The system that we have here in Manitoba is essentially a punitive system of social assistance. It prevents people from accessing the education they need and the tools they need to succeed. If you think about somebody who is getting a job off social assistance for the first time, they face a 70% clawback on the earned income. That's not encouraging people to get into the labour force. We need to have a more equitable system that provides a strong transition out of poverty for people.
If I may, there were a couple questions about the carbon tax and how that's impacting people. I just wanted to address that. We talked to lots of our members who received the climate action incentive payment. They are using that to pay for a winter coat that they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford or to pay down a heating bill so that they can keep their heat on in the winter.
I just want to say that's also on our radar, as well as the issues around competition, because MP Dzerowicz was talking about that. That's again an issue. People in poverty are facing higher grocery bills, because we have such concentrations in our grocery market. The CRTC, a few years ago, approved the amalgamation of telecommunication operations here in Manitoba. Low-income people who need a phone to get a job, to get health care appointments, face higher phone bills. We need to see relief in that area as well.