Changing Manitobas Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Program

The background to this petition is as follows:

Employment and Income Assistance Program (EIA) is the major source of income for nearly 60,000 Manitobans. Basic assistance rates have not kept pace with inflation and the value has fallen by as much as 35\% since 1992. Shelter allowances have not increased since 1993 while Manitoba Rent Increase Guideline has increased by 19\%.

Many rules and policies surrounding the Manitoba EIA program create systemic barriers that make moving out of poverty difficult and trap people in the program. Many people on EIA rely on food banks, live in substandard housing, and have limited access to education and training.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to:

1. Raise basic assistance rates immediately to their 1992 levels when they were at their highest and index annually to inflation.

2. Increase shelter rates to reflect average rents and increase annually according to the Manitoba Rent Increase Guideline.

3. Increase the earnings exemption to allow EIA recipients to keep their earned income and reach the poverty line.

4. Stop taking child support payments from kids on EIA.

5. Develop and support a communitygovernment initiative to review Manitobas Employment and Income Assistance and implement recommendations for reform.