The Province has denied the City’s request to have their annual income assistance contribution, waived.

The contribution is a legislative requirement under an agreement between the Province and Association of Manitoba Municipalities.

It requires the City of Thompson to pay $161,000 annually to fund Manitoba’s Employment and Income Assistance Program. The province came up with that amount by looking at the city’s income assistance costs over a span of a few years.  

The City is arguing that the amount is well above what other cities of similar size are paying, and don’t believe it fairly reflects the city’s income assistance costs.

They are hoping to discuss the issue in detail with the province.