Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 22, 2012, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A13 T HE first three years of Manitoba's All Aboard poverty- reduction strategy ended in May 2012. Statistics Canada this week released data that demonstrate its failings. In May 2009, then- finance minister Greg Selinger and then- family services minister Gord Mackintosh announced the three- year povertyreduction strategy with great fanfare. While the government claimed to make $ 212 million in new investments, Selinger claimed " Everything we do as a government, from budgeting to social policy decisions, is weighed for its ability to reduce poverty and increase the inclusion of low- income Manitobans in all aspects of community life." The Doer and Selinger governments have refused to set targets for poverty reduction and have not even declared what measures they will use to evaluate it. Statistics Canada, however, this week released Incomes in Canada 2010, which contains the data needed to evaluate the first 19 months of All Aboard. It seems reasonable to take 2008 ( the year before the strategy was announced) as a base year for comparison. Unfortunately, Canada has no official poverty line, and Statistics Canada publishes four measures. No matter which measure is used, however, the first 19 months of All Aboard seem to be a dismal failure when it comes to reducing the poverty rate. First, using the after- tax, low- income measure ( poverty defined as less than half the median disposable income), the 2008 Manitoba poverty rate for all persons was 13.5 per cent. By 2010, it had gone up to 14.3 per cent, an increase of 5.9 per cent. Meanwhile, in Canada as a whole, this rate had gone down from 13.2 per cent to 13.0 per cent, a decrease of 1.5 per cent over the same period. This is concerning because the low- income measure, which takes into account social exclusion and effects on physical and mental health as well as material deprivation is arguably the most comprehensive measure. The market basket measure focuses only on material deprivation. The federal and provincial governments developed it as an indicator of the goods and services Canadians require to live a decent life. It is priced in several locations in most provinces, and poverty is defined as having too little money to purchase the goods and services in the market basket. In 2008, Manitoba's poverty rate using this measure was 7.7 per cent. By 2010, it had gone up to 8.7 per cent, an increase of 13 per cent. In Canada as a whole, this rate went up from 9.3 per cent to 9.9 per cent, an increase of only 6.5 per cent. The picture is the same with low- income cutoffs, which identify income levels at which households spend a much higher percentage of their incomes than the average Canadian household on food, shelter and clothing. ( 63.6 per cent or more) leaving little for anything else. In Manitoba, the poverty rate for income before taxes in 2008 was 13.2 per cent. In 2010, it had gone up to 13.5 per cent, a small increase of 2.3 per cent. But, in Canada as a whole it remained stable at 13.5 per cent. Did Manitoba do better when after- tax incomes were taken into account? Not at all. The low income cut- off after- tax rate went from 8.5 per cent in 2008 to 9.2 per cent in 2010, an increase of 8.2 per cent. Meanwhile, in Canada as a whole, this rate went down from 9.3 per cent to 9.0 per cent, a decrease 0f 3.2 per cent. The Selinger government has renewed the All Aboard strategy for another four years, which is a good thing. It has many useful features, but the investments in them may be too small to make a real dent in poverty. But the failure of the first three years points out several changes that should be made. First, the personal income tax system should be used more to redistribute income. This should involve increasing its progressivity so upper income earners pay more and increasing subsidies and refundable credits for modest and low income earners. Second, there should be more of an emphasis on creating well- paying jobs. Third, why not collaborate more with people living in poverty? They know a lot about what works. We all have an interest in making the All Aboard investment pay better dividends. Sid Frankel is an associate professor in the faculty of social work at the University of Manitoba. Exploiting shale gas The June 20 article from the Economist , Summer brings new Arctic rituals , claims carbon taxes to support alternate energy sources are the best way to combat climate change. However, recent international conferences have shown nowhere nearly enough countries are prepared to adopt such levies, especially during periods of sluggish economic growth. So maybe more need to follow the American lead and increase the exploitation of shale gas reserves using fracking techniques. Since 2006, U. S. emissions have fallen nearly eight per cent, even though that country has never signed any major climate treaty, imposed any carbon taxes or adopted a capand- trade system. Yet by aggressive extraction of shale gas, the Americans have been able to increase this power source from providing only two per cent of national energy output in 2000 to 23 per cent today. This has also created thousands of jobs, lowered energy costs to both manufacturers and consumers, and made the country less dependent on offshore oil, often from unstable and hostile foreign suppliers. EDWARD KATZ Winnipeg Group closer to Riel I was disappointed to hear that David Chartrand is negotiating about the future of Riel House with the federal government on behalf of the Manitoba Metis Federation. I think the group that should be responsible for this historic site is the Union nationale m�tisse du Saint- Joseph, the oldest M�tis organization in Western Canada. This group is celebrating its 125th anniversary this summer and was founded by men close to Louis Riel, such as his brother Joseph and his cousins. Their goal was to keep alive the memory of what the resistance of 1869- 70 was about and to keep the oral history from their perspective understood in their community. They always refused to take government money, because they did not want the government to undermine their historical perspective. Their families suffered discrimination because of their association with Riel. RUTH SWAN Winnipeg Fronting for Harper Gwyn Morgan's June 8 column, Alberta is no Nigeria, Mr. Mulcair, offers another example of a corporate so- called leader fronting for Stephen Harper's agenda in making the Alberta tarsands the economic engine that drives the Canadian economy. Morgan fails to mention that this economic engine is grinding up the environment. So far, multinational oil companies have stripped away more than two billion tonnes of soil and rock, exposing an ecological disaster of unprecedented scope. LAWRENCE SUTHERLAND Winnipeg Disraeli cheers Kudos to the city planners, construction companies, engineers and workers responsible for the rebuilding of the Disraeli bridges. Over the past year- and- a- half they have managed to maintain a smooth flow of traffic from Henderson Highway into downtown. Closures have been minimal and well- timed. As one who lives in the northeast of Winnipeg and takes this route regularly, I am appreciative and looking forward to the completion of the new bridge spans in a few months. TERI GARTNER Winnipeg Crushing dissent The Syrian government's recent and continued terror tactics, including the murder of women and children, must be condemned in the strongest way. But is enough just to condemn the Assad regime? Russia and Iran are taking sides and so is China to a lesser extent. There is evidence the Russians are sending Assad a number of attack helicopters to help crush the dissent. These are probably a modern model of the old Hind attack helicopter, which was the bane of the mujahideen in Afghanistan. The Hind was greatly feared until the Afghan freedom fighters received Stinger missiles. Surely, there is a way to supply Stingers and other military hardware to the rebels. If Syria's allies, and especially Russia, are supplying Assad's regime with the hardware to annihilate the dissenting population, it's only fair to offer the means of self- defence to the rebels. DON HERMISTON Winnipeg And Mansbridge is hot Re: Do we really need the CBC anymore? ( June 19). I take exception to Nelson Peters' theoretical dismemberment of the CBC, which I believe is one of the only media that delves deeply enough into issues to actually make sense of them. Besides this, both French and English arms of the CBC keep us in tune with the culture and art that are unique to our great land. Everywhere I go in Canada, I know I can tune into CBC to get real news about what is, or should be, important to all Canadians. It never ceases to be an education for my family and me. Incidentally, though I do belong to the set of aging baby boomers he attacks, I am proud to say that my sons, who are 24, 28 and 30, all benefit from the CBC, in both official languages. Intelligent broadcasting is becoming as rare as pure air and clean water. Let's not allow a few upstarts who spend their days texting and tweeting spoil it for the rest of us. SIMONE ALLARD Winnipeg �� The CBC walks an increasingly fine line and has paid a price for shining a light on our current prime minister's activities, strategies and dirty tricks. For that reason alone, the CBC is essential in and to democracy in our country. Radio programs such as The Current, Q, The House, Sunday Morning, Ideas and others such as Dispatches , now cut, are uniquely informative, stimulating, varied and well- researched - in short, a national treasure. The same can be said for much of CBC- TV's programming, although I would agree with Nelson Peters that Canada does not equal hockey. Seems to me that CBC Radio and TV are more accessible to those on fixed or low incomes than ever- changing technology and certainly to many older listeners and viewers. GERRI THORSTEINSON Winnipeg Unneeded and impractical Letter writer Ron Charach ( Gun fight has begun , June 20) is more than a little off base in his declaration of " great interest" in a handgun and ammunition ban ( of all types) in Toronto. In reality, beyond a couple of left- leaning city councillors who are well- known for their love of bans as well as the pursuit of harebrained socialist intrusions into daily life, and the ultra- left editorial board of the Toronto Star , the idea has gained little traction. Indeed, most have dismissed the idea as unnecessary, impractical and unenforceable; and for reasons that include lack of legal authority and common sense. GEORGE FRITZ Garson, Ont. Reliable information Re: Parents know best ( Letters, June 19). We need school- based family- life education by trained teachers who provide children with reliable, accurate information based on their developmental needs and interests in a classroom environment that promotes respect for the dignity and worth of each individual. Family- life education programs encourage an open discussion of the wide spectrum of values that exist in our pluralistic, democratic society and the acceptance of others' values with tolerance and understanding. NORMA DROSDOWECH Winnipeg HAVE YOUR SAY: The Free Press welcomes letters from readers. Include the author's name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited. Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, R2X 3B6. Fax 697- 7412. Email letters@ freepress. mb. ca Letters represent the opinions of their writers and do not reflect the opinions of the Winnipeg Free Press or its staff. �� LETTER OF THE DAY Re: C EO asks big oil for ELA funds , June 20). While I appreciate the Cardinal Capital Management CEO sharing his Experimental Lakes Area concerns with the federal government, I do not agree with his proposal that oil companies be invited to fund ELA research into the impact of processing raw bitumen ( oilsands) as a solution to future funding. Scientific research must be at arm's length from its funders to allow objectivity. Would anyone truly trust an ELA study if it was bought and paid for by a private business whose profits may depend on a glowing report, or who may suppress a critical report? I know I would be skeptical. JUDY BURNS Winnipeg Winnipeg Free Press Friday, June 22, 2012 A 13 POLL �� TODAY'S QUESTION Should Sam Katz run for mayor in the next election? �� Vote online at winnipegfreepress. com �� PREVIOUS QUESTION Would you jump into the Red River to save someone in trouble? I've got life- saving skills; I'd do it 8% I can swim; like to think I'd try 24% I'd look for something floaty to throw 21% I'd call 911 39% Not sure I'd get involved 3% I have saved someone from drowning 4% TOTAL RESPONSES 4,285 Winnipeg Free Press est 1872 / Winnipeg Tribune est 1890 VOL 140 NO 219 2012 Winnipeg Free Press, a division of FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership. Published seven days a week at 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2X 3B6, PH: 697- 7000 BOB COX / Publisher MARGO GOODHAND / Editor JULIE CARL / Deputy Editor B RISBANE - Here's a challenge. Sum up your country in three words, but please don't use ' dumb, drunk, racist,' because Australia has secured copyright. Dumb, drunk and racist is what India is calling Australians who until recently were affectionately regarded as an uncouth but convivial people - disarming, tail- waggingly friendly and possessed of a rough- hewn charm. " Friendly, coarse, irreverent'' might have been our three- word summary but now globalization, which has reduced the world to a gossipy small town, has thrown up - dumb, drunk, racist. Pithy enough to feature regularly in the Twittersphere, it originated in Indian call centres where managers instructed staff Australia was the stupidest continent on the globe, populated largely by bigoted drunkards. Staff was told to speak slowly to Australians who were " technologically backward'' and gently warned Australian customers might also call them, wait for it, " brown bastards." Sydney- based journalist Joe Hilderbrand, deeply affronted by such baseless vituperations, decided to set the record straight by inviting four welleducated young Indians for an Aussie road trip to prove what an affable crowd we really are. Rather awkwardly for Hilderbrand, his mission, broadcast this week by the ABC, only proved that, yup, dumb, drunk and stupid was not merely a perceptive summary of our character. It was ' right, bang on the money,' as an Australian punter might say. While Hilderbrand is a savvy satirist, he was clearly unnerved to uncover an ugly seam of almost wilful ignorance running through his nation while filming the documentary, creatively titled Dumb, Drunk and Racist . White supremacists, rowdy bands of protesters intimidating asylum- seekers and street- fighting drunks were all greeted by the puzzled stares of the visiting Indians who, as if to elucidate our ignorance, were cultivated and courteous people. Hilderbrand did face a difficult challenge. India has for years been suspicious about Australia after widespread reports racists often bash Indian students studying in Australia. And it's true Australia is no longer seen as the friendliest kid in the global playground. American comedian Robin Williams famously declared after a visit Down Under " the Australians are basically English rednecks.'' Williams insists he was misinterpreted - " I should have said good ol' boys'' - but the outraged local reaction reached all the way to the prime minister's office and confirmed we're sensitive to what might be uncomfortable truths. Reputations of countries can be unfair and far removed from reality but, for better or worse, each has one. The majority of Australians gazing at America might think ' brash, confident, successful,' which conjures up images of a wealthy businessman. Thinking of England, an average Australian might go for ' superior, conservative, stoic,' with perhaps one of the royals slipping into our minds. For Italy, we might settle on ' exuberant, festive, food' and France ' cultured, intelligent, rude' while Switzerland is a little more difficult - ' staid, pretty, and something about chocolate.' An Australian vaguely familiar with Canada might offer ' solid, progressive, tolerant.' That's something of a contradiction in terms and conjures up images of a pot- smoking- but- otherwisediligent Mountie. It might also be wide of the mark. But you've got to admit, it's a whole bunch better than ' dumb, drunk and racist.' Michael Madigan is Winnipeg Free Press correspondent in Australia. He writes mostly about politics for the Brisbane- based Courier Mail. Indians brand Australians as dumb, drunk, racist MICHAEL MADIGAN ELA supporters speak against federal funding cuts on June 5. Keep it at arm's length Poor plan for poverty reduction By Sid Frankel A_ 13_ Jun- 22- 12_ FP_ 01. indd A13 6/ 21/ 12 9: 20: 35 PM ;