Jon Reyes

Ushering in a new year in our community

We kicked off the new year with joyous festivities across the amazing communities that make up our constituency.

Goodbye 2022, hello 2023

The new year offers an opportunity to build on our successes and grow together as a people, and 2023 promises to be a richly rewarding year.

Government working to help Manitobans

It’s been just over a year since we swore in our new Manitoba premier, Heather Stefanson. Our Progressive Conservative team has spent this past year working hard and getting results on behalf of Manitobans.

École South Pointe playground receives grant

Canadians were saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who served as Queen of England and Queen of Canada. She was honoured by the Manitoba government with commemorative events and observances. May she rest in peace; God save the King.

It’s an interesting and eventful time of year

From meetings on immigration with immigrants and oversight committees to roundtables with educational sector stakeholders and ministers, this quarter has been interesting, exciting, and eventful. Canada Day was spectacular this year with 6,000 participants at its peak.

Building communities, welcoming refugees

I am glad that life can now operate at some level of normalcy. Manitobans have demonstrated their strength, vigilance, and patience over these past two difficult COVID years. To support the recovery of workers and businesses impacted by the pandemic, the Manitoba government recently announced $1 million in funding to support the economic recovery of sectors hardest hit by COVID-19.

Also, we are pleased to provide an additional $15 million to support road repairs and reduce the financial burden on the City of Winnipeg and all municipalities during these unique times, when they are facing significant road infrastructure challenges as a result of this year’s extraordinary weather conditions.

I am glad to announce, too, that Waverley constituency received $402,906 from the building sustainable communities program. Congratulations to South Pointe Advisory Council, the Manitoba Islamic Association, South Winnipeg Community Centre and the Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association on receiving funding that will benefit our communities. I have also announced $31,501 in Urban/Hometown Green team Funding for the Manitoba Islamic Association and South Winnipeg Community Centre to cover salary costs for youth workers and expenses for their respective projects.

At the end of spring, I was pleased to be joined by Marie-France Lalonde, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Joan Lewandosky, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Manitoba to see how the Ukrainian refugee reception centre and info desk operates as many Ukrainians access a range of provincial programs and services on their journey to making Manitoba their home.

Ukrainian immigration applications to be expedited

I am truly proud of the way Manitobans demonstrated their strength, vigilance, and patience over these past two difficult years. We are now at a place where we may operate with minimal public health measures, and life can operate at some level of normalcy. I sincerely thank everyone for their perseverance, as all Manitobans were affected by this pandemic in their own unique and equally important way.

I would also like to remind you that if it has been six months since your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you are eligible for you booster dose. A third dose offers further protection against hospitalization and severe illnesses from COVID-19 variants.

After serving as the new Minister for Advanced Education, Skills, and Immigration for approximately two months, I am so proud of the work we have been doing. First and foremost, Premier Heather Stefanson and I have pledged that Manitoba will work together with the federal government do its part to take in Ukrainian refugees. We will expedite Ukrainian immigration applications through the provincial nominee program looking for a haven here in Manitoba. Our government condemns the unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and we will stand with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters wholeheartedly.

I was very pleased to join Premier Heather Stefanson and Dr. Lloyd Axworthy to launch a new Immigration Advisory Council to strengthen the Manitoba provincial nominee program. I will proudly co-chair this council with Dr. Axworthy over the next several months as we support economic recovery and attract more newcomers to Manitoba.

Offering gratitude and support

Hello everyone! 

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude once again to our health-care workers, teachers, front-line workers, small business owners and their employees, and to all Manitobans for their strength and resolve. I am so proud of the way our community has come together in this pandemic.

With the Omicron variant, it is critical that Manitobans receive their booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you to the hundreds of thousands of Manitobans who did their part and got both initial doses of the vaccine. If you have not booked your third dose yet, please consider booking it today. If they do become infected, individuals with three vaccine doses are 139 times less likely to end up in intensive-care units compared to those who are unvaccinated. So let’s recharge our immunity. For more information and to book your vaccine appointment, please visit www.protectmb.ca/booster/

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2021 was a good year for Waverley

As I look back on 2021, I am so pleased to see the growth and development of our community. Our Progressive Conservative government has made key investments in capital infrastructure and community facilities to provide safe, modern, state-of-the-art recreational spaces for residents, visitors, and future generations to enjoy.

Here are some of the highlights from this past year, specifically here in Waverley:

Our government recently announced a trilateral investment for the first phase of the South Winnipeg recreation campus. Over $31 million is being invested by the province in this $90-million facility. This local project will help ensure that residents of all ages can get together, meet, and share activities that keep them active and healthy. Investments in community infrastructure make our province and community a better place to live, work, and play.

We are also proceeding with the development of two new schools in Waverley West. This includes a kindergarten to Grade 8 school for an enrolment of 800 students, with a target completion date of December 2022, and a grades 9 to 12 school for an enrolment of 1,200 students, with a target completion date of June 2023. Both schools will be constructed on a single Waverley West schools’ campus, in the newly approved subdivision. These new facilities build on our government’s commitment to build 20 new schools over 10 years to meet the needs of our growing community.

Learning about the delights of Diwali

In this column, I am pleased to share some important announcements from the Manitoba government, along with highlighting our local community here in Waverley.

First and foremost, Premier Heather Stefanson and health minister Audrey Gordon have announced that the province is ready to launch the next phase of its vaccine campaign to protect children aged five to 11 from COVID-19.

The vaccine will be offered through provincial and regional vaccine clinics, physicians’ offices, pharmacies, urban Indigenous clinics, and pop-up community clinics. Walk-ins will be an option at some locations and in-school vaccinations will be offered in the coming weeks, both during and after school hours.

 To increase accessibility of the vaccine, the premier and minister noted a policy change has been made to allow pharmacists to immunize all children in this age group against COVID-19 and influenza, when the vaccine is approved. We are committed to protecting Manitobans from COVID-19, especially our children. Please visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/young-people.html for more information. 

New schools in the works for Waverley area

Our government promised to meet the needs of our rapidly growing community here in Waverley through record investments in education and critical infrastructure.

Last month, I was pleased to join Education Minister Cliff Cullen, Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West), and Pembina Trails School Division trustee Kathleen McMillan at the announcement of a new high school and elementary school for 2,000 students in the local area.

Construction is scheduled to begin on the high school later this month with the elementary school construction having started in August.

Our government and Pembina Trails School Division have worked co-operatively on the 21-acre school campus, with construction totalling $67.8 million as the initial investment. I am also pleased to provide some logistical details about the project.

Two new schools planned for Waverley West

I continue to be proud of the way Manitobans are remaining resilient and strong as we try to reduce the impact of the third wave.

Everyone has been affected in their own way and I assure you, I hear all of your voices. Luckily, as Manitoba’s vaccination campaign continues to reach thousands of Manitobans, there is truly a light at the end of the tunnel! But first, I have some exciting news for our local area.

Last month, I was happy to join Education Minister Cliff Cullen to announce the tendering of two new schools in Waverley West. As part of Budget 2021, $60 million was invested for these new state-of-the-art schools, one for Kindergarten to Grade 8 with an enrolment of 800 students, and the other for grades 9 to 12 for 1,200 students. I am happy to see these important projects move forward to provide students with enhanced learning facilities and opportunities for success.

As Manitoba receives the approved vaccines from the federal government, Dr. Joss Reimer and the vaccine implementation task force continue to ensure that whoever in Manitoba wishes to be vaccinated will receive their doses. Booking your appointment has also been made extremely easy! If you wish to phone, call 1-844-MAN-VACC (1-844-626-8222) toll-free to book your appointment, open every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. For online booking and more information about vaccinations, please visit https://protectmb.ca/

Looking forward to better days in 2021

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a safe and joyous Christmas. As we approach the end of this year, let us reflect on the strength and resilience of our fellow Manitobans. This has been a year like no other and we have truly made it here together.

With the recent approval of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, Manitoba has received notification from the federal government that we will receive 228,000 doses between now and March 31, enough to vaccinate roughly seven per cent of the population.

As part of Manitoba’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy, priority groups have been identified to protect those most vulnerable including those working in our health-care system, seniors and Indigenous peoples.

Manitoba has procured all the necessary supplies to safely administer two doses of the vaccine — free of cost — to any Manitoban who wants to be immunized once sufficient supply has arrived in the province. For more information about Manitoba’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/index.html

Heartwarming tale of community caring

Hello everyone. I would like to share with you a heartwarming story in the south Winnipeg community as well as discuss exciting new initiatives to support our local businesses and keep Manitobans safe during these unprecedented times.

Michelle Carlos, a Waverley constituent and active community member, was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in late 2019.

With three children in school, she and her family were faced with a difficult year ahead. Through resilience and strength, the Carlos family endured six rounds of chemotherapy, radiation treatments and two surgeries.

Michelle’s friends and neighbours in her community truly rose to the occasion to lend a helping hand. They assisted with transportation, groceries, meals and actively helped with rides so that the family’s three children could continue to participate in after-school activities.

Celebrating apart but together

The fall season is upon us and this is typically one of my favourite times of the year because there are usually several cultural and community festivities in our diverse South Winnipeg community.

Although COVID-19 prevents these annual events from happening, there are still ways to celebrate differently and with much smaller group sizes. This year, like many other families, Thanksgiving dinner for us was held only with a few close relatives. Even so, I hope all Manitoban families enjoyed a safe and warm Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, as my family did.

Every autumn I have participated in the celebrations of Navratri with the Gujarati community mas well as the Chinese Moon Festival Gala. Navratri is a Hindu festival that lasts nine nights to celebrate the victory of good over evil. In previous years, thousands of Gujarati Manitobans have gathered in a large stadium to do garba, a traditional dance. Similarly, the Chinese Moon Festival or the mid-autumn festival celebrates the end of the harvest and special mooncake pastries are enjoyed.

I would have loved to celebrate these festivities with many dear friends like in years past. One day in the future we will celebrate again.

Applauding efforts of local residents and businesses

Hello everyone. Unfortunately we have seen a rise in COVID-19 case counts over the last few weeks.

By the time you are reading this the situation may have changed but Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer has set the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s response level to Restricted (orange).

These last few months have demonstrated how resilient Manitobans are so I am confident that we will all work to overcome this virus. For all the latest information, please visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/index.html.

With Winnipeg and its surrounding municipalities now declared restricted zones, the new health and safety protocols primarily include wearing a mask in all indoor public places and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people. I truly appreciate the effort of Manitobans, especially the many businesses who have taken extensive steps to ensure the safety of their patrons during this pandemic.