Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Manitoba Office

Fragile progress: Analysis of past spending and future commitments on MMIWG2S+ calls for justice | CCPA Many federal programs linked to the calls for justice have ended or are at risk, while spending on new programs is expected to fall by half

Manitoba’s budget takes an important step by making child care free for the lowest-income families receiving subsidies.

But affordable child care must also be available. Manitoba still urgently needs more spaces, especially in low-income, rural, and Northern communities.

Read more: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/an-important-step-for-provincial-child-care/

- Child Care Coalition of Manitoba

Wab Kinew, Obby Khan

We were pleased to launch new MRA-supported research last week with our partner CEDA Pathways. Authors Janet Nowatzki and Fadi Ennab investigated the structural barriers to post-secondary for Indigenous and racialized students in Winnipeg’s North End.

Thank you to CEDA graduates Brandon Murdock, Mars Ballantyne, and Daniyal Chaudhry for sharing their personal experiences at the event to support the three key findings:

1. Indigenous and racialized students continue to face inequitable access to post-secondary education (PSE), encountering persistent structural and relational barriers rooted in colonial systems, racism, and socioeconomic inequality.

2. Supports for success include funding for tuition, culturally appropriate social and emotional support, and academic navigation supports including bridging programs.

3. Decolonization and Indigenization are essential for creating equitable educational pathways to PSE.

Please read the report at https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/the-post-secondary-transition-experiences-of-indigenous-and-racialized-students/

Last week, Wab Kinew acknowledged publicly how hard the affordability crisis is on low income people, and that targeted supports are the most effective way to help.

This is an important shift; it reflects what we’ve been saying for some time. Targeted funding for food, geared to income, would help address food insecurity, address income inequality and reduce poverty. See: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/put-fairness-at-centre-of-manitoba-budget/

For example, if Manitoba created a credit similar to Saskatchewan Low Income Tax Credit and aligned it with the federal GST credit enhancements, individuals could receive roughly $750 more per year.

A two-parent, two-child family could receive over $2,000 annually — money that would go directly toward groceries and other essentials.

A measure like this would bring 8,000 Manitobans above the poverty line.

Join Linda McQuaig and Neil Brooks tomorrow (Wed, May 6) at 7:00 pm for a discussion of their new book, Cancelling Billionaires Before They Cancel Us: The Urgent Case for a Wealth Tax.

The discussion will take place in the atrium at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Grant Park, and will also be live streamed on YouTube for those who can't join in person.

View the stream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/wQpHXchfP3w

A couple of our staff, Niall and Alanna, are tabling at the CUPE Manitoba conference happening today. Go say hi, pick up a report, and sign up for our newsletter! (They have candy, too. 😄)

Indigenous and racialized students encounter barriers when trying to access post-secondary education. What changes are needed to make equitable education pathways?

Join us next Tuesday, April 28 at Merchants Corner for the launch of a new report: The post-secondary transition experiences of CEDA Pathways graduates, researched by Janet Nowatski and Fadi Ennab.

At 11am we will have a panel presentation with CEDA Pathways graduates and a free lunch to follow at noon. No registration necessary.

Hope to see you there!