MFEPC has 4 key policy recommendations aimed at improving the financial well‑being of low‑income community members in the 2026 federal budget. Recommendations include: 

• Re-instating in-person CRA counter service, 

• Ongoing investment for financial empowerment programming, 

• Coverage for the cost of healthcare providers to complete disability benefits paperwork upfront, 

• Developing and implementing an automatic enrollment model for the Registered Disability Savings Plan in consultation with community organizations and persons living with disabilities.

The closure of in-person Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) counter service has disproportionately affected low‑income individuals who face digital, language, literacy, and housing barriers, while increasing the burden on community‑serving organizations. MFEPC calls for the reinstatement of in‑person CRA services, strengthened outreach capacity, and adequate call‑centre staffing to ensure equitable and timely access to CRA supports.

MFEPC calls for the repeal of Repeal The Social Assistance Recipients’ Tax Credit Eligibility Regulation from The Income Tax Act to ensure all Manitobans have access to provincially refundable tax credits. This repeal would:

• Address the high cost of housing for low-income earners.

• Address the inequality of how Manitoba Refundable Tax Credits are distributed.

• Increase income for Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) recipients through tax refunds.

• Eliminate tax filing complications associated with box 14 on T5007 tax slips.

• Incentivize tax filing for EIA recipients, which will leverage further federal tax credits. 

MFEPC's 2026 budget submission outlines 3 key policy recommendations aimed at improving the financial well‑being of low‑income Manitobans in the 2026 provincial budget. Recommendations include: 

• Greater tax fairness by extending refundable Manitoba tax credits to individuals receiving income assistance, 

• Birth certificate fee waivers for financially vulnerable populations, 

• Improvements to the Rent Assist program to address housing affordability gaps. 

The submission emphasizes that these targeted measures would strengthen access to essential services, prevent housing instability, and promote a more equitable and cost‑effective approach to reducing poverty in Manitoba.

An estimated 75% of eligible people are not accessing the DTC or accessing other vital benefits such as the Canada Disability Benefit or the Registered Disabilities Savings Plan. SEED partnered with Momentum, Plan Institute, and the Disability Policy Research Program to address the barriers to accessing the Disability Tax Credit with a suggested alternative pathway to be established that grants automatic DTC eligibility to individuals already receiving disability benefits through provincial or territorial social assistance programs. The policy paper also advocates for improved supports for completing a DTC application for those who are not receiving provincial or territorial disability benefits. Through effective policy implementation, barriers to accessing the DTC can be reduced and help connect more people to benefits they are eligible for.

Thank you to the additional partners who provided feedback and support of this paper: Autism Calgary, the Aspire Collaborative, Community Unemployed Help Centre, Connections for Families, Disability Without Poverty, Manitoba Financial Empowerment Policy Committee, Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities, Pulford Community Living Services, Scope Society, and Vibrant Communities Calgary.

Government issued ID is critical to economic integration, social inclusion and housing stability. Without required identification, community members are denied access to government services, income support programs, employment, housing, banking, educational opportunities, and critical commercial services. A birth certificate is a foundational piece of ID and is often a prerequisite to obtain other forms of ID required to access income supports and essential services, however the fee to obtain a birth certificate is a barrier. MFEPC calls for the province to introduce an accessible and efficient birth certificate fee waiver program for financially vulnerable Manitobans.