RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
Forget has been studying basic income as a health economist in the Rady faculty of health sciences for morethantwodecades.
Radical Trust launched at McNally Robinson on Nov. . The authors argue existing social programs fall short in providing an adequate baselineforallpeople.
Forget points to the Canada child benefit, aimed at children, and the guaranteed income supplement and old age security, aimed toward older adults.
“The great gap in system is for to -year-olds, working-age adults,” Forgetsaid.
Radical Trust addresses the preconceived notion that if you are a working-age adult and living in poverty, it must be your own fault. Forget drew from her previous researchinbasicincomeandOwczar’s experienceinjournalismtoproducea compelling case for basic income as a tool to address poverty in Canada. Inthecourseofwritingthebook,the authorsfoundthecontributingfactors ofpovertyaredeeplyinterconnected.
“In our minds, we had this book set out into tidy little chapters,” Forget said.
“‘We’re going to write this chapter about kids who are aging out of the foster care system.’ Well, you start writingaboutthatandthenextthing you’re into substance use and you’re into homelessness […] you’re into violentrelationships.
“You’reintoallkindsofthingsbecause noneofthemareseparate.”
Forget has been researching basic income since the Mincome project inthe s,whenshewasanundergraduate student. The Mincome experiments took place in Winnipeg and Dauphin. As Forget explains, in Winnipegtheprojectwasrunasarandomized control trial with separate control and treatment groups. The minimum income was also offset by traditionally earned income. While no official report was published on the study, economists at the U of M publishedtheirownanalyses.
The experiment sought to determine if a guaranteed income would result inmoreorlesspaidwork.
“Thereweretwogroupswhodidwork less,” Forget said. “New mothers and […]young,unattachedmales.”
An article Forget published in suggests that new mothers used the guaranteed income to “buy” themselves a longer maternity leave. Interviews with young, unattached
“Whattheyneededwas moneytobeabletospend intheirownwaytoaddress theirownneeds—and that’ssomethingthatsocial assistanceprogramshave largelyfailedtodo”
—HannahOwczar writerandcommunications specialistinthe departmentof communityhealthsciences
males suggest that they pursued education, rather than employment, when offered a guaranteed income. Forget also found that high school graduation rates surpassed per cent,aspreviousdropoutsreturnedto completetheirdiploma.
One of the starkest findings was that hospitalizationsfell percentinthe Dauphintreatmentgroup.
“You don’t have to spend a lot of time walking around that hospital to realize that a lot of our health care is goingtosupporttheconsequencesof poverty,”Forgetsaid.
“When you’re a health economist, you’re always focused on costs […] and you realize you’re spending so much money to deal with people whenthey’reinthestateofcrisis.It’s hard not to think about whether you couldbeinvestingalittlebitofmoney upstream and preventing some of theseissuesfromoccurringinthefirst place.”
ForgetandOwczarbecameconnected through Basic Income Manitoba. Owczar worked at Basic Income Manitoba as a communications specialist and Forget was on the board of directors. Forget hired Owczar to conduct interviews and help tell the stories of people affected by poverty
for a basic income book project she wasworkingonatthetime.
“Weputpeoplewithlivedexperience of poverty at the forefront of each chapter,”Owczarsaid.
“Wefeltthattheyweretheexpertsin the realm and they could really tell us how the system was or was not workingforthem.”
Somepeopleinterviewedforthebook had successfully transitioned out of poverty and wanted to provide their insight into how social systems have workedforthem.
“What they needed was money to be able to spend in their own way to addresstheirownneeds—andthat’s something that our social assistance programs have largely failed to do,” Owczarsaid.
The title of the book refers to the radicaltrustonemustplaceinpeople toallowthemtodecideforthemselves howtobestlivetheirlives.
“I hope that in reading these stories, people can have a better sense of empathyforfolks,”Owczarsaid.
SECTION
. / stars B I S , ,W ’
Among the three EPs released in the past year, its most cohesiveis wildflower
Meadows’ online presence is meagre and mysterious and its visual aesthetic loose and dreamy, with each release represented by rough handdrawn sketches or blurry old photos carrying a running colour scheme of skybluesandblankwhite.Themusic feels wistfully nostalgic and ethereally pretty but rough around the edges. The recordings are purposefullyamateurish:microphonebuzzes, out-of-tune vocals, digital distortion andall—buttheseimperfectionsput forward a striking vulnerability and sincerity.
Take the opener, “crows,” a song that
plungeslistenersrightintowide-open bliss,withgentleacousticguitarsand synthesized strings swimming in an ocean of white noise and reverb. Schellenberg’s vocals, like those of the best lo-fi vocalists, have a perfect mix of catatonic chillness and open emotion, muttering simple truths andreflectiveimagesinanelongated drawl.Themixishazyanddreamy,but careful to never bury Schellenberg’s voice or the group’s instrumental melodies.
The next song, “turn,” is a quick, seriously catchy pop song, more immediate but still oddly cryptic andunsettling,its unsteady beat and cyclical chorus hobbling along like a malfunctioningmerry-go-round.This uneasinesssettleson“evelyn,”atruly gorgeoussongsurroundedbyswirling synthsandplaintivepiano.
The momentum slows on “glow,” an incandescent ballad centred on a hummingchordorganandapainfully exposed,achingvocal.Thetrackfalls into a mess of sampled conversation and noise, like being overwhelmed by churning sounds while having a
publicbreakdown.Thisleadsintothe hauntinginstrumental“flowersinthe kitchensink,”withitsenvelopingmix of watery synths and unconventional field recordings. “Rosethorn” and “honey tea,” a pair of comforting indie pop tracks, are stark and bare arrangements,finishingthealbumon agroundednote.
Wild flower is nakedly emotional, ethereal and frequently achingly
beautiful music. The album’s homespunaestheticmighttakesome getting used to, but for any fan of lo-fimusic,this isreleaseis not to be missed.
SPORTS
The herd lost - to the Huskies in a hard-fought game, making for a disappointing ending to a otherwise successfulseasonfortheBisons.
The team earned the right to play in the final after taking down the UniversityofAlbertaGoldenBearsby awhopping - theweekbefore.
Despite the massive effort exerted by the team on the field, the final score was not the one that second-year player Collin Kornelson and the rest ofhisteamwanted.
“Overall, I think we really progressed asateamthisyear,”Kornelsonsaid.
“We had great chemistry on and
off the field which really helped us produce.Obviously,wedidnotgetthe final result that we wanted, but I am extremelyproudofthisteam.”
Although Kornelson and the Bisons failedtobringtheHardyCupbackto Winnipeg,theydohavemanyreasons tobeproud.
They finished off the season with a - home record. Not only is this a great record, it left the home crowd extremelyhappythroughouttheyear.
The squad also kept improving throughout the year. Their secondplace finish this year is better than their finish, where the team lost inthesemi-finalstotheUniversityof CalgaryDinos.
With the season cancelled due toCOVID- ,it wasimportantforthe team to have a good year, and it all started with personal growth for the
SPORTS
UM , S
Founded in , motionball is a non-profit organization that holds events across Canada to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. After holding events in major cities across the country, the organization began holding events on university campuses. The U of M joined Motionball in and raised , in its second year. In , UManitoba motionball raised over , , holding events virtually throughouttheyear.
Now that UManitoba motionball is back to holding in-person events, it hopes to improve on last year’s total. Marissa Naylor, co-event director, said everyone is welcome to attend motionball events. Motionball is an inclusive event, making for what Naylor describes asan incredibly fun time.
“WereallybaseoureventsoffofMini Uprograms,”saidNaylor.
“Not like your typical basketball games and volleyball, but it’s a mix activitiesforeveryoneatallagelevels, as well as activities for anyone and everyone, doesn’t matter your age, skill,anything.”
“Everyonecancompeteandit’sreally justforfun.”
While the event is being held by U of M students, anyone can attend motionball events if they’d like to show support. Naylor maintains that the event is for everyone, explaining thatstudents,facultyandanyoneelse hoping to take part in the event may participate.
“We encourage everyone from the UniversityofManitobacampustoget involved, as well as those outside the UofM,”saidNaylor.
“Teams can be built with your fellow studentsontheUofMortheycanbe fromanyotheruniversity,weencourageanyoneandeveryone.”
Prior to the main event on Jan. UManitobamotionballwillbeholding acoupleoffundraisingevents,includingitslatestonNov. atRoxyLanes. Guests can head to Henderson Highway for bowling and raffles in supportofmotionball.
Naylor says the money raised will be sent directly to Special Olympics Canada’s home office in Ontario, where it will then be distributed accordingly.
UManitoba motionball has also received support from the Winnipeg Ice and is looking to partner with various student groups at the university.
players.
“In my second year, I didn’t really want to work on anything in particular,”Kornelsonsaid.
“My personal goal this year was to becomeanoverallbetterplayer.With football being cancelled last year, it was important to come into this year strongandreadytogo.”
ItwasatragicyearfortheBisonsoffthe field, after the passing of coach Scott NaujoksinSeptember.Kornelsonsaid that the spirit of Naujoks was with the herd when they took to the field Saturday.
“It was definitely a year of ups and downsfortheteam,”Kornelsonsaid.
“The passing of coach was one that wastoughtoswallowfortheteam.He was withus in ourfinalgameand we knowhewouldhavebeenproud.”
Although the year is over for the Bisons,theworkdoesnotstop.
Theteamwillbebackinthegymand backonthefieldassoonastheygeta chance.Awinner’sworkethiccreates a winner in the end. Kornelson says he and the rest of his teammates are alreadypreparingfornextseason.
“Thegoalistojustgetbacktothefield and the gym and get ready for next season,”Kornelsonsaid.
“Wehavethepiecestothepuzzle,but wehavetoputittogetherattheright moment. I am very excited to be a Bison.”
“We are really just reaching out to encourage all those clubs to support andcomejoin,”Naylorsaid.
“Wehaveapproachedthe[Commerce Students’ Association] but we would love to connect with science, engineering, education, phys-ed, ET, [facultyofkinesiologyandrecreation management] […] but we welcome any faculty or any student groups. So, anyone that would love to come out, we would encourage and love to connect recreation with a bunch of other faculties that may not look at recreationthatoften.”
Naylorjustwrappedupherfourthyear competing for the Bisons golf team. As amemberof theUofMcommunityasanathleteandastudent,Naylor sees motionball as not only a great cause,butanopportunitytocultivate community and build new relationships on campus. She said that it is importantstudentscomeouttoshow support so an inclusive environment isfosteredforallmembersoftheUof Mcommunity.
“I think the biggest importance [of motionball]isgettingintoanewcommunityandreallyshowingawareness for a very big initiative that is, in my opinion, really important,” said Naylor.
“Special Olympics and those with disabilities still don’t have enough attention about how important it is to be inclusive and so that is exactly what motionball is and that’s exactly whypeopleshouldgetinvolved.”
“Startpayingattentionandjustreally include. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from or what your disability is if you have a disability, justcomeandsupportbecauseitgoes alongway.”
Check out motionball.com to sign up for fundraisers, register for motionball, donate or for more information.