The Provincial budget process is an important time for Manitobans to make their voices heard about the issues we care about, such as poverty reduction.
In our Budget 2025 submission, we are calling on the Province to raise EIA rates, because current EIA rates are so low that it is impossible for many to meet their basic needs.
We are asking you, our supporters and supporting organizations, to send a letter of support to Premier Kinew, Finance Minister Sala, and Families Minister Fontaine, urging them to raise EIA rates in this year’s budget.
Supporting organizations: Please put the following letter on your own letterhead, customize it with your organization’s details, and send it to Premier Wab Kinew, Finance Minister Adrien Sala, and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine.
To: premier@manitoba.ca; minfs@manitoba.ca; minfin@manitoba.ca
Subject: Please increase EIA rates in Budget 2025
Dear Premier Kinew, Minister Fontaine and Minister Sala,
I am writing on behalf of [ORGANIZATION NAME] to urge the Manitoba government to increase EIA rates in the 2025 provincial budget and commit to creating a Livable Basic Benefit to end the human rights violation of poverty in Manitoba, as recommended by Make Poverty History Manitoba’s 2025 budget submission.
Our organization serves low-income Manitobans, and every day we see how much EIA recipients are struggling because they don’t have enough income to meet their basic needs. The participants our organization serves deserve to live in dignity like everybody else, but the current EIA rates are so low that it is impossible for them to meet their basic needs. We are seeing our participants increasingly dependent on the food bank for survival, and Harvest Manitoba has reported record increases in food bank usage. Manitoba has the highest rate of Deep Income Poverty at 5.9%, according to a recent Statistics Canada report.
We’re glad the Province is prioritizing ending chronic homelessness, but we believe these efforts will not succeed unless they are matched with adequate income for basic needs. People need housing, but they need to eat too.
Currently, single individuals on EIA receive just $274 per month (about $9 per day), which is supposed to provide not only food but also clothing, toiletries, transportation, household supplies, and phone services. Without adequate income to pay for all these basic necessities, many will find it difficult to maintain their housing and will be at risk of falling back into homelessness.
We echo the budget recommendations put forward by Make Poverty History Manitoba:
- Immediately increase EIA starting in 2025/26 to reach 75% of the Market Basket Measure poverty line in 2030/31
- Reduce the earned income clawback rate for EIA recipients’ earnings after $500 to 50% in Budget 2025/26 and 30% in Budget 2026/27
- Commit to creating a Livable Basic Benefit in Manitoba that is livable (i.e. 100% of MBM poverty line), indexed to inflation, portable, income-tested, and unconditional.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
Individual supporters: Please customize the following letter of support and send it to Premier Wab Kinew, Finance Minister Adrien Sala, and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine.
To: premier@manitoba.ca; minfs@manitoba.ca; minfin@manitoba.ca
Subject: Please increase EIA rates in Budget 2025
Dear Premier Kinew, Minister Fontaine and Minister Sala,
I am writing to urge the Manitoba government to increase EIA rates in the 2025 provincial budget and commit to creating a Livable Basic Benefit to end the human rights violation of poverty in Manitoba, as recommended by Make Poverty History Manitoba’s 2025 budget submission.
I am bothered by how much EIA recipients are struggling because they don’t have enough income to meet their basic needs. All Manitobans deserve to live in dignity, but the current EIA rates are so low that it is impossible for many to meet their basic needs. Too many people are entirely dependent on the food bank for survival, and Harvest Manitoba has reported record increases in food bank usage. Manitoba has the highest rate of Deep Income Poverty at 5.9%, according to a recent Statistics Canada report.
I’m glad the Province is prioritizing ending chronic homelessness, but I believe these efforts will not succeed unless they are matched with adequate income for basic needs. People need housing, but they need to eat too.
Currently, single individuals on EIA receive just $274 per month (about $9 per day), which is supposed to provide not only food but also clothing, toiletries, transportation, household supplies, and phone services. Without adequate income to pay for all these basic necessities, many will find it difficult to maintain their housing and will be at risk of falling back into homelessness.
I echo the budget recommendations put forward by Make Poverty History Manitoba:
- Immediately increase EIA starting in 2025/26 to reach 75% of the Market Basket Measure poverty line in 2030/31
- Reduce the earned income clawback rate for EIA recipients’ earnings after $500 to 50% in Budget 2025/26 and 30% in Budget 2026/27
- Commit to creating a Livable Basic Benefit in Manitoba that is livable (i.e. 100% of MBM poverty line), indexed to inflation, portable, income-tested, and unconditional.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]