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WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s goal to reduce poverty in the province by 25 percent by 2025 is being met with a newly-released poverty reduction strategy.
Families Minister Heather Stefanson announced on Monday the Pathways to a Better Future strategy.
“This plan is guided by Manitobans’ ideas and experiences, driven by outcomes and contains measurable goals and indicators we can use to track success, ” said Stefanson.
The poverty reduction committee is made up of provincial ministers responsible for poverty-related policies, programs and services, as well as community members.
“We know the effects of poverty on children and families, and welcome a strategy focused on working together to create pathways out of poverty,” said Connie Walker, president and CEO, United Way Winnipeg.
“We also appreciate the importance of tracking our progress against key indicators as we move forward.”
The province says the strategy will focus on the following six priority areas:
• investing in Manitoba’s future prosperity through supports to children and youth;
• working together to improve health outcomes and standard of living;
• promoting economic inclusion through employment, education and training;
• facilitating partnerships and supporting community-based organizations;
• strengthening client-centred service delivery; and
• making positive change through social innovation.
According to Statistics Canada’s 2017 Canadian Income Survey, there has been a 20 percent improvement in Manitoba’s child poverty rate and a seven percent improvement to Manitoba’s overall poverty rate to 2017 from 2016.
