the scope of the child welfare system” (Hon. Ted Hughes, Commissioner, The Legacy of Phoenix Sinclair: Achieving the Best …