Cutting taxes is not the answer

By Molly McCracken Last week I was chatting with my uncle, a retiree on a fixed income, about the health service cuts at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. He said “if the deficit is $83 million, why doesn’t …

Proposed legislation a sentence of poverty for low income workers

By Josh Brandon and Molly McCracken Working should be a route out of poverty, but for some, low wages are a poverty trap. The current minimum wage is inadequate as at $11/ hour, it places workers as far …

Budget 2017: death by 1,000 cuts

By Molly McCracken Social policy lowlights Despite pundits’ claims that “its not as bad as it could be” there are a myriad of program cuts and tax cuts in this budget. As the weeks go by more impacts …

Budget 2017: Health care changes concerning

Changes to Manitoba’s Health Care system are coming fast and furious. This will invariably impact key services we all rely on and limit access to needed services. On April 7th, the Friday prior to the budget, the Winnipeg …

ID requirements will limit turnout

By Lisa Forbes, Molly McCracken and Ellen Smirl First published in the Winnipeg Free Press March 28, 2017 On March 20th Minister of Justice Heather Stefanson introduced an amendment to the Elections Act that would establish a permanent …

Manitoba tax changes need to target wealthy to reduce poverty

Basic Personal Exemption (BPE) increases are being brought in by the new provincial government under the auspices of reducing poverty. The BPE is the floor at which we start paying provincial income taxes. Not only will these changes …

Inaction Threatens to Stagnate Manitoba Minimum Wage

First published as an editorial in the Winnipeg Free Press July 18, 2016 By Molly McCracken Unless immediate action is taken, 2016 will be the first time in a generation that minimum wage workers will see their wages …

Budget 2016

Don’t let the name of Manitoba’s latest budget “Correcting the Course” fool you: this budget stays the course, at least in the immediate term. It is a status quo budget that continues with many of the initiatives of …

Social Enterprises Create Pride through Decent Work

Social enterprises fill an important gap in Manitoba’s economy for those struggling to enter the workforce. The provincial government has seen the value of investing in social enterprises through funding training and procuring housing retrofit services. This in …

New MB PC Government: 4 areas to watch

The recently elected Progressive Conservative (PC) party in Manitoba ran on a call for change. But change for the sake for the sake of change can cause more harm than good, especially for Manitoba’s most marginalized. While there …