FINALLY, SOME IMPROVEMENT IN CHILD POVERTY, BUT WILL IT CONTINUE?

Wednesday April 5th, 2006

Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg today reported

that the child poverty rate for 2004 for Manitoba has just been released. In 2004,

almost one in five (19.2%) Manitoba children were living in poverty, based on

Statistics Canada’s pre-tax Low Income Cut-Offs. This involves 49,000 children.

While Manitoba’s child poverty rate remained well above the national percentage

(17.7%), the 2004 rate represents a significant 3.1% improvement over the 2003

rate and the lowest rate for Manitoba since 1989.

Poor families in Manitoba, however, still fell well below the poverty line despite a

minor improvement from 2003. Considering all families with two members or

more, in 2004, an average of $9,300 would have been required to bring them up

to the pre-tax low income cut-offs. This was an improvement in the depth of

poverty of $1,300 over 2003.

Sid Frankel, volunteer at the Council, said: "Finally, we are seeing some

improvement in the rate of child poverty, although one in five poor Manitoba

children is still too many and the average poor family is far below the poverty line.

This is the time to increase our efforts in improving the minimum wage,

increasing children’s benefits and providing affordable high quality child care.

Wayne Helgason, executive director of the Council, said: Finally, some

improvement, but 2004 may be a blip that does not continue. Manitoba business,

community and the federal, provincial, and municipal governments need to work

together to make sure that improvement continues."

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For more information, contact: Sid Frankel at (204) 261-3749 or Wayne Helgason

at (204) 943-2561.

Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

412 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 0A9

Telephone (204) 943-2561 ■ Fax (204) 942-3221

E-mail: info@spcw.mb.ca ■ Web Site: www.spcw.mb.ca

The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg is a leading social action group in Winnipeg providing research, community advocacy, informed social analysis and topical information. Our mission is to provide action oriented leadership in social planning and effecting social policy change.