Province Comments On Poverty Report
A new report suggests Manitoba has the highest rate of child poverty of any province in the country.
Campaign 2000 says 29 percent of Manitoban children live in poverty, which is 10 percent above the national average.
Minister of Family Services Kerri Irvin-Ross says one of the things the province is doing to reduce child poverty is by increasing the minimum wage.
"In our throne speech last week, we spoke about ensuring that we continue to increase the minimum wage. That's one way of helping people to move out of poverty."
Campaign 2000 recommended that Manitoba raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour. Irvin-Ross said that instead of increasing it all at once, the province will continue to up the minimum wage a little bit every year.
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four per cent for next April.
Lawyer Byron Williams, who represents the Consumer Association of
Canada and Winnipeg Harvest, says that increase is almost double the
rate of inflation.
He says it will amount to a $40 a year hike for Winnipeg
homeowners and $75 per year in rural Manitoba.
Williams says the huge hike is because of rising costs on major
dam projects and weaker than expected export prices.
being told not to worry about a shortage affecting their holiday
baking.
Yves Leduc, director of policy and trade for the Dairy Farmers of
Canada, says the industry is taking steps to ensure that butter and
other products with a higher percentage of butter fat remain readily
available in stores.
Leduc says the industry estimates consumer demand and sets a
production quota to meet it. But demand has increased faster than
anticipated, leading the Canadian Dairy Commission to increase the
quota level.
Leduc says if demand continues to outstrip the supply, the
commission can arrange to import butter from other countries.
Fort Dauphin Museum Manager Stephanie Panko says families can look forward to Christmas at the Fort favourites like horse rides, story time with Mrs. Claus, an appearance by Santa, and enjoying hot chocolate and homemade bannock.
A new addition this year is getting to make your own Christmas tree decorations.
Christmas at the Fort will take place at the Fort Dauphin Museum on December 5 from 1-4pm. Admission is free.
