Inquiry
Asagwara said that at a time of rising costs, a funding freeze amounts to a cut.
“We know that any reductions in any way would have massive impacts on real Canadians, real patients, real families, real communities, real jobs, real consequences,” said Asagwara who was joined at the news conference by Manitoba Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith.
“We need to ensure that when we are doing our budgeting that we can budget out five years from now, 10 years from now. We know that the need is growing here, not only in Manitoba, but right across the country.”
The 10-year, $1.2-billion funding deal that was set to expire at the end of March is needed more now than ever, Smith said.
“When this agreement was signed, things were very different. What we’re seeing today is complex needs, (requiring) more supports.”
Housing, addictions and mental health issues require more support, said the minister who estimated 30 Manitoba programs rely on that funding agreement and said any reduction would have a profound impact.
“This would affect people’s jobs and most certainly it would affect people,” Smith said.