Manitoba unveils affordability funding for families, seniors

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This article was published 31/08/2022 (1271 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Despite a lack of details, Brandon officials are welcoming an $87-million “family affordability package” from the province that will cut cheques for some families with children and seniors, and boost income assistance to help Manitobans weather the effects of high inflation.

“All those things are going to help families,” Barbara McNish, executive director of Samaritan House Ministries Food Bank and Resource Centre, said Wednesday afternoon.

Premier Heather Stefanson announced the package Wednesday morning at a press conference in Winnipeg.

“It is beyond clear that many Manitobans are hurting and having a hard time making ends meet,” Stefanson said. “While Manitoba families are resilient, this economic rough patch has created the perfect storm, with unprecedented cost increases hitting us everywhere we turn.”

Under the affordability package, families that had a household income less than $175,000 in 2021 will get $250 for the first child and $200 for each additional child, while seniors with less than $40,000 in family income (and who claimed an education property tax credit in 2021) will each get $300.

Recipients of Employment Income Assistance who don’t have dependent children will get an extra $50 per month, while EIA disability clients will receive an additional $25 per month, per household.

In addition, food banks will benefit from a temporary Food Security Fund, which will provide them with grants to meet increased demand for their services.

The $1.75-million Food Security Fund is intended as a one-time temporary support to help those in need while other initiatives, such as increases to Employment Income Assistance and minimum wage, become available, a provincial spokesperson said.

More information, including eligibility criteria, will be posted online in the coming days and weeks, the spokesperson said. Online applications can be submitted as of Sept. 7, with information on successful applicants expected this fall.

Following the announcement, NDP Leader Wab Kinew accused the Progressive Conservative government of trying to “buy Manitobans’ support” in a statement. Kinew also took issue with the temporary nature of the measures: “Manitobans are looking for long-term help with the rising cost of living that will get them through the fall and winter.”

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont called the package “barely a Band-Aid” for dealing with the struggles families face from inflation and blamed the PCs for worsening inflation with hydro hikes, tuition increases, rising property costs and deregulation of rental expenses.

In Brandon, McNish said use of the food bank has been steady. Because food bank usage temporarily dropped due to COVID-19 pandemic measures, it’s tough to say whether any increase in demand would be due to inflation or other factors, such as the lifting of pandemic restrictions. But McNish said she believes the food bank is returning to pre-COVID demand, which was an estimated 2,000 hampers per month.

She said the extra money provided by the affordability package could lead to clients using the food bank less, but it’s difficult to say due to individual circumstances. In any case, extra money will help those in need, whether it’s used for rent or food, McNish said.

“We’re really happy that they’re doing something to help people just meet the needs.”

Brandon Coun. Bruce Luebke (South Centre), who co-chairs the city’s poverty committee, said the affordability package is welcome as demand for help from social support organizations has risen, and was swelling due to the economic impact of the pandemic even before inflation jumped.

“I think that any program that helps those community organizations serve that need is positive,” Luebke said.

However, Luebke said he was surprised that the Food Security Fund was described as temporary and he hopes it will become permanent if demand for services persists. He also questioned why the government targeted certain groups for assistance rather than take an approach that would benefit a broader range of Manitobans.

For example, Luebke said he believes the demographic of families with children over 18 who are also struggling from inflation is large.

“I get it. I’m sure if you have kids at home, inflationary increase has probably impacted you more so than people without kids at home, and yet I think it’s impacted everybody,” Luebke said.

» ihitchen@brandonsun.com