Poverty's pain

from the Winnipeg Sun

Third highest rate in Canada for kids here

By JOYANNE PURSAGA, SUN MEDIA

Since 2005, Geraldine Flett has visited a soup kitchen to make her disability payments last the month.

After 18 months studying business administration led to two good jobs, she never expected to line up for food at a Winnipeg church.

But a death in her family triggered a depression that hindered her ability to work and care for her three-year-old daughter.

Now she feels little power to change her finances.

"It was easy for me to go from a job and talk to people. But now my self-esteem is gone. I feel like I don't stand a chance now," said Flett.

With her rent and $400 per month in expenses covered by disability payments, Flett said it's difficult to provide the home she feels her daughter deserves.

Yesterday, an anti-poverty agency said Flett is just one of many Manitoba parents whose families live in poverty, as economic growth fails to spread through all income brackets.

In 2005, 20.1% of Manitoba children lived in poverty, according to the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.

This is the third highest poverty rate in the country, slightly behind B.C. and Saskatchewan.

And it's up slightly from 19.5% in 2004, then the fourth highest rate in Canada.

'WORST OFFENDERS'

Sid Frankel, a member of the Social Planning Council, said the latest stats prove a strong economy alone won't end the income gap.

"It's a great crime that Manitoba is one of the worst offenders in the country, as many children with at least one parent working full-time are living in poverty," said Frankel.

He estimated one in four aboriginal children live in poverty across Canada but aren't included in the study, meaning the true rate of poverty is even higher.

The council stressed social supports and labour changes can combat the trend.

As members of Campaign 2000 Policy Perspectives, a cross-Canada anti-poverty campaign, the council urges governments to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour, set minimum annual incomes for full-time earners and match disability incomes to the level seniors with no other income source receive.

Labour Minister Nancy Allan said the Manitoba NDP's minimum-wage record proves poverty reduction is a key priority.

"We have been active on this file since we got elected in 1999 and we've raised the minimum wage every year," said Allan. The minimum wage rose from $6 to $8 under the NDP government.

Allan said the government has not decided if or when another raise will be added.