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MANITOBA MINIMUM WAGEHourly $6.25Annual $13,000.00 (one earner) $26,000.00 (2 earners)MINIMUM WAGE FAMILY -TWO EARNERS$ Below/ % Below/(Above)(Above)Winnipeg LICOs Poverty Line Poverty LineFamily of 2 $22,964.00 ($3,036.00) -13.20%Family of 3 $28,560.00 $2,560.00 9.00%Family of 4 $34,572.00 $8,572.00 24.80%SOURCE:Stats Canada, Low Income Cut-Offs and Low-Income Measures 75F002M-01007Manitoba’s minimum wage is set by thelegislature, following receipt of a reportby a Minimum Wage Review Board establishedby the provincial government. TheReview Board normally conductshearings across the province, which wouldbe an ideal opportunity for intervention.There is no fixed schedule for review of theminimum wage. Following the last reviewin December, 2001, the Minister of Labourannounced an increase of 25 cents perhour, effective April 1, 2002. This will nothave a significant impact on the poverty oflow-income earners. More interestingly, theLabour Representatives on the Reviewcalled for linking the minimum wage to theLow-Income Cutoffs. Such a proposalwould reduce the depth of poverty facedby low-income Manitobans who earnthe minimum wage.3.2 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE RATESManitoba’s social assistance rates havenot increased since 1993. The currentrates, compared to the Statistics CanadaLow Income Cut Offs for Winnipeg, areshown below.SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FAMILIESSocial $ Below % BelowAssistance Poverty PovertyWinnipeg LICOs Rate Line LineFAMILY OF 1 $18,371.00 $5,352.00 $13,019.00 70.9%FAMILY OF 2 (1 adult, 1 child) $22,964.00 $9,636.00 $13,328.00 58.0%FAMILY OF 3 (1 adult, 2 children) $28,560.00 $10,994.28 $17,565.72 61.5%FAMILY OF 4 (2 adults, 2 children) $34,572.00 $12,407.88 $22,164.12 64.1%FAMILY OF 4 (1 adult, 3 children) $34,572.00 $12,852.48 $21,719.52 62.8%SOURCE: Stats Canada Low Income Cut Offs 13-551-XPB January 1998 and ManitobaFamily ServicesWomen, Income andHealth in Manitoba52Under the previous provincial government,Manitoba moved to a single tieredprovincially administered social assistancesystem in Winnipeg, with plans to expandthis into rural and northern areas. Healthservice providers could act as a bridgebetween their low-income clients andthe Government of Manitoba to raiseawareness of the health consequencesof low social assistance rates.
3.3 CHILD TAX BENEFITThe Government of Canada provides aChild Tax Benefit to low and middle-incomefamilies, payable monthly, and based onthe previous year’s taxable income.Provinces were given discretion wherethese funds were payable to families onsocial assistance. The previous Manitobagovernment chose to “claw back” the ChildTax Benefit from families living on socialassistance. That is, the full amountreceived from the Government of Canadais deducted from social assistancepayments, and these funds are used tofinance other programs which the provinceconsiders to be beneficial for children livingon social assistance. Underlying thisdecision is the belief that women on socialassistance would not use these funds in amanner which would best benefit theirchildren and that provincially designed,targeted programs are more efficient.The current Government of Manitoba haschanged this policy. Parents in receipt ofsocial assistance benefits are allowed tokeep any increases in the Child Tax Benefitimplemented from 2000 on. As well,parents of children under 6 are allowedto keep the entire Child Tax Benefit.Interested organizations could, basedon their experience working withmothers on social assistance, educatedecision-makers about the strengthsand competences of women on socialassistance and the need to return theChild Tax Benefit to them, so that theymay use it to act as independentadults, capable of making the bestfinancial decisions for themselvesand their children.Women, Income andHealth in Manitoba534. Expenditure Issues4.1 TELEPHONE RATESIn 1998, the Manitoba Telephone Systemappeared before the Canadian Radio,Television and TelecommunicationsCommission to make the case for an$8 monthly increase in basic phone rates.MTS argued that, as a newly privatizedcompany, they would be required to payincome taxes and that this cost should beborne by telephone system users throughan increase in the basic rate. The CRTCruled that the increase would not beallowed for 1999, but hinted that theywould respond favourably for 2000.Groups including the Public InterestLaw Centre of Manitoba Legal Aid opposedthe rate increase, arguing the cost of thetaxes should be paid by the company’sshareholders and not by consumers. Theyfurther argued that it was unfair for MTSto pass on all of the expected income taxcosts to residential customers, withbusiness customers not expected topay any of the increased costs.Higher telephone costs will mean thatsome low-income Manitobans will beforced to give up telephone service.In Manitoba, telephone service is notconsidered a necessity for those livingon social assistance. That is, unless oneis disabled, the monthly social assistancepayment does not include an amount fortelephone service. Social assistancerecipients, like other Manitobans, wouldhave to absorb the additional cost of anyrate increase allowed by the CRTC.Telephone service is important to healthbecause:1. it allows for contact in caseof emergencies;2. it allows for routine contacts withhealth care providers, schools,social service agencies, etc.;3. it reduces social isolation by allowingfor ongoing contact with family andfriends. This is especially importantfor seniors, parents at home withyoung children and people withphysical disabilities.Manitoba’s cold winter temperatures
Page 1 and 2: WOMEN, INCOME ANDHEALTH IN MANITOBA
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTSPageA. EXECUTIVE S
Page 5 and 6: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYTHE LINK between p
Page 7 and 8: Women, Income andHealth in Manitoba
Page 9 and 10: B. INTRODUCTIONMuch work has been d
Page 11 and 12: Consistent with the majority of soc
Page 13 and 14: Health and Well-Being of Children i
Page 17 and 18: members of different visible minori
Page 21 and 22: 3. How has the connection between i
Page 23 and 24: E. INCOME AND THE HEALTH OF WOMEN -
Page 27 and 28: majority of British households,rega
Page 31 and 32: The following chart, based on a cha
Page 33 and 34: marsh potatoes, berries, etc. As a
Page 35 and 36: opportunities for women may beone o
Page 37 and 38: 2. Manitoba Data - Income and Healt
Page 39 and 40: CHART 3HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES ON
Page 41 and 42: 3. What Does This Mean?As in other
Page 43 and 44: procedures. It is noteworthy that t
Page 45 and 46: 2. The Commonwealth Secretariat -Mo
Page 49 and 50: H. MAKING PUBLIC POLICY HEALTHIER F
Page 51: against women and its consequences
Page 55 and 56: Household Basic Rent Rent Including
Page 57 and 58: If RHAs are open to suchcollaborati
Page 59 and 60: APPENDIX 1:SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE R
Page 63 and 64: APPENDIX 3:HEALTH SERVICE UTILIZATI
Page 65 and 66: APPENDIX 4:INTERVIEWS WITH ABORIGIN
Page 73 and 74: ELEMENT #11GENDER SENSITIVE TRAININ
Page 77 and 78: ENDNOTES1. Sarlo, Christopher, “P
Page 79 and 80: ENDNOTES (continued)45. Arber, Sara
Page 81 and 82: ENDNOTES (continued)88. Mustard, Ca
Page 83 and 84: REFERENCES (continued)Clarke, H.F.
Page 85 and 86: REFERENCES (continued)Macintyre, Sa
Page 87 and 88: REFERENCES (continued)Vancouver/Ric

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