Manitoba’s current EIA system is not working, and it’s a costly problem.
Manitoba’s Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) program, which 62,500 Manitobans rely on, is woefully inadequate. Single individuals receive only $274 per month (approx. $9/day) for basic needs. That’s barely enough to buy a single fast-food meal, let alone provide for all the necessities of a well-balanced life.
To make matters worse, recipients’ benefits are clawed back if they earn more than $200 per month, discouraging many from entering the workforce at all. Rather than helping Manitobans rise out of poverty, the current EIA system keeps people trapped in it.
Poverty costs Manitoba a whopping $2.5 billion every year due to increased costs to the health care and justice systems and lost tax revenue.* Poverty is making Manitobans sicker and driving criminalization.
Manitobans deserve better than this. We cannot allow this broken system to continue.
The solution? Transform EIA into a Livable Basic Benefit.
This benefit, when combined with Rent Assist and federal financial benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit, would raise the incomes of all households in Manitoba to at least Canada’s official poverty line.
The Livable Basic Benefit would be…
One-page Campaign Overview
Get a one-page printable PDF overview of the campaign to share at your workplace, school, community group, or place of worship.
Demands for Action report
The Livable Basic Benefit is one of ten demands for action that form a holistic approach to ending poverty in Manitoba.
1. Write a message of support.
Use the form below to write a message of support. We’ll compile all the messages we receive and compile them to make a powerful demonstration that Manitobans want a Livable Basic Benefit.
2. Share our social media posts.
3. Send a letter of support on official letterhead
When we can show that businesses and organizations are behind us, it strengthens our campaign. Send your letter to Premier Wab Kinew and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine. Then send us a copy so we can feature it on our website and social media.
4. Host a learning event.
We’ll make a presentation at your workplace, community group, school, or place of worship, facilitate a conversation and address questions.
To learn more about hosting a learning event, fill out the form below.
5. Volunteer with the Provincial Working Group
We’re always looking for help running the campaign, whether it’s brainstorming, writing press releases and op-eds, or planning events.
To get on the volunteer list, fill out the form below.
6. Make a donation
Donations help us with the costs of hosting events and spreading the word about the campaign. Make a credit card donation or write us a cheque.