Nov. 5, 2009: Students, Community Have Anti-Poverty Message for Premier

WINNIPEG—Students from the University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg and Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface are marching on the Legislature tomorrow at lunch-time, with a clear message for the new Premier: Manitoba needs to make a stronger commitment to reducing poverty. There will also be a rally at Brandon University tomorrow, and students across Ontario are organising similar anti-poverty activities.

WHO: Students & anti-poverty advocates, part of Target Poverty campaign

WHAT: March & Rally for a Poverty-Free Manitoba

WHERE: North steps of the Manitoba Legislature

WHEN: Thursday, November 5, 1:00 pm

WHY: Calling on province to commit to reducing poverty by 25% over 5 years

“With a new cabinet in place, we are hopeful that tackling Manitoba's poverty crisis will be the priority for Premier Selinger," says Jonny Sopotiuk, Manitoba Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “The new department of Housing and Community Development, headed up by Kerri Irvin-Ross, is a positive sign. It could go a long way towards making the province's All Aboard anti-poverty strategy more meaningful."

The Canadian Federation of Students and Make Poverty History Manitoba have sounded the alarm bell this fall about Manitoba's poverty crisis. With 125,000 Manitobans now living below the Low-Income Cut-Off, government cannot be excused for failing to make concrete commitments to reducing poverty levels.

Concluded Sopotiuk: "Students and the many community organisations involved in the Target Poverty campaign are passionate about ending poverty in Manitoba. We will be vocal tomorrow, but look forward to working with the government to reduce poverty rates by 25 per cent over the next five years."

For further information contact:

Jonny Sopotiuk, Target Poverty Campaign Chairperson

(204) 797 4630 or (204) 783 0787

chair@cfsmb.ca

targetpoverty.ca

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Des porte-paroles francophones sont disponibles. SVP, appelez au (204) 783-0787.

The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada’s national and provincial student organisation, uniting over 42,000 college and university students in Manitoba, and over one-half million across Canada.