Canada Social Report Poverty Reduction Strategy Summary, Manitoba Updated:
This series summarizes the poverty reduction strategies now in place or in development in provinces and territories across Canada. Details were gathered from public documents made available by the profiled jurisdiction. In April 2012, the province released the four-year ALL ABOARD: Manitoba s Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Strategy. Funding was to be directed toward four key intervention pillars: safe affordable housing; education, jobs and income support; strong and healthy families; and coordinated programs and services. Poverty reduction activities focus on seven priority areas: 1. Building Blocks for Employment (Sustainable Employment and a Stronger Labour Market) 2. Targeted Supports for Those Most In Need 3. Food Security 4. Housing 5. Closing the Gap for Aboriginal Peoples in Manitoba 6. Creating Opportunities for Youth 7. Early Childhood Development and Parenting Supports. PLAN In June 2011, the Manitoba government announced The Poverty Reduction Strategy Act. It includes requirements for the government to take into account the poverty reduction and social inclusion strategy when preparing its annual Budget. It also requires the government to prepare a yearly statement, to be tabled with the Budget, which will explain how the strategy is implemented, the financial implications of the strategy and the indicators (as prescribed in regulation) to be used to measure the strategy s progress. OUTCOMES/METRICS The province consulted organizations and individuals in determining a set of 21 indicators of poverty and social exclusion to the All Aboard strategy s four pillars and their respective objectives. Pillar 1: Safe, Affordable Housing in Supportive Communities 1. Total units of social and affordable housing supported by the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (MHRC) In 2009-10, MHRC supported 30,257 units of social and affordable housing, (in addition to funding 4,700 special purpose and personal care home beds) MHRC supported 869 more units of social and affordable housing than it did in 2009-10 MHRC supported 31,854 units of social and affordable housing 1,597 more than in 2009-10 (in addition to supporting 4,300 special purpose and personal care home beds). The number of social and affordable housing units has increased by 5.3% since 2009-10 MHRC supported 31,681 units of social and affordable housing (in addition to supporting 4,368 special purpose and personal care home beds). The decrease is attributed to rent supplement agreements that have expired or because of landlords who have elected not to exercise their extension option Page 2
2. New households served through MHRC programs and services province committed to deliver 1,500 units of new, affordable rental housing and support 1,500 households with new rent-geared-to-income assistance (social housing) over a five-year period (2009-10 to ) by March 31, 2013, the province: added 1,224 new affordable housing units provided rent-gearedto-income benefits to 1,354 new households 966 new households were assisted through MHRC programs and services 1,915 new households entered social housing 777 new households were assisted through MHRC programs and services 1,829 new households entered social housing 3. Households in core housing need in 2006, 11.3% of households (off reserve) in Manitoba report living in core housing need the incidence of core housing need decreased between 1996 and 2006 there is less core housing need in Manitoba than in Canada overall affordability is the primary component that drives core housing need Note about data: The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has not published provincial level core housing need data since 2006. Data is unavailable due to CMHC publication delays 4. Sense of community belonging the sense of community belonging in Manitoba has always been higher than the national average in 2012, the sense of belonging was highest among those ages 12 to 19 years, 80.9% of whom reported a somewhat or very strong sense of belonging to their local community 69.8% of Manitobans (12 years and over) reported a somewhat or very strong sense of belonging to their local community 69.0% of Manitobans (12 years and over) reported a somewhat or very strong sense of belonging to their local community Pillar 2: Education, Jobs and Income Support 5. High school graduation rate in 2008, the high school graduation rate was 79.0% in 2012, the high school graduation rate was 84.1% in 2013, high school graduation rate was 85.3% in 2014, the high school graduation rate was 87.0% Page 3
Pillar 2: Education, Jobs and Income Support (cont d) 6. Participation in adult learning programs in 2008-09, there were 10,658 participants in adult learning programs; 8,056 Adult Learning Centre (ALC) learners and 2,602 Adult Literacy Program (ALP) learners between 2008-09 and 2011-12, there was a 21.8% increase in the number of Aboriginal Manitobans graduating from adult learning centres there were 10,663 participants in adult learning programs; 8,409 ALC learners and 2,254 ALP learners Not updated since 2013-14 over this period, almost 2,000 Aboriginal Manitobans achieved high school graduation at adult learning centres in 2011-12, 11,515 Manitobans participated in adult learning opportunities 7. Employment rates in 2008, 66.3% of all Manitobans (ages 15 and over) were employed approximately 65.4% (630,100) Manitobans were employed in 2012; 88,300 more than 1999 65.0% of all Manitobans ages 15 and older were employed 64.2% of all Manitobans aged 15 and over were employed. NOTE: figure is not comparable to previous years due to Stats Can revisions, January 2015 8. Average weekly earnings in 2008, the average weekly earnings in Manitoba were $778 (constant dollars 2014) average weekly earnings grew 25.7% faster in MB than the national average between 1999 and 2012 the gap in earnings between men and women is narrowing, changing from 33.1% in 1999 to 23.9% in 2012 the average weekly earnings were $793.90 in 2014, average weekly earnings were $814 9. Minimum wage rates in 2008, the minimum wage was $8.50 per hour minimum wage rose by $0.25 to $10.25 per hour minimum wage was $10.45 per hour minimum wage was $10.70 per hour Page 4
10. Low income rates in 2012, Statistics Canada changed the way in which it calculates low income in Canada. As a result, the 2012 and 2013 data cannot be compared with those from earlier years in 2012: 12.2% of Manitobans lived below the Market Basket Measure (MBM) low income thresholds 10.7% of Manitobans lived below After Tax low income cut-off (LICO) thresholds 15.6% of Manitobans lived below a threshold set at one-half the median family income (LIM) Statistics Canada did not release 2012 data on low income. 2011 data are republished: 11.5% of Manitobans lived below MBM thresholds 8.9% of Manitobans lived below After Tax low income cut-off (LICO) thresholds 14.0% of residents lived below a threshold set at one half the median family income (LIM) According to the Canadian Income Survey (CIS), in 2013: 11.6% of Manitobans lived below MBM thresholds 10.3% of Manitobans lived below After Tax low income cut-off (LICO) thresholds 14.8% of residents lived below a threshold set at one-half the median family income (LIM) 11. Income inequality in 2012, Statistics Canada changed the way in which it calculates low income in Canada. As a result, the 2012 and 2013 data cannot be compared with those from earlier years. Statistics Canada is expected to release revised data for the years 2002 to 2011 in December 2015 in 2012, Manitoba s Gini coefficient was 0.300 (adjusted by Statistics Canada for household size) and the average after tax incomes of economic families went from $15,450 (lowest quintile) to $127,305 (highest quintile) Statistics Canada did not release 2012 data on income inequality so Manitoba s 2011 Gini coefficient was republished, 0.367. Incomes ranged from $15,800 (lowest quintile) to $123,000 (highest quintile) not updated since 2013-14 12. Post-secondary education participation in 2008-09, 19.6% of 18- to 34-year-olds in MB attended a public post-secondary institution in MB 18.8% of 18- to 34-year-olds in MB attended a public postsecondary institution in MB 18.8% of 18- to 34-year-olds in MB attended a public postsecondary institution in MB 18.9% of 18- to 34-year-olds in MB attended a public postsecondary institution in MB Pillar 3: Strong, Healthy Families 13. Early Development Instrument (EDI) scores 2008-09 school year EDI scores show that 14% of children were not ready to learn (lowest 10th percentile) in two or more areas and 29% were not 2008-09 data reported only 2008-09 data reported only 2012-13 school year EDI scores show that 15.0% of children were not ready to learn (lowest 10th percentile) in two or more areas and 28.4% were Page 5
Early Development Instrument (EDI) scores (cont d) ready in one or more areas; while 43% and 63% were very ready to learn (top 30th percentile) in two or more and one or more areas, respectively not ready in one or more areas; while 45.6% and 64.5% were very ready to learn (top 30th percentile) in two or more and one or more areas, respectively 14. Availability of child care in 2008-09, 16.4% of children under 12 had access to a regulated child care space 16.8% of children under 12 had access to a regulated child care space 17.3% of children under 12 had access to a regulated child care space. There were regulated spaces for 24.4% of children 0 to 5 years of age 18.2% of children 12 had access to a regulated child care space. There were regulated spaces for 26.1% of children 0 to 5 years of age 15. Children in care On March 31, 2008, 2.8% of MB s children were in the care of a Child and Family Services agency 3.5% of MB s children were in care 3.6% children were in care 3.6% children were in care 16. Teen birth rates teen birth rate decreased by 18.0% between 1999-2000 and 2011-12, from 17.8 to 14.6 teen births per 1,000 there were 13.9 births per 1,000 females ages 10 to 19 years there were 13.1 births per 1,000 females ages 10 to 19 years 17. Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) by income quintile on average, there were 53.8 years of life lost per 1,000 Manitobans in 2008-09, broken down by income quintile there were 50.2 years of life lost per 1,000 in 20011-12. From 1999-2000 to 2011-12, there were 5.8 fewer years of potential life lost per 1,000 Manitobans on average, there were 49.6 years of life lost per 1,000 Manitobans, ages 0 to 74 years on average, there were 48.7 years of life lost per 1,000 Manitobans, ages 0 to 74 years 18. Prevalence of chronic disease by income quintile TREND: The prevalence of chronic diseases is growing, with only respiratory disease on the wane. Chronic disease risk increases with age and people in low income are more likely to live with chronic disease than others. The prevalence of diabetes has the strongest correlation with income and First Nations people are at the highest risk for diabetes TREND: as per 2012-13. Since 1999-2000, the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension have risen by 69.4% and 33.3%, respectively TRENDS: Manitobans in the lowest income quintile have a higher prevalence of some chronic diseases than those in the highest income quintile, including diabetes, hypertension and arthritis. In particular, diabetes is most strongly correlated with low income. In general, females reported higher rates of respiratory diseases, arthritis and hypertension, while the prevalence of diabetes Page 6
Pillar 4: Accessible, Coordinated Services 18. Prevalence of chronic disease by income quintile (cont d) was higher among males, and as well as Manitobans living in First Nations communities 19. Average monthly number of people receiving coordinated home care services in 2008-09, 23,075 Manitobans received coordinated home care services, monthly (on average) in 2011-12, 24,173 Manitobans received coordinated home care services, monthly (on average, most recent data) TREND: The average number of people receiving coordinated home care services monthly is gradually rising in 2012-13, 24,514 people received coordinated home care services, monthly (on average) 38,386 people received coordinated home care services (yearly). NOTE: these figures are not comparable to previous years as they represent the total number of people receiving care in a year, not a monthly average 20. Continuity of physician care for the two-year period from 2007-08 to 2008-09, 70.6% of Manitobans received the majority of their care from the same physician for the two-year period from 2010-11 to 2011-12, 73.4% of Manitobans received most of their care from the same physician for the two-year period from 2011-12 to 2012-13, 69.3% of Manitobans received most of their care from the same physician for the two-year period from 2012-13 to 2013-14, 72.8% of Manitobans received the majority of their care from the same physician 21. Number of people using Access Centres 2010-11, there were 42,175 units of service provided at Access Centres in MB (only available in Winnipeg). In 2010 (and 2010-11): Health Programs: 33,341 patients Family Services Programs: 8,834 cases in 2012 (and 2012-13) there were 55,033 units of service administered: Health Programs: 44,063 patients Family Services Programs: 8,970 cases in, there were 56,056 units of service administered (a 32.9% increase since 2010-11) in there were 73,128 units of service administered (a 73.4% increase since 2010-11) In February 2013, the province reported two key statistics indicating progress on its fight against poverty over the ten-year period from 2000 to 2010: In 2010, Manitoba s low-income rate was 8.7 percent, a 19 percent decrease from 2000. This means there were 16,000 fewer Manitobans living in low income in 2010 than in 2000. In 2010, the low-income rate for children was 10.9 percent, compared with 15.1 percent in 2000, a decrease of 28 percent. UPDATES To date, Manitoba has developed six additional action plans to support or supplement activity covered in its poverty reduction plan. These include: 1. All Aboard Action Plan Housing 2. Starting Early, Starting Strong: Manitoba s Five-Year Plan for Early Childhood Development 3. All Aboard Action Plan Creating Opportunities for Youth Page 7
4. All Aboard Action Plan Food Security 5. All Aboard Action Plan Targeted Supports for Those Most in Need 6. Manitoba s Strategy for Sustainable Employment and a Stronger Labour Market. Additional resources All Aboard website. Canada Without Poverty. (2015). Manitoba Poverty Progress Profile. Ottawa. Torjman, S., K. Battle and M. Mendelson. (2009). All Aboard Manitoba s Poverty Train. Ottawa: Caledon Institute of Social Policy, September. Page 8