North America's Only Socialist Government Delivers Anti-Austerity, Infrastructure, Education and Poverty Reduction Budget
Manitoba Planned Deficit Budget a Leap Forward for Poverty Reduction
http://todaysndp.ca/news/government-invests-rent-assist-education-and-training-support-low-income-families
Government invests in rent assist, education and training to support low-income families
MAY 1, 2015
Earlier today, our NDP government announced new Budget 2015 initiatives for low-income Manitobans, including expanding the Rent Assist benefit to a maximum 75% of the Median Market Rate (MMR).
“All Manitoba families want to build a better life for themselves and for their children,” said Andrew Swan, MLA for Minto. “Helping low-income Manitobans find a stable place to live, while providing the education and child care supports they need, helps people change their circumstances—not just for a month, or a year, but for the rest of their lives.”
Budget 2015 provides a number of practical pathways out of poverty. Highlights include:
Rent Assist: Increasing Manitoba’s shelter benefit for all low-income Manitobans (receiving EIA and not) to a maximum of 75% of MMR, two years ahead of schedule.
Adult Learning and Literacy: Introducing a full-time literacy program at the Manitoba Jobs and Skills Development Centre, in response to increased interest and demand from Manitobans on social assistance.
Early Learning and Child Care: Investing in 900 newly funded child care spaces and in higher wages for the child care workforce.
Strong Minimum Wage: Raising the minimum wage this October to $11 per hour.
Support for Skilled Newcomers: Helping more newcomers get their credentials recognized and get better jobs.
Support for Parents: Introducing support for two new parent-child programs in high-needs communities to help children succeed early on in school.
Social Enterprise Strategy: Promoting training and work opportunities for low-income Manitobans.
Mental Health Strategy: Creating a new $2-million Children and Youth Mental Health Strategy to promote mental health, prevent illness and strengthen available resources.
Improved Food Security: Making it easier for families to get affordable, healthy food.
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Manitoba budget: Spending praised by some, deficit spending slammed by others
CBC – Thu, 30 Apr, 2015 7:41 PM EDT
Molly McCracken
The director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' Manitoba office says she's pleased to see rent relief for low-income families. The budget proposes increasing the Rent Assist program to 75 per cent of the median market rent.
McCracken also gave the budget top marks for no announced cuts to services or staff.
"I think this is a responsible approach," she said.
"It's an investment in social services that we depend on through the infrastructure spending. It's a measured approach and, yeah, it's a good budget."
Peyton Veitch
The president of the University of Winnipeg Students' Association says he's pleased to see universities getting a 2.5 per cent increase in operating grants this year.
"Moving forward, students would be keen to see multi-year funding projections that will allow us to look into the future and see, year over year, what we can expect," he said.
"But certainly, increases to funding are crucial in terms of maintaining an accessible, quality system of post-secondary education."
Colleges will also see a funding increase of two per cent under this year's budget.
Veitch said he was also happy to see that starting in August, Manitoba students won't have to pay interest on their student loans and car ownership will no longer be a barrier to accessing those loans.
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/manitoba-budget-spending-praised-deficit-234130939.html
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