Province tabs $39M for The Pas health-care centre

A long-awaited expanded primary health clinic in The Pas is getting the green light from the Manitoba government.

Premier Heather Stefanson said the province will spend $39 million to expand and redevelop The Pas Primary Health Care Clinic.

“The Manitoba government is committed to making health care more accessible and equitable for patients, including those living in rural or remote communities across the province,” Stefanson said in a release.

She was in the northern community Monday morning to confirm the capital expansion would move forward as part of an overall $145-million spending program in the region.

MPI chief info, tech officer resigns

Manitoba Public Insurance has lost another member of its executive.

Chief information and technology officer Siddhartha Parti resigned from the Crown corporation Friday, interim chief executive officer Marnie Kacher confirmed in a statement to the Free Press.

“With Mr. Parti’s departure, Shawn Campbell will serve as interim vice-president and chief information and technology officer, as the corporation conducts a search for a permanent replacement,” a statement issued later in the day reads.

No other information was provided.

Manitobans offered prizes to take better care of their health

Manitoba physicians are encouraging people to take one simple step to improve their health this month, and offering prizes for people who pledge to catch up on routine screenings, eat healthier and get active.

Doctors Manitoba president Dr. Michael Boroditsky said many people put their health on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic as immunizations, disease screening and physical activity fell by the wayside over the past three years.

“This is a top concern for doctors,” Boroditsky said during an announcement at the Sport Manitoba Fitness Centre in downtown Winnipeg.

“With the worst of the pandemic behind us, hopefully, and summer just around the corner, now is a great time to focus on getting healthy, and it can start with one simple step.”

Hostile house: heated spring session of legislature ends on hot note

Manitoba lawmakers growled, grappled and jeered their way through a tense spring sitting of the legislature, with accusations of shoving and bribery traded ahead of an expected contentious general election campaign.

On top of near-daily admonitions to demonstrate better behaviour, Speaker Myrna Driedger was forced to rule on five incidents over the past three months in which elected officials claimed another chamber member violated their rights.

The highest-profile incident centred around Sport Minister Obby Khan and Opposition Leader Wab Kinew, who shared a tense handshake at a New Democratic Party-sponsored event in April.

Khan alleged he received an earful of profanity and a shove to the stomach from Kinew, who was accused of refusing to release his grip on the Fort Whyte MLA’s hand in front of a crowd at a Turban Day cultural celebration.

Parties cap legislature session with parting shots

Manitoba’s two main political party leaders got in one final dig before hitting the campaign trail Thursday afternoon, as the legislative session wrapped with a reminder to members to clear out their desks and say their goodbyes.

Following a question period dominated by the Opposition blaming the Tory government for the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals setting a June 15 strike date, NDP Leader Wab Kinew offered a few surprise words of thanks to Premier Heather Stefanson.

“Serving as the leader of the official Opposition has been the great honour of my life and there’s no opportunity to serve as Opposition leader unless there is a government to oppose,” Kinew said, acknowledging Stefanson made history by being the first woman premier in Manitoba.

“It’s always nice to end on a good, positive note… It sets the tone as we move into a wonderful summer, as we’re going to be out on the campaign trail,” Stefanson replied.

Province commits half of $1.4M cost for Route 90 expansion design study

Manitoba taxpayers will foot half of the $1.4-million bill to conduct a design study for an expanded Route 90.

Premier Heather Stefanson announced Thursday that the Manitoba government will contribute $700,000 to the City of Winnipeg to move the proposed project into its next phase.

“Infrastructure corridors like Route 90 support new housing and business development in Winnipeg and promotes industry and trade, allowing for quicker access to business areas, such as CentrePort and the Winnipeg airport,” Stefanson told reporters gathered in a field just west of Kenaston Boulevard.

The funding covers 50 per cent of the city’s identified costs for the project’s next phase, the province said.

Tories reject NDP demand all MLAs march in Pride parades

Manitoba’s minister for gender equity says it would be wrong to compel MLAs to participate in Pride parades because it would be contrary to the spirit of the movement.

“(I) believe that people should march if they feel that they wish to march, and that compelling people to march is probably contrary to the spirit of pride,” Rochelle Squires said in response to the NDP promising that its entire caucus would march in at least one event this season.

On Wednesday, the NDP pledged its 18 MLAs and roster of candidates will march in a Pride parade this year. It called on the Progressive Conservatives to require the same commitment from its MLAs.

“Will the premier do the right thing and will she commit that 100 per cent of the PC caucus will walk in a Pride parade in Manitoba this year?” NDP MLA Lisa Naylor asked in question period.

Biz group wants minister to scrap proposed Hydro increases

Manitoba independent businesses want government relief from rising energy bills while warning electricity rate hikes could devastate operators struggling with pandemic debt.

Ewasko reprimanded in house over Kinew, Beach comments

Education Minister Wayne Ewasko got a hard lesson in racial sensitivity from Speaker Myrna Driedger, who reprimanded the Tory MLA for concerning remarks made towards Opposition Leader Wab Kinew.

Driedger delivered a stern warning to Ewasko following question period Monday, while ruling on a matter of privilege raised by Union Station MLA Uzoma Asagwara in late April.

The NDP had complained Ewasko violated Kinew’s rights as an MLA, and the rights of others, when the minister likened the Opposition leader to famous, Manitoba-born actor Adam Beach.

During debate, Ewasko said Kinew stands in the chamber “on a day-to-day basis, pretending to be some kind of actor. He’s no Adam Beach.”

NDP MLA’s bill mandating anti-racism training for provincial workers gets government backing

Manitoba lawmakers are poised to mandate annual anti-racism training for more than 12,000 people on the provincial government’s payroll.

NDP MLA Jamie Moses’s Bill 241 is on deck to receive third reading and royal assent before the legislature rises on June 1, after receiving support from the Progressive Conservative government.

If passed, the legislation would require all government employees to take training “that aims to eliminate systemic racism and to advance understanding of human rights” each year.

The training must address implicit bias, how to challenge racism, and the discriminatory and unequal treatment of people based on ancestry or ethnicity.

NDP reveals Shared Health data showing rural paramedic numbers shrinking

Manitoba’s roster of rural paramedics shrank by more than 80 workers in under three years, according to statistics released by the New Democrats.

Province quietly adds foot, ankle, shoulder surgeries to out-of-town medical menu options

Manitoba is offering to send people who need foot, ankle or shoulder surgery to Toronto and Vancouver in a bid to shrink pandemic-backlogged wait lists.

The province quietly updated its website to reflect the changes, but its diagnostic and surgical recovery task force did not widely publicize the cost-free service patients can voluntarily sign up to receive.

The two new clinics accepting patient referrals from Manitoba are the Cambie Surgical Centre in Vancouver and the Clearpoint Don Mills Surgical Unit in Toronto.

No patients have been sent to either facility yet, but the potential exists for 200 surgeries to be completed at each site over the next two years, a task force spokesperson said Friday.

Manitoba personal care homes secure air quality funds, seek election platform

Manitoba’s long-term care sector deserves a spot in the provincial election spotlight, as nursing homes struggle with frozen operating grants and rising costs post-pandemic, personal care home operators say.

“It absolutely needs to be an election issue,” Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre chief executive officer Laurie Cerqueti said Friday. “We’ve been underfunded for years.”

The provincial government announced the 200-bed personal care home in the Winnipeg neighbourhood of Linden Ridge would receive $90,000 to replace its kitchen condenser unit via the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s COVID-19 resilience stream.

The Simkin Centre was one of 32 Manitoba personal care homes, schools and hospitals to receive cash for projects to improve ventilation and air quality as part of a $13.1-million funding announcement, the majority of which was federal money.

NDP pushes MPI connection to beleaguered consultant

NDP Leader Wab Kinew called on the Progressive Conservative government to withhold money potentially owed by Manitoba Public Insurance to consultant McKinsey and Co., which is accused of deceptive marketing to promote opioid sales in a class-action lawsuit by the B.C. government.

The Crown corporation’s relationship with the global consulting giant came under fire again in question period Thursday.

MPI hired McKinsey in September 2021 to help deliver its $290-million information technology project through multiple, untendered contracts valued at more than $12 million.

“McKinsey is accused of marketing opioids in a way that made the drug crisis worse,” Kinew said in the chamber. “It’s costing lives across our country.”

MPI dissatisfied with consultant on IT project, NDP says

Manitoba Public Insurance raised concerns internally about work done by global consulting giant McKinsey and Company to deliver the auto insurer’s troubled Project Nova via a nearly $10-million untendered contract, according to documents released by the Manitoba NDP.

The two-page, internal email correspondence from March 15, 2023, was tabled by Opposition Leader Wab Kinew Wednesday.

The document, redacted partly by the NDP, contains the subject line “Align on next steps RE: McKinsey” and summarized management discussions on the consultant’s progress on Project Nova as well as options and next steps proposed by officials to address shortcomings with McKinsey’s work.

Names and other identifying information in the email were redacted.

Widow blames health-care, hospital staff for husband’s death, demands answers from silent health minister

A grieving widow is calling for accountability from Manitoba Health Minister Audrey Gordon after her husband died following a series of alleged mistakes by home-care and hospital staff.

Wayne Frank Robert, 68, died Oct. 11 at St. Boniface Hospital after suffering from a diabetic foot ulcer that went unnoticed by the home-care workers responsible for his care, Susan Robert said.

“Health care in this province failed my husband, it failed my family and it failed me,” she told reporters at the Manitoba legislature.

She attended question period Tuesday, where Manitoba Liberal health critic Jon Gerrard called for the Tory health minister to meet with Robert to provide closure and to ensure no other patient has the same experience.

Funding boost effective in growing number of hip, knee surgeries, task force says

The number of hip and knee procedures increased slightly last year in Manitoba, owing in part to new same-day surgery programs and a boost in spending, Health Minister Audrey Gordon said Monday.

Gordon was in Winkler, located about 120 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, to provide an update on the diagnostic and surgical recovery task force progress on orthopedic surgeries.

The minister said Boundary Trails Health Centre was able to complete 139 more hip and knee replacements in the 2022-23 fiscal year than the 500 procedures initially planned.

The boost in operating volumes was attributed to a program introduced about six months ago that allows patients to recover at home after being discharged the same day as their surgery. About half of the procedures completed at the hospital located between Morden and Winkler were considered “same day.”

Consumers group slams proposed Hydro rate hikes

Manitoba’s consumer watchdog will consider whether to hike electricity bills by four per cent over the next year as hearings begin on Manitoba Hydro’s latest general rate application.

The Crown corporation is asking the Public Utilities Board to approve an average two per cent rate increase that would take effect on Sept. 1, 2023, followed by a second two per cent increase effective April 1, 2024.

On Monday, the independent, quasi-judicial tribunal will open hearings on the multi-year, general rate application with representations from Manitoba Hydro and interveners, including the Consumers Coalition, Manitoba Industrial Power Users Group, and First Nations organizations.

Consumers Coalition attorney Byron Williams said his clients believe the rate hikes are “unjust and unreasonable” while Manitoba Hydro projects massive profits and plans to increase operating and administration expenses by nearly $100 million over the next two years.

Winnipeg divisions faced cuts under shelved education funding model

The Stefanson government is defending its ongoing overhaul of how the province pays for public schools, after a leaked document revealed one rejected proposal would have cut millions from Winnipeg school boards’ budgets.

Confidential government documents obtained by the Manitoba NDP compare the total funding allotments for all 37 public school boards in 2022-23 based on both the existing formula and a “new funding model.”

The internal document, which the official Opposition released Thursday, was prepared for the education department’s funding review team in November 2022.

The proposal suggests 14 boards — including all but one metro division, River East Transcona — would have received fewer dollars if the updated formula was implemented.

Health-care injury, illness claims increase ‘at alarming rate,’ highest of all workplaces, WCB reports

More than 25,000 Manitobans opened a case with the Workers Compensation Board last year with the health-care sector driving an injury-claim increase in excess of six per cent.

Injury and time loss-claims continued to rise in 2022, according to the board’s annual report, costing the corporation just over $191 million.

“Healthcare-related injuries and illnesses continued to increase at an alarming rate in 2022,” the report stated, noting health care had the highest injury rate of all workplaces and one of two industries that recorded a significant jump in claims.

The public-administration sector — which includes workers employed by municipal, provincial and federal governments — was the other area to report a spike in workplace injuries and illnesses, and currently has one of the highest injury rates in the province, the WCB reported.

Manitoba politicians spar over Superstore rebate

Opposition Leader Wab Kinew was accused of picking a fight with local businesses after pledging to axe school tax rebates for out-of-province billionaires who own commercial properties in Manitoba.

During question period Wednesday, the New Democrats relaunched their attack on the Progressive Conservative government over its $453-million education property tax rebate program.

The program is designed to eliminate the tax over a 10-year period and includes about $40 million in rebates for commercial property owners this year.

For the past three days, the NDP has singled out rebates sent to addresses associated with businesses owned by Loblaw. George Weston Ltd., which holds large stakes in Loblaw Companies, reported a profit of $426 million in its first quarter.

NDP vows end to education property tax rebates for out-of-province billionaires

An NDP government would stop cutting education property tax rebate cheques to out-of-province billionaires but would otherwise leave the Tory tax program intact, Opposition Leader Wab Kinew says.

On Monday, Kinew said Manitobans should not expect his party to “do anything dramatically different” with the Progressive Conservatives’ $453 million rebate program, if the NDP forms government in the general election, scheduled for Oct. 3.

In question period, the Fort Rouge MLA called on Premier Heather Stefanson to “stop her handouts” to billionaires by way of rebate cheques to commercial property owners who pay education property taxes.

In 2021, the Tories committed to phase out the tax over 10 years. This year, the rebate increased from 37.5 per cent to 50 per cent for residential and farm property owners. The rebate remained at 10 per cent for commercial property owners.

More than 1,700 surgeries cancelled in city after pandemic restrictions lifted, NDP says

Winnipeg hospitals were forced to cancel more than 1,700 surgeries in the 10-month period after COVID-19 restrictions were dropped in the province, according to documents obtained by the Manitoba NDP.

During question period in the legislature Monday, Opposition Leader Wab Kinew blamed the cancelled procedures on the Progressive Conservative government’s mismanagement and accused the the Tories of ignoring proposals to add surgical capacity.

“Manitobans are waiting too long to get the surgeries that they need too often,” Kinew said, tabling a response to a freedom of information request that showed 1,788 surgical procedures scheduled at eight Winnipeg hospitals were cancelled on the day of, between April 2022 and January 2023.

“Surgeries are being cancelled because a lack of resources, a lack of capacity in our health-care system because of PC cuts,” the Fort Rouge MLA said.

Lab staff shortage at Thompson hospital has reached critical stage, union and NDP say

The union representing laboratory technologists at Thompson General Hospital says a severe staff shortage is threatening emergency services, prompting the Manitoba NDP to repeat its calls for government to reach a new deal with allied health workers.

Opposition releases confidential report revealing burnout, job desperation in Manitoba highest in Canada

A draft report commissioned by the Manitoba government found most of the province’s health workforce reported a low level of well-being and resilience and was ready to quit, posing a risk to both employees and patients.

The 51-page confidential document produced by Deloitte last April was released by Manitoba’s NDP and Liberals in question period Monday.

The report contains 34 recommendations to support health workers that were developed through focus groups, interviews and surveys with people on the front lines.

“Employee resilience and well-being in the Manitoba health system is at a point where change is needed,” the report states.

Premiers to seek cash for guns, gangs probes

Canada’s premiers will call on Ottawa to enhance funding for guns and gangs investigations and to follow through on legislative changes that would make it tougher for violent offenders to receive bail.

Premier Heather Stefanson chaired Friday’s virtual meeting between the Council of the Federation and Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The association requested the meeting in early April to discuss “several urgent and emerging issues” regarding policing and violence.

Stefanson described the meeting as “very positive and constructive” as the two groups discussed federal funding for special investigation units that target gang and gun violence, and bail reform.

“Now more than ever, federal action is needed. Reforms should not be delayed further for public protection and safer communities and to support the work and dedication of all of our law enforcement officers that seek to protect Canadians right across our country,” Stefanson told reporters following the meeting.

‘I am the minister of the art of the possible’: Gordon on Grace doctors’ plea for help

Manitoba Health Minister Audrey Gordon says orthopedic surgeons at Grace Hospital are welcome in her office any time, after the doctors sent a desperate plea for help amid staff shortages and reduced surgical slates.

On Wednesday, Gordon said she did in fact receive a letter from orthopedic surgeons at the west Winnipeg hospital in November — after casting doubt on the authenticity of the correspondence released by the NDP a day prior.

The minister said she responded to the letter but has yet to meet with the group.

Speaker dismisses complaint about nurse-bribe heckling

The Speaker of the Manitoba legislature has ruled against the NDP, which had alleged Health Minister Audrey Gordon had accused one of its MLAs of paying nurses to quit their jobs.

Speaker Myrna Driedger said the incident didn’t meet the threshold of a matter of privilege.

Meanwhile, Gordon would not deny making the alleged claim when pressed by reporters Wednesday to set the record straight.

Health minister defends private ‘investments’ to reduce backlogs

Manitoba’s health minister has defended a provincial task force request for private-sector involvement in proposals to fight pandemic backlogs after two physicians went public with their decision to stop giving input to the task force.

“What I want all individuals to know who are providing input is that the task force is there to listen and to consider all the voices, and there are times, believe it or not, where I put forward an idea and they come back with an explanation as to why it might not be the best approach,” Health Minister Audrey Gordon said Wednesday, adding all ideas are “appreciated and valued” even if they aren’t acted upon.

Grace Hospital surgeons wait months for government action on ‘dire situation’

Five months after orthopedic surgeons at Grace Hospital pleaded with Health Minister Audrey Gordon for help to meet demand for joint replacements, doctors continue to wait for government funding and approval to tackle backlogs and bolster the beleaguered program.

NDP to block government bills, including expansion of private liquor sales

Manitoba New Democrats put a cork in two provincial government bills to expand private liquor sales as advocates for the proposed legislation poured one out to mourn a lost business opportunity.

Stefanson takes shots at NDP during address to Tory party faithful

Progressive Conservative Party Leader Heather Stefanson rallied supporters with a promise to lower taxes and put more money back in the pockets of Manitobans, while warning party faithful to brace for a PST hike if the New Democrats form government.

Tory coffers robust heading into election

Donors to Manitoba Progressive Conservatives kept the cash flowing last year despite the party and its leader being plagued by poor polling.

Minister, NDP leader open to blowback over spat, observers say

The public spat between a cabinet minister and the NDP leader could could backfire for both parties, political observers say, as voters grow tired of personal attacks and abuse in politics.

Rising HIV infections ‘creating havoc on the front lines’

A troubling increase in the number of new HIV infections reported in Manitoba has front-line service providers racing to connect people with treatment and testing, as spread of the virus approaches a crisis level.

Nine Circles Community Health Centre executive director Mike Payne said infection rates for human immunodeficiency virus are continuing to trend in the wrong direction in Manitoba, owing to a multitude of factors that include systemic racism, the legacy of colonialism, homelessness, injection drug and methamphetamine use.

Premiers’ fears about resource agreements unfounded: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused prairie premiers of distorting the words of his justice minister, insisting David Lametti didn’t promise to review natural resource transfer agreements when he spoke to Indigenous chiefs last week.

Time to act on Adanac: NDP

New Democrats are calling for government intervention in a troubled Winnipeg apartment block that was the scene of two recent homicides.

“The Adanac used to be a decent building that families called home,” NDP municipal relations critic Lisa Naylor said in question period Tuesday. “But now it’s an illegal dumping ground full of garbage (and) there’s multiple bylaw infractions leading to fires, property crime, drug and sex trafficking.”

Naylor described the three-storey apartment block at 743 Sargent Ave. as a “health and safety hazard for residents and neighbours” and called on the government to intervene.

Unpaid bereavement days bill passes second reading

A private member’s bill to guarantee time off work for families who have experienced a stillbirth or miscarriage passed second reading Tuesday.

Prairie premiers air grievance over natural resources talk

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson says federal Justice Minister David Lametti has triggered “consternation” on the Prairies, following recent comments made to the Assembly of First Nations.

Tories accused of playing politics with MPI

Manitoba New Democrats have accused the Tory government of using an external review of Manitoba Public Insurance as political cover for a potential rate hike, arguing customers should know before the fall election if their Autopac bill will increase.

In question period Thursday, MPI critic MLA Matt Wiebe challenged the government to reassure ratepayers their costs won’t spike in the wake of an organizational review at the Crown corporation.

Manitoba budget passes into law

Legislation to implement the Tory government’s promised income tax breaks has passed.

Security at Manitoba ERs in spotlight

The plan to add beefed-up security to Manitoba’s busiest emergency departments is being kept under lock and key even though guards, armed with handcuffs and batons, could begin patrolling the province’s largest university in late spring.

‘On hold’ marriage certificate piece of Vital Statistics backlog puzzle

A year-long odyssey to obtain a marriage certificate from the Manitoba Vital Statistics Branch has left a Winnipeg woman questioning whether her nuptials were ever legally registered.

Correctional institution nurses added to provincial incentives plan

Civil sector nurses will receive retroactive bonuses and incentives after initially being left out of the Progressive Conservative government’s $200-million plan to retain health-care workers.

Lawyers jump to NDP MLA’s defence, object to out-of-order tactics from Tory caucus

The governing Progressive Conservatives have been accused of attacking Manitoba’s defence lawyers after the caucus singled out attorney and Opposition MLA Mark Wasyliw for “repeatedly fighting to make our streets less safe.”

Province continues search for new IIU civilian director

Manitoba’s police watchdog is on the search for a new boss.

Construction contract payment legislation unveiled

Construction industry contractors and suppliers burned by customers who refuse to pay their bills on time may soon have a new legislative foundation to build a case for repayment.

Province’s former top-ranking public servant Leitch has new role in Stefanson government

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson has tapped her former clerk to oversee a set of handpicked projects ahead of the general election.

Seventh nurse abandons HSC sex assault examination program

Manitoba’s largest hospital is turning to doctors and nurse practitioners to perform forensic exams after more than half of its nurses trained to examine sex assault survivors quit this week amid a program overhaul.

Carberry desperate to find doctor as ER threatened

Residents of a town in western Manitoba are bracing for the closure of their emergency department, which they fear could be permanent, beginning this fall.

Nurse overtime at rural authorities through the roof: data

Manitoba nurses who work for two rural health authorities recorded more than 132,000 overtime hours in 2022.

Figures released by the Manitoba NDP show nurses in Southern Health and Interlake-Eastern worked 73,291 and 59,227 hours of overtime, respectively, during the first eight months of 2022.

The jump in overtime hours put both health authorities on track to finish the year with a 36 per cent increase in overtime use compared to 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bill to require municipal, school trustee candidates to disclose legal issues passes second reading

Manitoba lawmakers are pushing forward legislation to require municipal council and school trustee candidates to disclose criminal, drug and tax convictions.

On Tuesday, Bill 230 passed second reading. It amends the Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Act to compel candidates running for local government or school trustee to release a statement detailing convictions and guilty pleas under the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Income Tax Act.

Arts, culture, sports groups to share $37.8M

The Manitoba government is giving out $35 million to nearly two dozen arts, culture and sports organizations to renovate and build new facilities.

Tories back Orange Shirt stat holiday

A private member’s bill to make Orange Shirt Day a statutory holiday in Manitoba has received support in “principle” from the Progressive Conservatives, but government refused to say if it will support its passage into law.

Patient transport quality challenged in legislature

Privatized air ambulance services and drawn-out contract negotiations for more than 6,000 health-care workers were blamed Wednesday for a recent patient transport that left a Brandon woman fearing for her life.

20 per cent job vacancy at Conservation Officer Service prompts wage boost

Manitoba’s complement of conservation officers has declined by more than a dozen in the past year, prompting the Tory government to spend nearly $5 million to increase wages.

Tories take first step to help city create transit security team by tabling police act amendment

Manitoba community safety officers could be given new powers to arrest and respond to safety threats under proposed legislation intended to pave the way for a Winnipeg Transit security team.

New proposed rules for school trustees, municipal councillors seeking provincial seat

School trustees and municipal councillors seeking to run in the upcoming provincial election could be forced to take an unpaid leave of absence, if proposed legislation passes.

Province seeks to unshackle event ticket resellers

Concert-goers and sports fans could see the cost of admission rise as the Manitoba government looks to alter legislation that prohibits mark-ups on ticket resales.

Government challenged over Grace overnight doctor shortage

The Progressive Conservative government has been accused of ignoring doctors’ calls for help to cover overnight shifts at Grace Hospital, amid patient safety concerns at the west Winnipeg hub.

On Monday, Premier Heather Stefanson and Health Minister Audrey Gordon came under fire from opposition leaders who questioned why Grace patients have languished for months with sub-standard physician coverage.

“These physicians who are duty bound to look after their patients are speaking out publicly, and they are saying that they no longer feel safe working at the Grace Hospital overnight,” NDP Leader Wab Kinew said.

‘We heard nothing’: Doctors Manitoba derides lack of recruitment, retention in provincial budget

Manitoba’s worsening physician shortage has been overlooked by lawmakers in the government’s latest budget, Doctors Manitoba says, as the majority of its members report feeling cast aside by the province.

Provincial government pitches retail alcohol sales pilot project

Manitobans may soon be able to put a bottle of rye or scotch into their grocery cart with eggs and bread purchases — or even where they buy lumber or shoes.

Provincial support for human trafficking awareness campaign

A campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking will receive funding from the Manitoba government.

Tories questioned on private liquor sales

Manitoba’s official Opposition and union leaders are demanding the Tory government give proof its plan to allow private stores to sell hard liquor won’t cost the provincial treasury.

Lawmakers are debating Bill 9, which would allow 226 hotel beer vendors, eight specialty wine stores, 168 rural liquor vendors and 50 craft liquor manufacturers to sell the entire catalogue of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries products, including spirits.

Forensic nursing shifts to be staffed: health minister

Manitoba Health Minister Audrey Gordon says she has instructed the Health Sciences Centre to ensure a specially trained nurse is available to see victims of sexual assault in need of an exam.

MRI wait times up 70 per cent since August

Manitobans who need magnetic resonance imaging tests are in limbo after the health authority responsible for diagnostics stopped issuing appointments for some patients as wait-times reach a near two-year high.

Legislature ready to rumble as parties fight for right to govern

Raucous debate, big-ticket spending promises, finger-pointing, and a few swan songs are expected as Manitoba lawmakers return to Broadway today for a final, high stakes sitting of the legislative assembly before the fall election.

Stefanson promises ‘very good budget for Manitobans’ March 7

The Progressive Conservative government’s final budget before Manitoba voters go to the ballot box will be tabled March 7.

Doctors, nurses welcome Manitoba’s health deal with Ottawa

Labour groups hope Manitoba’s new agreement in principle for $6.7 billion in federal funding for health care will ease pressure on staff and reduce wait times.

Province melts funding freeze, throwing fiscal lifeline to municipalities

Manitoba municipal leaders gave a warm welcome to a $47-million increase in provincial operating grants, as the Progressive Conservatives formally put an end to a seven-year funding freeze that left local councils strapped for cash.

NDP shuffles shadow cabinet

New Democratic Party of Manitoba Leader Wab Kinew has shuffled his shadow cabinet, promoting a handful of Winnipeg-area MLAs to high-profile positions ahead of the spring legislative session.

Manitoba unveils overdue seniors strategy

The Manitoba government plans to overhaul home care, bolster seniors housing, and offer pensioners better tax breaks to make the province a “great place to age.”

Ottawa, Manitoba working to get new health dollars in provincial budget

Negotiations for a new bilateral health-care funding agreement could wrap “quite quickly,” as the Manitoba government looks to receive promised federal dollars in time for its spring budget.

Province plans to modernize clunky website

MANITOBA’S presence on the world wide web is set for an overhaul.

Manitoba to get $194M more for health from Ottawa

Premier Heather Stefanson says Ottawa’s top-up to Manitoba’s health transfer payment will be too small to make a major difference in the coming fiscal year.

The province is expected to receive an additional $194 million in 2023-24, Stefanson said.

“It really doesn’t have a massive impact,” she said Tuesday.

First Nations eye legal action to halt Crown lands lease auction

MANITOBA First Nations are threatening to sue the provincial government over the leasing of Crown lands to farmers and ranchers, arguing treaty rights are being trampled in the process.

Manitoba boosts funding to help immigrants integrate

Michelle Puno, an internationally educated nurse, nearly gave up on a career in Manitoba.

Chill out, log in, pay up? Province looks for parks campground Wi-Fi provider

Campers relying on wireless internet offered by the Manitoba government to stay connected while visiting three provincial parks could face new fees to get online.

Manitoba in position to embrace long-term care standard: researcher

Adopting new, national standards for long-term care wouldn’t be a “huge leap” for Manitoba care home operators, experts in seniors care say, as the Progressive Conservative government considers regulatory changes.

Premier thanks Friesen for service and dedication

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson offered well-wishes to longtime Tory MLA and cabinet minister Cameron Friesen, who intends to resign his seat to seek the federal Conservative nomination in Portage-Lisgar.

New provincial spending announced after tax windfall

The Manitoba government will direct more cash to hospitals, municipal infrastructure, schools and community development after receiving an unexpected $150-million windfall in tax revenue.

MPI takes first step toward online expansion

Rubber is finally meeting the road for a massive modernization program at Manitoba Public Insurance, with the first release of Project Nova officially online.

Manitoba officials headed to Philippines on nurse-recruiting mission

Manitoba is sending a team of health and immigration officials to the Philippines to recruit hundreds of nurses and health-care workers to the province.

Immigration Minister Jon Reyes will be part of the delegation arriving in the island nation on Feb. 21, with stops scheduled in Manila, Cebu and Iloilo over a five-day period.

The recruitment mission is expected to have broad participation and set the course for “hundreds of qualified internationally educated nurses” to move to Manitoba, according to the province.

Premiers, PM meeting opportunity for ‘real dialogue’: Stefanson

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson is cautiously optimistic, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited the country’s premiers to negotiate a new health-care funding agreement next month in Ottawa.

Manitoba must outsmart private agencies that poach nurses: NDP

Manitoba should learn from the private sector when it comes to attracting surgical nurses back to Winnipeg hospitals, as job vacancy rates remain stubbornly high, NDP Leader Wab Kinew suggests.

Manitoba defends loan to bus maker New Flyer after layoffs

The Manitoba government says protecting local jobs is the priority as it hammers out the terms of a $50-million loan to local manufacturer NFI Group following a recent round of layoffs.

Economic Development Minister Cliff Cullen said he was not aware the Transcona zero-emission bus maker had laid off 30 employees at its New Flyer subsidiary on Dec. 22, one day before he joined NFI Group chief executive officer Paul Soubry to announce the taxpayer-supported loan.

“Our focus has been on the bigger picture,” Cullen said. “We’re optimistic once New Flyer gets through that we’ll be able to grow the work force here in Manitoba.”

Paid sick leave long overdue, labour federation says

Staying home to nurse a fever, sniffles or an ailing child is becoming increasingly difficult for Manitoba workers to afford as the province resists appeals by labour groups to legislate paid sick leave.

Former cabinet minister Cox joins group in Tory caucus not running again

Former cabinet minister Cathy Cox has added her name to the growing list of Tories choosing to leave their legislature seats rather than take another run at the ballot box.

The Kildonan-River East MLA said Thursday she will not seek re-election after serving close to seven years as the representative for the Progressive Conservative stronghold in northeast Winnipeg.

“Only God can foresee our future,” Cox wrote in a statement. “Life is short and there are no guarantees in this world.”

Parks review recommends $90M in capital improvements, increasing fees

Adding glamping experiences, building a resort hotel at Grand Beach, hiking fees and making more than $90 million in capital improvements are among recommendations to boost revenue at Manitoba parks, as groups call for urgent spending to improve the delivery of basic services.

Infighting appears to have derailed return of ‘freedom convoy’

A “freedom convoy 2.0” reunion protest set to roll into Winnipeg has been nixed, but protesters vow to assemble in Winnipeg this February under a new banner.

Election period advertising complaint dismissed

A Manitoba NDP complaint over partisan budget advertising by the provincial government during the Thompson byelection has been dismissed.

Winnipeg nurses burdened by 400,000 OT hours, records show

Winnipeg nurses are set to finish this year with more than 400,000 overtime hours logged, even as the health authority and provincial government try to curb their reliance on mandated shifts.

Government to help fill transit systems’ operating shortfalls

Five municipal public transit systems facing COVID-19 pandemic-driven revenue shortfalls are getting a boost from the federal and provincial governments.

City, developers pay price for expanded Municipal Board: Rollins

The Manitoba government is giving its municipal development tribunal more power to overturn land-use decisions made by Winnipeg city councillors.

Province lends $50M to Winnipeg bus manufacturer stalled by supply-chain issues

New Flyer Industries, a Winnipeg-based zero-emission bus manufacturer, was handed a $50-million lifeline from the Manitoba government to weather the supply-chain challenge storm.

Task force tries to boost interest in out-of-province joint surgeries

Manitobans waiting for hip and knee replacements can expect a personal invitation for an all-expenses paid trip to a hospital in Ontario or the United States to arrive in their mail box.

Health disparity widens: top doc

Health disparities for racialized Manitobans are getting worse, and policy changes are needed to tackle the systemic causes of poor outcomes, the province’s top doctor said in a new report.

Harvest Manitoba gets $3-M grant boost from province

An unprecedented number of Manitobans are turning to food banks to make ends meet, as rising costs and demand put intense pressure on the community aid organizations to respond.

Province backs landfill-search feasibility study

The Manitoba government will support an Indigenous-led feasibility study to find remains of at least two women slain by an alleged serial killer and buried at the Prairie Green Landfill.

Proposed firearms ban an ‘overreach’: Kinew

The Trudeau government is going too far with legislation intended to restrict the availability of assault-style firearms, Manitoba New Democratic Party Leader Wab Kinew says.

Fear of closure drove rural MD shortage

A fear of permanent emergency room closures that has left rural communities struggling to recruit staff for years was well-founded, as new documents obtained by the Free Press show provincial health officials proposed closing as many as 16 rural sites four years ago.

Klein pulls off narrow victory for PCs in Kirkfield Park byelection

In a fierce battle that came down to the wire, Kevin Klein managed to hang on to Kirkfield Park in a desperately needed victory for the bruised Progressive Conservatives and party leader Heather Stefanson.

WPS civilian member files class-action lawsuit over COVID vax policy

A Winnipeg Police Service civilian member has filed a class-action lawsuit against their employer for alleged damages caused by its COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Byelection will test Tories’ staying power

It’s just one of Manitoba’s 57 provincial ridings, but Premier Heather Stefanson’s government faces a reckoning in the Kirkfield Park byelection Tuesday.

Stefanson leads charge for more health money

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson is leading the renewed call by the country’s premiers for Ottawa to negotiate a deal for health funding amid acute staffing shortages and surging respiratory viruses Canada-wide.

Doctors Manitoba adds voice to provincial, national health-care call

The federal-provincial stalemate over increases to health-care transfers is hurting patients, Canadian physicians groups warned in a letter to first ministers, as doctors called for increased funding and collaboration among elected leaders.

Day of remembrance brings new reminder of violence against women

The names of Indigenous women believed slain by an alleged serial killer in Winnipeg were recited alongside the names of 14 women killed in a mass shooting in Montreal three decades ago at a sombre ceremony marking the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

MPI draws map to reduce test wait times

Manitoba Public Insurance is trying to drive down waits for road tests to 45 days by the spring, after being caught off-guard by demand coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health care takes spotlight in Kirkfield Park byelection

Kirkfield Park byelection candidate Kevin Klein is pledging to work with city hall to increase community and advanced care paramedic units to reduce emergency department demand.

Manitoba seeks second opinion on Nygard investigation

Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen has ordered a second opinion on whether local charges should be brought against disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard.

Province botched subsidy rollout, child-care coalition says

Six-digit sums of cash intended to reduce child-care costs for families across Manitoba have sat untouched for months owing to the “botched” rollout of a program to cut average fees in half before the year ends.

Nurse union challenges depth of provincial float pool

A one-year-old program incentivizing nurses to travel to communities struggling with staffing shortages and cover gaps in the health-care system has yet to add a nurse to its payroll, according to the Manitoba Nurses Union.

Hydro seeks to raise annual rates for 19 years

Manitobans should prepare for electricity rates to jump by two per cent annually for years to come after the provincial government decided to cut the fees it charges Manitoba Hydro.

Legislature hears calls for Nygard investigation inquiry

A decision by Manitoba Crown attorney’s office not to pursue charges against disgraced fashion designer Peter Nygard demands an independent inquiry and a new investigation into alleged sexual assaults, victims and advocates said Monday.

NDP leader blames Tory health reforms for ER wait times

PATIENTS piling up in emergency departments and the exodus of Manitoba physicians can be traced to the Progressive Conservative government’s health system reform, Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew argues, as staffing shortages push wait times to an eight-year high.

Municipalities want provincial funding increased

MUNICIPAL Relations Minister Eileen Clarke has signalled that the seven-year freeze on provincial cash transfers to municipal governments may be thawing.

Kirkfield Park vote kicks off with controversy

Manitoba’s Liberal leader challenged the governing Tories to defend Kirkfield Park byelection candidate Kevin Klein’s employment with disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard, as the aspiring MLA was forced to once again distance himself from his former boss.

Round dance organizers call on province to pivot on supervised drug-consumption site, save lives

Supporters of supervised drug-consumption sites held a round dance at Broadway and Osborne Street Thursday, calling on the provincial government to reverse course and fund the life-saving intervention.

Pandemic-caused cataract surgery backlog cleared, health minister says

The Manitoba government has caught up on cataract surgeries delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic though thousands of patients continue to wait longer for care than three years ago.

Sectors wait for details in throne speech wake

Reaction from municipalities, labour and business to the Progressive Conservatives’ self-described bold throne speech was mixed, with many stakeholders searching for clarity on the Manitoba government’s path forward.

Manitoba nursing regulators lower benchmark language-test scores

Nursing regulators in Manitoba have lowered their standards for English-language proficiency tests as part of ongoing efforts to license more internationally educated nurses.

Sunday’s patient count — many with respiratory viruses — highest in years, Shared Health says

A surge of sick kids continued to overwhelm the Children’s Hospital emergency department over the weekend, spurring calls for health officials to address Manitobans amid the unprecedented patient load.

Manitoba unveils funding list as byelection looms

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government has committed millions of dollars to child care, municipalities, newcomer women and community groups ahead of the writ drop for the Kirkfield Park byelection.

Housing advocates raise alarm as landlords allowed to raise rents an average of nine per cent

Cash-strapped tenants are tightening budgets or packing bags following hefty rent hikes approved by the Residential Tenancies Branch — despite the Progressive Conservative government issuing property tax rebate cheques to Manitoba landlords amid a two-year rent freeze.

Health care cornerstone of NDP alternative throne speech

Promises to expand hours and access to health centres and to hire more nurse practitioners are at the core of the New Democratic Party’s pitch to Manitobans in its alternative throne speech.

Manitoba rules out supervised drug site

The Manitoba government has taken a hard line against supervised consumption sites after Community Wellness Minister Sarah Guillemard went to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Children’s Hospital resumes admission of out-of-province patients

THE Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg is again admitting children from Nunavut and northwestern Ontario who need critical care.

Water management strategy unveiled

CONSERVATION is at the forefront of a new provincial strategy to guarantee the water needed to sustain population and industrial growth continues to flow amid the threats of climate change.

Unopposed Klein will run for Tories in Kirkfield Park byelection

Former city councillor and Winnipeg mayoral candidate Kevin Klein will carry the governing Progressive Conservatives’ banner in the upcoming Kirkfield Park byelection.

Tories agree to NDP’s non-binding election proposal

MANITOBA lawmakers unanimously endorsed a motion to confirm the next election will take place Oct. 3, 2023.

Nursing college English test ‘smells like white supremacy’

A Tataskewayak Cree Nation nurse, who is desperate to work in Manitoba, has been barred from practising after failing an English exam that advocates argue is prejudiced against First Nations people.

Economists believe PCs will balance budget before election

A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives puts Manitoba on track to balance its budget in time for an election, but the province’s finance minister offered no assurances books would be back in the black by next year.

NDP vows to freeze hydro rates

Manitoba Hydro was once again at the centre of a political scrap as the NDP promised to freeze electricity rates while the government held firm to its proposed five per cent cap.

Changes to Manitoba liquor laws not expected to pass

Time is running out on the Manitoba government’s latest attempt to change liquor laws.

Stefanson snubs Smith’s offer of Churchill meeting

A proposed meeting of Prairie premiers in Churchill was placed firmly on the back-burner by Manitoba’s first minister.

Province increases funding for homeless shelters, rent assistance

Chronically underfunded homeless shelters received a “historic” boost to their bottom line, as the provincial government pledged more funding for rental supports and housing programs.

Tories accused of cutting highway maintenance fleet

Opposition Leader Wab Kinew borrowed a familiar refrain to pine over crumbling roads.

Manitoba in line to set record on overdose deaths

Manitoba appears to be on track to set a grim record for preventable overdose deaths.

Frustration grows for fully boosted U.S.-bound Manitobans without vax proof

Despite rolling up his sleeve and receiving a fifth — bivalent — COVID-19 vaccine in late-September, retiree Ian Ross has little to show for it from the Manitoba government.

Session may end before bill on MMIWG licence plate passes

A bill to create a specialty licence plate to recognize missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people has moved closer to becoming law.

Manitoba unveils surgical, diagnostic wait list dashboard

Manitobans on lengthy wait lists for surgical and diagnostic procedures can now keep tabs on a small part of the province’s efforts to eliminate the COVID-19 pandemic backlog.

NDP, government trade barbs over health crisis

Manitoba political leaders pointed the finger at each other and deflected blame Wednesday for the worsening crisis in health care.

Doctors Manitoba expects exodus of physicians

Manitobans who are struggling to find a family physician or see a specialist could face even fewer options, Doctors Manitoba has warned.

Manitoba Housing fire injures three, fans concern for response plans

A blaze at a Manitoba Housing high-rise that sent three people to hospital and forced nearly a dozen others from their homes Friday morning has sparked concerns over fire preparedness among tenants at the primarily 55-plus complex.

Rebuilding better structures crucial after spring-flood toll: infrastructure minister

With taxpayers set to cover a massive bill for last spring’s flooding, attention is turning to provincial mitigation efforts as natural disasters and extreme weather are forecast to increase with climate change.

Initial costs for spring flood damage hit $200M

Devastating spring flooding that washed out roads, forced Manitobans from their homes, and triggered local states of emergency caused at least $200 million in damage to public and private property.

PC’s review of parks profitability coming soon

Manitoba’s provincial parks have been ranked for their potential to turn a profit and the results are finally ready to be released to the public.

Province puts $8.7M into waste-diversion sector

Children’s car seats destined for the dump are instead being detoured to a Point Douglas recycling centre with support from a government program to divert waste from landfills.

Avian flu devastates 17 Manitoba farms

Nearly 300,000 birds on Manitoba poultry farms died or were culled in the past six weeks as a highly contagious avian influenza tears through flocks in the Interlake and the southeastern part of the province.

Kirkfield Park a challenge for Tories

The governing Tories are off to a slow start in the race to fill former cabinet minister Scott Fielding’s seat, with dismal polling and the civic election frustrating the search for a candidate as the deadline approaches to drop the writ in Kirkfield Park.

Kinew rallies delegates as NDP convention opens

Public versus private. The middle class over the most wealthy. A government in-waiting and a government in turmoil.

Manitoba protection of sensitive data lacking: auditor general

Sensitive information held by the Manitoba government and the provincial health authority was not adequately protected from unauthorized access, a report by the Office of the Auditor General has concluded.

Industrial electricity consumers slam provincial Hydro bill

A group representing major industrial electricity users in Manitoba warned proposed legislation to accelerate debt repayment at Manitoba Hydro could spark an exodus of business over the next two decades.

Stefanson vows to protect Manitoba’s turf

Premier Heather Stefanson hasn’t ruled out borrowing a page from the new Alberta premier to protect Manitoba’s jurisdiction and interests from interference by the federal government.

Tories introduce ‘very straight up’ budget bill

A bill to set the Progressive Conservative government’s marquee education property tax rebate program in law and to carry out its latest budget was introduced Tuesday.

NDP claims ‘political interference’ in green light of Brandon road project

A proposed driveway for a new, multi-use development off a major Manitoba highway received a green light from Transportation Minister Doyle Piwniuk, despite departmental warnings the access road will lead to more collisions.

Hydro, PUB bill draws public fire

A contentious bill proposing significant changes to the Public Utilities Board and Manitoba Hydro was slammed at a committee meeting that narrowly avoided being brought to a premature conclusion.

Regional home-care spending falls as demand outstrips funds

Health authority spending on home-care clients in western and southern Manitoba dropped over the past four years, as demand for the essential service that allows people to continue living at home outpaced funding.

‘We need systemic change’: Loney builds campaign on value of solutions

Cracked concrete of a gated Point Douglas-area parking lot, tucked between a refurbished brown-brick warehouse and the imposing steel tracks of the Canadian Pacific Railway, doubled as stage for mayoral candidate Shaun Loney on an early August afternoon.

Fourth Manitoba Tory decides to hang up his hat

Manitoba government backbencher Ralph Eichler will not seek re-election after nearly 20 years representing the Lakeside constituency.

Elder supports removal of legislature camp, calling it a ‘mockery’

Sixty officers carefully dismantled a teepee encampment at the front of the Manitoba legislature Thursday as a handful of protesters from the reprised version of the “freedom convoy” heckled them.

Finding inspiration in the North End

Chris Clacio rattles off the history of the cast bronze bell that rang out over city hall at the turn of the 20th century and the contemporary youth movement that gathered in the shadow of its current Selkirk Avenue tower home to oppose violence in the North End.

Province forecasts deep cut to deficit

The Manitoba government is projecting a boon to its bottom line, with the deficit anticipated to be slashed by more than half — to $202 million — at the end of this fiscal year.

NDP complaint claims Conservatives got inside info

THE Manitoba New Democratic Party has filed a complaint to the elections commissioner alleging the Progressive Conservative party received insider information from the government on the timing of the upcoming Kirkfield Park byelection.

Province keeps U.S. spinal surgery price tag under wraps

Manitoba taxpayers are being asked to sign a blank cheque to cover spinal surgeries performed stateside, after the financial interests of a North Dakota hospital were found to outweigh the public interest in disclosing the price tag.

Province enters official period of mourning for Queen

Flags will remain at half-mast and the Royal Cypher will illuminate the Manitoba Legislative Building nightly, as the provincial government memorializes Queen Elizabeth during a formal period of mourning that began Friday.

Choice is to boost now or wait

Faced with the choice to get the first COVID-19 booster shot available or wait their turn for a new, Omicron-targeted vaccine, some Manitobans are raring to recharge their immunity, while others say they’ve had their share of needles.

Rural ER long weekend closures spark extra concern: doctor

Closures of three rural emergency rooms in western Manitoba have physicians bracing for longer patient waits and heavy workloads through the Labour Day long weekend.

Premier, PM divided on carbon tax, together on immigration

Manitobans are unlikely to get a tax break on fuel, after calls by Premier Heather Stefanson for Ottawa to pause collection of the carbon tax were dismissed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a stop in Winnipeg.

New regulations, little movement on legislature grounds encampments

After an unsuccessful attempt to evict a pair of months-long occupations at the Manitoba legislature grounds, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen insisted new regulations prohibiting such encampments have teeth — as the Tories seek to avoid a major political misstep in clearing the protest groups.

Long-term care facilities, hospitals battle COVID outbreaks; health workers’ sick-time calls rise

After four consecutive months free from isolation, illness and COVID-19, the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg was once again placed on high alert last week with the return of five positive test results.

Retailers prep for fall COVID test kit pressure

Demand for free rapid COVID-19 tests at grocery stores and pharmacies is expected to ramp up as summer comes to an end, and retailers are preparing to hand out kits by the handful for the provincial government.

Stalemate over two camps on legislature lawn

The Manitoba government remained tight-lipped Friday about two encampments at the legislature that have not budged after being handed eviction notices more than a week ago.

Licence review on the table for care home where residents allegedly abused

A Winnipeg personal-care home at the centre of multiple abuse allegations could face an operating licence review, Manitoba Health Minister Audrey Gordon said Thursday.

Visitation shelters eat up nearly half of province’s share of federal long-term care money

Nearly half of Manitoba’s $37.2-million share of federal funding for long-term care homes will cover the cost of pandemic-era visitation shelters — many of which are no longer in use.

Manitoba seeks public opinion on new COVID vaccine

Manitobans are being asked to share their opinion on a potential new COVID-19 vaccine that protects against Omicron and the original strain of the virus.

NDP, Tories clash over CancerCare

The NDP has accused the Tory government of shortsightedness and disregard for cancer patients after Shared Health ordered $5.5 million worth of “immediate needs and stabilization” projects at CancerCare Manitoba.

Manitoba to raise minimum wage to $15 in time for 2023 election

Minimum-wage workers will see their hourly pay increase nearly 13 per cent this fall as the province aims to hit $15 by October 2023 in a move labour groups argue will drive more low-income earners into poverty.

Camps at Manitoba legislature handed eviction notices

Two independent groups of people who have camped on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature for months have been told to clear out.

Province wants to reduce reliance, spending on agency nurses

THE Manitoba government is looking to rein in spending on agency nurses, after temporary staff costs surpassed $40 million in the past fiscal year.

Manitoba expands coverage for cystic fibrosis drug to young kids

A costly, life-changing treatment for children with cystic fibrosis has been added to the provincial drug plan, following recent approval by Health Canada.

Premier sticks by Ukrainian-refugee plan

Manitoba will not borrow a page from its western neighbour by co-ordinating humanitarian charter flights for Ukrainian refugees.

Premier mum on inflation relief

The provincial government said it is still mulling ways to help Manitobans cope with the second-highest inflation rate in the country.

City police boost effort to trace ‘crime guns’

Winnipeg police are increasing their capacity to trace illegal, unmarked firearms that are often trafficked into Canada from the United States and end up being seized on the streets of Winnipeg.

No new COVID wave ‘at this point’: Roussin

Manitoba is not in a new, summer wave of COVID-19 infections, despite a reported increase in viral activity and hospitalizations, its chief provincial public health officer says.

AMC cuts ties with suspended grand chief Dumas

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs voted Friday to strip suspended grand chief Arlen Dumas of his title.

Province, Norway House Cree Nation sign historic timber deal

NORWAY HOUSE CREE NATION — The scent of freshly cut white spruce and the buzz of two saws tucked away off a gravel road signal potential for the northern Manitoba community of Norway House Cree Nation, after it inked an historic agreement with the province to share profit from timber harvested on its ­territory.

Affirming the right to make a hard choice

It was with both sadness and relief that a young Lisa Naylor learned her birth mother would have chosen abortion had it been an option while she was pregnant with her 56 years ago.

Manitoba Housing to target ‘exceptional circumstances’ buildings: Squires

Families Minister Rochelle Squires says the Tory government is committed to turning a St. Boniface-area Manitoba Housing property into “a safe and affordable place to call home,” after a visit to the rundown, bug-infested residential tower.

Manitoba signs on to push for expanded immigration powers

Manitoba Immigration Minister Jon Reyes has added his name a letter calling on Ottawa to give the provinces more authority over the resettlement of skilled workers amid an unprecedented labour shortage.

Tories seek to ‘accelerate’ use of private agency nurses: NDP

The Progressive Conservative government has been accused of doubling-down on its use of agency nurses, after Shared Health last month surveyed the private health-care firms about their capacity to prop up the public health system.

Manitoba unwraps arts, culture, sport support fund

Manitoba community organizations desperate for funding to improve facilities and run arts, culture and sport programs can tap into a new provincial plan intended to spur sectors hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inflation relief? Premier says stay tuned

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson has promised relief from 40-year-high inflation is on the way.

First Nation asks court to strike down licence for diversion

A northern Manitoba First Nation has asked the Court of Queen’s Bench to nullify a final operating licence for the Churchill River diversion, arguing Manitoba Hydro and the provincial government failed to consult them.

Tataskweyak Cree Nation and its chief, Doreen Spence, applied for a judicial review of the final licence in March after the provincial government officially signed off on the continued operations of the water control structures in May 2021.

The community, situated 900 kilometres north of Winnipeg on the shores of Split Lake, claims the river system has been devastated by the diversion, which had been operating under an interim licence since 1976, and Manitoba Hydro’s augmented flow program, which was renewed annually since 1986.

The court application claims the fishery at Southern Indian Lake has all but closed due to water choked by sediment and fish contaminated with methyl-mercury; shorelines and habitat on the lower Churchill River and the Rat-Burntwood-Nelson River system have been destroyed; the lake sturgeon population has dwindled owing to manipulated water levels; and TCN remains under a boil water advisory.

Manitoba to unveil vaccine plan for young children

Manitoba’s top doctor is set to reveal the province’s plan to vaccinate children under age five against COVID-19.

Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin will address Manitobans this week for the first time since May, said Health Minister Audrey Gordon.

“This is an exciting announcement for so many families that have been waiting for Health Canada to approve the vaccine,” Gordon said during an unrelated announcement.

Roussin will speak about the approval process and the rollout of the shots to children aged six months to five years old, Gordon said. Health Canada approved Moderna’s Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine for the younger age group on July 14.

Province launches catalytic converter ID anti-theft campaign

High-visibility paint and an eight-digit number will serve as a warning to potential catalytic converter thieves the valuable part can be traced, as Manitoba scrap metal dealers must now report the purchase of such devices to police or face a hefty fine.

On Monday, the Progressive Conservative government’s Scrap Metal Act and regulations came into force, alongside the launch of a new campaign to etch vehicle identification onto catalytic converters in Winnipeg and Steinbach.

“There hasn’t been a simple solution found in any jurisdiction, but it is important that in Manitoba we do what we can. We try the efforts that can make a difference in our province and reduce those thefts,” Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said during a joint news conference at Winnipeg Police Service headquarters.

The Scrap Metal Act contains a number of new regulations for the province’s recyclers, intended to cut down on the sale and purchase of illegally obtained precious metals — including those contained in catalytic converters, which are integral to controlling harmful emissions in an automotive internal combustion engine.

Scrap-metal recyclers dubious about province’s anti-theft legislation

Manitoba scrap-metal recyclers will be forced to collect a tonne of new information from customers as legislation intended to curb rampant metal and catalytic converter theft comes into force.

However, the added paperwork for local businesses and new authority given to police under The Scrap Metal Act will do little to deter thefts that are driving up costs for Manitobans, scrap dealers say.

“People who feel the necessity to commit a crime will continue to commit those crimes for whatever needs they need to fill,” Western Scrap Metals manager Al Linder told the Free Press.

Linder has been at the helm of the South Point Douglas scrap yard for 65 years and said staff are careful to reject any materials they suspect were illegally obtained.

Premier picks side in Winnipeg police union, chief dispute

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson took aim at Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth and threw her support behind “front-line officers,” after a recent streak of violent crime was described as nothing new by the city’s top cop.

In an interview late Tuesday afternoon, Stefanson told the Free Press she was “really disappointed” with comments made by the police chief following a series of high-profile incidents, including the stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee at The Forks.

“It sort of seemed to almost normalize these violent activities that are taking place in Winnipeg and I’m very concerned about that,” Stefanson told the Free Press. “Our front-line officers have done such amazing work throughout very, very difficult times and I wanted to send a message: we have their backs.”

During a news conference July 8, the WPS chief suggested such crimes were not unusual in the city. “Nothing that we’re talking about today is new. Nothing. This is a concern to us, but it’s not new to us (police),” Smyth said.

Family seeks more info on care home abuse allegations

Family members of seniors allegedly abused by staff at Oakview Place personal care home want stronger whistleblower protections and are encouraging employees to come forward with information to help vulnerable residents.

“The whistleblowers need to be protected,” said Gail Johnson, whose 91-year-old mother lives at Oakview Place in west Winnipeg. “If it wasn’t for them coming forward, we would never have known what happened — and if someone can’t come forward and tell you something’s going on or something’s wrong, that’s a problem.”

On June 21, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority revealed two health-care aides had allegedly abused 15 residents. A whistleblower alerted local management with Extendicare — the home’s operator — of the issue in February. However, nothing was done and the health authority was not informed of the allegations until approached directly by another whistleblower June 10.

The WRHA has not specified the type of abuse residents allegedly endured.

‘We’re trying to keep our heads up’: Whiteshell businesses struggle as campground closures limit traffic

Business owners in parts of the Whiteshell Provincial Park hard hit by flooding are holding on to hope traffic will rebound, as some provincial campgrounds remain closed to visitors for at least another three weeks.

White Lake Resort co-owner Stefanie Giasson said traffic at the store and restaurant at her north park-area business has dropped 70 per cent compared to last year, due to flooding and the ongoing closure of the province’s White Lake campground.

“We’re trying to keep our heads up and just provide as many services as we can to the surrounding areas,” Giasson said in a phone interview with the Free Press. “If the campground doesn’t open this summer, we’re already at about a $50,000 loss in revenue just off of traffic in the restaurant and the store.

“It’s going to probably be our worst summer in the eight years we’ve been here.”

Half-billion dollars rolls out for Transit upgrades

Despite substantial delays that left millions of federal infrastructure dollars unspent for years, the Progressive Conservative government is being commended for finally getting on board a tri-level agreement to modernize Winnipeg Transit to the tune of $539 million.

As rapid transit buses rolled through Seel Station in Winnipeg’s Fort Garry neighbourhood Thursday morning, Premier Heather Stefanson said the province will spend nearly $170 million to purchase approximately 235 new buses, build a new Transit garage and implement planned changes to its network.

“These new infrastructure projects will help to reduce our carbon footprint while also promoting job growth and opportunities for Manitoba businesses,” Stefanson said at the announcement, flanked by Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman and Manitoba Liberal MPs Terry Duguid and Kevin Lamoureux.

The three levels of government will spend a combined $539 million to buy 100 zero-emission buses and requisite infrastructure by 2027; purchase 135 new diesel buses during the transition to a zero-emission fleet; construct a new, LEED certified garage in the North End neighbourhood; conduct further design work to carry out the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan; replace 325 wheelchair securement devices on Transit vehicles; and upgrade radio hardware and equipment on buses.

Manitoba personal care home beds pledge falters

Fewer personal care home beds are available to aging Manitobans than when the Progressive Conservative government took office in 2016, putting a campaign pledge to add 1,200 new berths within eight years out of reach.

Access to information records released by the New Democratic Party show there were a total of 9,505 beds in use, or available for use, in Manitoba, as of March 31.

The number of licensed personal care homes in the province dropped by 193 between 2016 and early 2022, despite a promise by the Tories to make additions to meet demand from an aging population.

“It’s not feasible,” said Julie Turenne-Maynard, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Residential and Community Care Homes for the Elderly, said of the government’s promise. “There is an absolute need for more beds right now.”

Hydro VP earned $740K in 2021

A former Manitoba Hydro executive has sauntered into retirement with more than $740,000 in hand, capping a career with the Crown corporation as its top earner last year.

Lorne Midford, former vice-president of asset planning and delivery, was paid $741,772 in 2021 — more than double his 2020 salary of $354,254 — according to public compensation disclosure reports published this week.

Midford also earned more than Hydro chief executive officer Jay Grewal, who took home $513,046 last year, an increase of about $1,600 over 2020. Grewal was the corporation’s second-highest earner.

In an email to the Free Press, Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Bruce Owen said Midford retired in late 2021, after 36 years with the Crown corporation.