Then, on September 16,1996, Manitoba passed Bill 36. Many welfare advocates have expressed concern that under this new legislation, clients will continue to see their welfare benefits shrink, and that regulations will become even more restrictive and discretionary than under previous legislations

For example, certain basic needs items (food, clothing, and specific medical treatments) have now been included under one main heading: Things and services that are essential to health and well-being (Bill 36, Section 2, p. 4). Some advocates are worried that clients will no longer be able to access each service individually and that workers will have "absolute discretion in deciding what is necessary for a client" (NAPO News Nov., 1996, No. 55, p. 1)

Perhaps the most significant changes to come out of Bill 36 are the "obligations for employment" clause and the "employability enhancement measures" (sometimes referred to as "Workfare"). Under this new clause, people who have been deemed "employable" are required to develop an employment history and personal job plan, and to engage in an active job search. This could mean as many as 25 job searches per week, depending on what community the person lives in and what a particular case worker feels is reasonable.

Those who fail to meet these obligations can be penalized:

10 (2) "Where (a) an applicant or recipient under section 5.1 of the Act who does not have dependent children; or (b) the spouse of such an applicant or recipient.. fails to meet a obligation set out in subsection (1), the director may deny, reduce, suspend or discontinue the general assistance otherwise payable to or on behalf of that households

10 (3) "Where (a) an applicant or recipient who has one or more dependent children; (b) the spouse of such an applicant or recipient; or (c) a child to whom the obligations set out in subsection (1) apply fails to meet an obligation set out in subsection (1), the director may reduce the amount of social allowance or general assistance to which the applicant or recipient would otherwise be entitled by: (d) $50.00 per month; and (e) if the obligations under subsection (1) are not met after 6 months of benefit reduction under clause (d) whether the months are consecutive or not, by a further $50.00 per month for each household member who fail to meet the obligations..."

Single parents with children under six are exempt from these employment expectations "if they have not received assistance, including basic assistance, while participating in training or other activities to improve their eligibility," (Administrative Manual, Section 11, p. 6. italics, mine).

¹² Notes taken from interviews with various welfare experts, September, 1997

¹³ These obligations do not apply to the disabled, the elderly, and persons in authorized crisis facilities (Manitoba Legislative Assembly. Administrative Manual for Employment And Income Assistance Act, June, 1996, Section 11, p. 5).