The Green Party of Manitoba kicked off its election campaign with a pledge they say would cut poverty in half.
Party leader James Beddome said if elected, he would implement a guaranteed annual income plan. It would cost $1.4 billion a year.
“We can deliver $6300 a year to Manitobans through the income tax system and gradually reduce the need for welfare,” Beddome said in a news release.
Beddome said they would pay for the plan by reallocating existing tax credits.
“The $1.4 billion cost of the program would be covered by eliminating selected non-refundable and refundable tax credits and provincial income-tested benefits that will keep existing tax rates the same,” Beddome said.
The benefit amount would be based on family size. Under the plan, the 12 per cent of Manitoba families currently below the low income cut off would see their income rise about 22 per cent.
