April 5, 2022
Province Invests in Employment and Income Assistance Transformation Projects
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The Manitoba government is investing over $2.6 million to fund projects as part of ongoing work to transform Employment and Income Assistance (EIA), Families Minister Rochelle Squires announced today.
“This funding to support innovative programming recognizes that many EIA clients have complex barriers and their journey to financial independence requires a transformation of how the department works to meet their needs,” said Squires. “By collaborating with various service providers we are able to deliver specific programing and targeted supports to help transition Manitobans on EIA into employment.”
Manitoba is providing $1.3 million towards a two-year extension for the Single Parent Employment Program at Opportunities for Employment. The Single Parent Employment Program provides job readiness and employment assistance to single parents whose primary barrier to employment is a lack of immediate child care. Through Taking Charge!, more than 200 single parents will participate in the program and be provided with child care.
“Taking Charge! is pleased to be partnering with Opportunities for Employment in providing services that break down the barriers that impact single parents in pursuing meaningful employment,” said Jacqueline Wall, executive director, Taking Charge! “With over 25 years in providing pre-employment and personal development programs to single parents and women on EIA, we understand the healing journey that is needed for our participants in order for them to enter the labour market and become self-sufficient. We are grateful for the continued support and recognition of our work assisting women from the Manitoba government.”
The province is also investing $850,000 with Taking Charge! to provide personal development and pre-employment readiness programming. Funding will support programming and help EIA clients move towards job readiness and labour market attachment, noted Squires.
An additional $500,000 will be dedicated to assist with the development of three programs that focus on employment and employment readiness in rural and northern Manitoba:
- $142,600 to FireSpirit Inc. for the Belong to Employment program, which provides continuous and immediate supports to assist EIA clients in Thompson and northern Manitoba transition to employment;
- $150,000 to the YMCA Thompson to support its work and provide individualized pre-employment and mental health supports to assist improvements; and
- $214,500 to Career Connection Inc. to provide essential skill development for employment preparation and training in rural Manitoba.
The minister noted the province is also entering an updated agreement with the Denturist Association of Manitoba for the period of April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. The EIA program provides essential health services to recipients, including the cost of basic denturist services.
During the new three-year agreement, fees for denturist services will remain the same in 2021-22, increase by six per cent in 2022-23 and increase by three per cent in 2023-24.
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