Communities leading the way need provincial support

By Greg MacPherson and Molly McCracken The province has invested widely in community development and “place-based” approaches to renewal and poverty reduction, with many positive results. Place-based approaches such as these are now being adopted in communities across …

Fight food insecurity with income

By Molly McCracken The rise in food costs disproportionately affects the poor as food makes up a larger portion of their spending. Increased income, educational programs and northern food subsidies need to work hand in hand if the …

Federal election: What’s at stake for Winnipeg women

Women have a lot at stake in this election: higher rates of economic inequality, impacts of violence and lack of child care. Here’s how Winnipeg women fare, and what the major federal parties have said they will do. …

Manitoba Conservatives open the door to privatization

By Molly McCracken, Director of CCPA-MB Social service schemes announced this week by the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives to encourage private childcare and introduce Social Impact Bonds soften the ground towards privatization. The assumption is that the private sector …

No silver bullet to ‘solve’ poverty

In response to “Generosity doesn’t solve poverty” Winnipeg Free Press article December 17 Mary Agnes Welch is right when she says charity is “not fixing the province’s most serious problem.  However, her critique of provincial anti-poverty efforts falls …

Community, Research and Social Change: 10th annual State of the Inner City Report

The State of the Inner City Report is an annual research collaboration between the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba and community organizations based in the inner city of Winnipeg. This year marks its tenth year anniversary. Since …

Canadians Deserve a Universal Early Childhood Education and Child Care System

By Molly McCracken and Susan Prentice This week hundreds of educators, academics and activists gather in Winnipeg for the fourth national childcare conference. They are united by a vision of a universal early childhood education and child care …

CEO Sleep Out: Charity not Change

By Molly McCracken Last night several dozen business leaders, politicians and high profile Winnipeggers spent a night at Portage and Main in the annual CEO Sleep Out to raise funds and awareness about poverty and homelessness. However if …

Rooming Houses to Rooming Homes

By Molly McCracken   [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4n-Hv3_QXk?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360] In Winnipeg’s inner city, and especially in West Broadway and Spence neighbourhoods, older homes converted to rooming houses are an important type of housing for many people living on low incomes. However, …

Decolonizing the Inner City: a look at Youth For Christ

By Molly McCracken, director, CCPA-MB Youth For Christ is an evangelical Christian organization whose “Centre for Youth Excellence” received public funding based on a business plan that promised to meet the needs of local Aboriginal youth. The public …