Sign the Postcard for a Poverty-Free Manitoba
In May 2009, the Government of Manitoba released its plan for tackling poverty. This was a good start, but the plan fails to identify meaningful targets, timelines, resources, and benchmarks for success.
The Canadian Federation of Students–Manitoba and Make Poverty History Manitoba urge you to sign the Target Poverty campaign postcard calling on Manitoba's Premier to take concrete action to end poverty.
DEAR PREMIER OF MANITOBA,
Whereas the Target Poverty campaign is uniting people from across the province for a Poverty-Free Manitoba; and
Whereas the Manitoba government’s May 2009 All Aboard anti-poverty plan falls short of establishing timelines, budgets and targets for success; and
Whereas Make Poverty History Manitoba and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba released a more concrete anti-poverty plan that includes key targets and indicators to reduce poverty levels by 25% over the next five years; and
Whereas, in Manitoba, one in five children live in poverty, 29% of Aboriginal peoples live in poverty, and average student debt has reached ,000; therefore
I hereby petition the government of Manitoba to implement a plan for a Poverty-Free Manitoba that includes targets and timelines, and is adequately financed, in order to meet the goal of reducing poverty in Manitoba by at least 25% by the year 2015.
The plan for a Poverty-Free Manitoba should centre on guaranteeing the right to food and water security, housing, public education and childcare, healthcare, meaningful employment and social assistance.
The plan should include the following key planks:
1. A living wage for all Manitobans;
2. Accessible, safe and affordable
housing and transportation that is
available to all;
3. Better access to education by reducing tuition and other user fees, from childcare through to all levels of post-secondary education;
4. Unemployment insurance and social assistance that works, including higher levels of benefits and access to post-secondary education and student aid; and
5. The allocation of sufficient resources for residents of Aboriginal and low-income communities to improve their lives, their health, and the communities in which they live.
The Canadian Federation of Students–Manitoba and Make Poverty History Manitoba urge you to sign the Target Poverty campaign postcard calling on Manitoba's Premier to take concrete action to end poverty.
DEAR PREMIER OF MANITOBA,
Whereas the Target Poverty campaign is uniting people from across the province for a Poverty-Free Manitoba; and
Whereas the Manitoba government’s May 2009 All Aboard anti-poverty plan falls short of establishing timelines, budgets and targets for success; and
Whereas Make Poverty History Manitoba and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba released a more concrete anti-poverty plan that includes key targets and indicators to reduce poverty levels by 25% over the next five years; and
Whereas, in Manitoba, one in five children live in poverty, 29% of Aboriginal peoples live in poverty, and average student debt has reached ,000; therefore
I hereby petition the government of Manitoba to implement a plan for a Poverty-Free Manitoba that includes targets and timelines, and is adequately financed, in order to meet the goal of reducing poverty in Manitoba by at least 25% by the year 2015.
The plan for a Poverty-Free Manitoba should centre on guaranteeing the right to food and water security, housing, public education and childcare, healthcare, meaningful employment and social assistance.
The plan should include the following key planks:
1. A living wage for all Manitobans;
2. Accessible, safe and affordable
housing and transportation that is
available to all;
3. Better access to education by reducing tuition and other user fees, from childcare through to all levels of post-secondary education;
4. Unemployment insurance and social assistance that works, including higher levels of benefits and access to post-secondary education and student aid; and
5. The allocation of sufficient resources for residents of Aboriginal and low-income communities to improve their lives, their health, and the communities in which they live.
