here. - Canadian Women's Health Network

exacerbate these problems. Those livingin rural areas also face additional challenges.In First Nations communities, only 70%of residents have telephones. In somecommunities, this is as low as 40%.Some American telephone companies offera “Lifeline” program providing lower ratesor a basic telephone service to low-incomepeople. Canadian telephone companiesoffer no such service. This is another areawhere health service providers could workwith community and consumer groups topromote change.4.2 UTILITY RATESIncreases in gas and electrical ratesdisproportionately affect those living onlow incomes, since they already spend agreater portion of their income onessential needs. Additionally, low-incomepeople tend to live in less well insulatedhousing, which is more expensive to heat.In Manitoba’s harsh climate, these arebasic health issues.Gas and electrical rates are set inManitoba by the Public Utilities Board(PUB), following applications by CentraGas and Manitoba Hydro. They followno set schedule.Manitoba Hydro has not applied for anyrate increases since 1996. The PUB doesnot at this point expect an application for ahydro rate increase.In the last year, gas prices increased andCentra Gas obtained a rate increase.Although gas prices are now beginningto decline from the high levels of 2001,interested health service providerscould work with consumers groupsand others to help make the connectionbetween utility rates and health.4.3 HOUSINGHousing costs are a major portion of thebudget of most households and housingitself is a factor which influences health.In recent years, the federal governmentand the past Manitoba provincialgovernment both withdrew support fornon-profit and co-operative housingprograms, thus leaving those on limitedincomes with few alternatives to the privatemarketplace.Housing conditions are a major issuefor Aboriginal people, both on and offreserves. The Assembly of ManitobaChiefs has reported that:Canada has a First Nationspopulation of approximately800,000 people, yet has onlyproduced 76,000 homes fromwhich this population must raisea family and build a community. 84In Manitoba, rents are regulated by theResidential Tenancies Branch (RTB) of theDepartment of Consumer and CorporateAffairs. The RTB annually sets a guideline,the maximum amount by which a landlordmay increase rent without approval fromthe RTB. For both 1999 and 2000, themaximum allowable rent increase ws set at1%. Landlords may apply to have rentsincreased above 1% if they have incurredadditional costs, for example, throughrepairs or renovations.For families living on social assistance, themaximum allowable rates for rent, as setby Manitoba Family Services (included inthe total social assistance rates shownabove), are as follows:Women, Income andHealth in Manitoba54