Nello Altomare

It’s time to end cuts to education

It’s budget season for Manitoba’s public schools. This is the time of year at which school divisions throughout the province embark on community consultations in order to determine what is most important to their communities. These priorities will form the basis of their budgetary plans for the next school year.

Government disconnected from your needs

Manitoba deserves a government that is responding to the needs of its citizens. Instead, since 2016 we have had a Progressive Conservative government that’s cut services that Manitobans rely on.

Lack of access to diagnostic testing is keenly felt

Many neighbourhoods in Winnipeg are experiencing the consolidation of medical diagnostic services, making it harder to get necessary tests that people regularly need. One of the most affected areas of the city is the northeast, which includes the constituencies of Radisson and Transcona.

We shouldn’t ask schools to do more with less

We all want the best for our kids, and that’s why it’s so important that funding for our public education system keeps up with a growing province and the needs of dynamic classrooms. I’d like to share recent information that was released about the province’s approach. The Financial Reporting and Accounting in Manitoba Education (FRAME) report for the 2021-22 school year reveals a steady decline in the province’s contribution to public education.

More support for education needed

Last week, Manitoba’s auditor general released a review of the government’s response to the pandemic in our kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms. His findings should concern us all. He found that the Manitoba government did not have quality, system-level data to inform the pandemic response and did not have a co-ordinated response for addressing the overwhelming need for mental health support. Of great concern, he also found that the Manitoba government had not yet initiated a pandemic recovery effort.

In a survey provided by the auditor general, only 15 per cent of senior school leadership believed that the government will take appropriate action to address the long-term impacts of the pandemic. That’s a startling lack of confidence in this government’s willingness to help our schools and students recover from years of learning disruption.

This shouldn’t be surprising. While other provinces were building a comprehensive response, this government tried to rush through unpopular school reforms that did nothing to help schools deal with the pandemic challenge. This government has not provided school funding to keep up with the need. As outlined in financial reporting, the provincial share of public education costs has gone down from 62.4 per cent in 2016 to 58.2 per cent in 2021.

What does this mean for an average-sized early years school in northeastern Winnipeg? It means that class sizes are increasing. It also means student support has been reduced with fewer resource teachers available to assist classroom teachers with planning and providing academic support to kids. One school with a current enrolment of 390 students, which is projected to be at 460 students in September, has seen its student services support cut for the next school year. This certainly doesn’t serve the needs of our kids and may result in more kids slipping through the cracks.

Plenty to fight for as the year comes to a close

As we arrive at the end of year and begin to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a safe and happy holiday season. It is my hope that you spend a lot of quality time with those who bring joy to your life.This past year for the constituency of Transcona has been a difficult one. We continue to be faced with many of the same challenges other parts of our city and province have had to endure, from the deterioration of the health-care system to a lack of financial supports for our public schools.Many of you have written to me regarding the transfer of loved ones from Concordia Hospital to other parts of the province, often hours away, making it difficult to provide the support needed when trying to heal. The Pallister-Stefanson governments have been especially hard on residents of Transcona. Medical lab services have been concentrated in a supersite well away from residents, causing a great deal of stress and inconvenience to those with mobility issues. The closing of the CancerCare site at Concordia Hospital has also been difficult because cancer services close to home is no longer an option.Now residents are seeing a bad repeat under Premier Stefanson. The fourth wave of COVID-19 is upon us, personal care homes have outbreaks, healthcare staffing is still a crisis and numerous surgeries keep getting cancelled as the waitlist grows longer. All while Premier Stefanson refuses to implement a mandatory vaccine policy in personal care homes to keep seniors safe and refuses to take action to address our health-care staffing crisis. Personal care home space is also, as we have the lowest per capita space for people to age in place in Winnipeg, with no plan from the government to rectify this situation.Public education has also been challenged by a lack of adequate funding from this government. River East Transcona School Division, in its latest communication with residents, has stated that they it is deeply concerned that funding cuts will have a direct impact on the classroom and that they will struggle to maintain existing programs.Have you or your family been impacted by cancelled surgeries or patient transfers? Please reach out to me at 204-594 2025 or nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca

As we arrive at the end of year and begin to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a safe and happy holiday season. It is my hope that you spend a lot of quality time with those who bring joy to your life.

This past year for the constituency of Transcona has been a difficult one. We continue to be faced with many of the same challenges other parts of our city and province have had to endure, from the deterioration of the health-care system to a lack of financial supports for our public schools.

Many of you have written to me regarding the transfer of loved ones from Concordia Hospital to other parts of the province, often hours away, making it difficult to provide the support needed when trying to heal. 

PC cuts continue to hurt Transcona residents

The fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has arrived. As our hospitals begin to see a rise in admissions, leading to transfers of patients to other facilities farther away from home, residents of Transcona are reminded how awful a mistake it was for the Progressive Conservative government to systematically dismantle health-care infrastructure in northeast Winnipeg. Instead of ensuring that Manitobans were seen quickly when they needed urgent medical attention, the PCs closed the emergency room at Concordia Hospital. Instead of helping cancer patients, they closed the local CancerCare centre, forcing chemotherapy patients to take a bus across town during a pandemic. And the government did nothing as three Dynacare labs closed in Transcona, forcing seniors and those with mobility issues into supersites further away.But it’s not just patients who are suffering — the PCs are also cutting public education funding, leaving our students without the resources they need to get through the pandemic. At the post-secondary level, students are currently unable to attend classes at the University of Manitoba because the PC government won’t let the U of M administration engage in free and fair negotiations with staff.Manitobans wants a government that works for everyone, but it has become clear that the PCs have done the opposite. So far, the new PC premier, Heather Stefanson, has stuck to the playbook of her mentor, Brian Pallister. She was the health minister during the third wave of the pandemic, when the government failed to protect Manitobans so badly that we needed to transfer some of our sickest patients outside the province. When asked if she could have done more to protect Manitobans from Covid-19, her response was “coulda, shoulda, woulda.” Stefanson learned from Pallister, she was his deputy premier from day one, so it should come as no surprise that she is quick with an excuse but slow to admit a mistake.If Stefanson wants to show that she’s different from Pallister, she can start by reinvesting in public services in Transcona and northeast Winnipeg. She can ensure the health-care services people need are close to home. And she can stop her government’s interference in U of M negotiations and let it negotiate fairly with faculty to reach a fair deal so that students can get back into the classroom, where they belong.If you have been affected by the cuts and closures in northeast Winnipeg, I want to hear from you. Call my office at 204-594-2025 or email me at nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca

The fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has arrived. As our hospitals begin to see a rise in admissions, leading to transfers of patients to other facilities farther away from home, residents of Transcona are reminded how awful a mistake it was for the Progressive Conservative government to systematically dismantle health-care infrastructure in northeast Winnipeg. 

Instead of ensuring that Manitobans were seen quickly when they needed urgent medical attention, the PCs closed the emergency room at Concordia Hospital. Instead of helping cancer patients, they closed the local CancerCare centre, forcing chemotherapy patients to take a bus across town during a pandemic. And the government did nothing as three Dynacare labs closed in Transcona, forcing seniors and those with mobility issues into supersites further away.

But it’s not just patients who are suffering — the PCs are also cutting public education funding, leaving our students without the resources they need to get through the pandemic. At the post-secondary level, students are currently unable to attend classes at the University of Manitoba because the PC government won’t let the U of M administration engage in free and fair negotiations with staff.

Back to work in the legislature

This month, MLAs returned to the egislature for a brief session. The highlight of our return was seeing the Progressive Conservative government scrap five pieces of its legislation that Manitobans stood up to fight against. The downside was that it passed a budget that will hurt Manitobans. As the official Opposition in Manitoba, my NDP colleagues and I delayed five government bills — Bill 64, Bill 35, Bill 57, Bill 40 and Bill 16 — which many citizens in Manitoba had told us were harmful and would make life more difficult. We stood with labour, Hydro workers, families, teachers, and communities to mount campaigns to inform Manitobans as to the contents of these bills. Sadly, though we were unable to amend the budget that passed. It cut operating funding for bedside care and froze funding for long-term care homes like Park Manor. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to do better for our seniors, especially those in long-term care but, apparently the PCs don’t agree.As a former educator, I am especially upset about the government’s continued cuts to our education system. It continues to slash funding for literacy and classroom supports, and to ask teachers to pay for school supplies out of their own pockets. When asked if he was concerned that teachers were paying for school supplies out of their personal funds, Brian Pallister said that it “doesn’t bother me at all.”The PCs will pretend to distance themselves from Pallister now that he’s resigned. But they’ve just passed his budget, and will try to keep advancing his agenda ,even in his absence. Moving forward, we will continue to fight against any new government bill that bears any resemblance to the bills that were scrapped during this most recent session. We will continue to call on the PC government to fix the crisis in our health-care system which has caused massive delays in surgeries and other urgent procedures. We will also fight for fair and balanced labour relations and proper investments in our schools to ensure kids have the supports and resources needed to succeed.  Our constituency office is now open at 127 Regent Ave. West. Call us at 204-594-2025 or email nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca 

This month, MLAs returned to the legislature for a brief session. The highlight of our return was seeing the Progressive Conservative government scrap five pieces of its legislation that Manitobans stood up to fight against. 

The downside was that it passed a budget that will hurt Manitobans. 

Keep fighting for your kids’ educations

As the calendar turns to the fall season and with kids back at school, it is my hope that everyone is returning to something close to the routines to which we were accustomed before the COVID-19 pandemic. In legislative news, we now know that the PC government will be withdrawing the five bills that were delayed by the NDP caucus, using our legislative powers as the official Opposition.These were bills 16, 35, 40, 57 and Bill 64, the Education Modernization Act. These bad Progressive Conservative bills would have made Hydro more expensive, taken away workers’ rights, hurt the fight on addictions and taken away the right to peacefully protest. We’re so happy that our delay forced the PCs to listen to regular Manitobans like you. With your help, we are making a difference as the Opposition. Let’s keep fighting and building a better Manitoba together.The removal of these bills is a huge victory for Manitobans. Bill 64 had many families in Transcona concerned because it removed locally elected school boards and did not properly address the primary impediment to a child’s learning, namely child poverty. Because we raised our collective voices, the government had little choice but to remove this harmful piece of legislation that would have concentrated all power and decision making regarding public education in the premier’s office. But the fight is not over. The government continues to cut funding for our children’s education - they cut $5 million just this year. This means fewer educational assitants to help kids who need them, fewer nutrition programs to make sure kids can focus on learning, and less on-on-one time for kids with their teachers. The battle for a properly funded, student responsive, public education system will continue and the official Opposition and I as the education critic, will ensure that Transcona’s voice is heard when it comes to the future of our public schools.Keeping our schools open after 17 months of moving between hybrid, at-home and in-class learning is important because we know how valuable in-person learning is to a child’s growth and development. Keeping schools open would be easier if we had a government that invested more in keeping class sizes small, invested in HVAC upgrades, and invested in the proper clinical supports to help our kids achieve more while at school. To share your concerns about the PCs’ agenda for our schools, contact me at nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca or 204-594-2025.

As the calendar turns to the fall season and with kids back at school, it is my hope that everyone is returning to something close to the routines to which we were accustomed before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In legislative news, we now know that the PC government will be withdrawing the five bills that were delayed by the NDP caucus, using our legislative powers as the official Opposition.

These were bills 16, 35, 40, 57 and Bill 64, the Education Modernization Act. These bad Progressive Conservative bills would have made Hydro more expensive, taken away workers’ rights, hurt the fight on addictions and taken away the right to peacefully protest. We’re so happy that our delay forced the PCs to listen to regular Manitobans like you. With your help, we are making a difference as the Opposition. Let’s keep fighting and building a better Manitoba together.

Schools must be safe, healthy spaces

The beginning of the new school year always brings promise and the opportunity for kids and families to settle into routines.  This new school year will be especially important because of all the trials and tribulations kids and families have had to face during the pandemic. It is critically important that the current Progressive Conservative government does everything in its power to create learning environments that are safe in order to ensure that we don’t have another school year full of disruptions and disjointed learning for our kids.The Manitoba NDP and myself, as the critic for K-12 education, are calling for the following to ensure we keep our schools safe and open throughout the school year:• Hire more full-time teachers, substitutes, educational assistants, and clinicians, and reduce class sizes so kids can be safely distanced and get the one-on-one attention they deserve;• Set up vaccine clinics in schools to ensure easy access and culturally-specific education for families;• Hire more school clinicians and increase in-school mental health supports for students, families and school staff; • Create a province-wide standard for ventilation in schools and invest in HVAC upgrades and air purifiers to ensure classrooms are safe for children;• Create a comprehensive, mandatory paid sick leave program so parents and caregivers don’t have to sacrifice a paycheque to stay home with kids who are self-isolating.The day after Manitoba premier Brian Pallister announced his intention to resign, I stood with NDP leader Wab Kinew and several of my colleagues outside the Legislature to demand the PC cabinet abandon Pallister’s harmful legislative agenda. With our legislative powers, we delayed five of the PCs bills this past spring, including Bill 64 - The Education Modernization Act, and since then a vocal majority of Manitobans have publicly criticized the bill and signed up to speak at committee in record numbers. Coming out of the pandemic, we need to focus all of our attention on ensuring kids are safe at school and that they have the necessary resources to recover from the effects the pandemic had on their learning, not partisan legislation that dismantles our public education system.The Transcona constituency office has now fully re-opened. Feel free to drop by and say hello. We are located at 127 Regent Ave. West. If you need to get a hold of us, please do so by emailing nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca or by calling 204-594-2025. 

The beginning of the new school year always brings promise and the opportunity for kids and families to settle into routines.  

This new school year will be especially important because of all the trials and tribulations kids and families have had to face during the pandemic. It is critically important that the current Progressive Conservative government does everything in its power to create learning environments that are safe in order to ensure that we don’t have another school year full of disruptions and disjointed learning for our kids.

The Manitoba NDP and myself, as the critic for K-12 education, are calling for the following to ensure we keep our schools safe and open throughout the school year:

Protecting our kids’ education

The pandemic has been hard on kids. And now, with a new school year around the corner, it’s time to plan ahead so our kids can have a safe return to school and a great year.We know that students need many supports to succeed and stay healthy this coming school year, that is why we are actively engaging with parents, teachers, educators, and other professionals to listen to what is needed to ensure students and staff have a safe return to school. We know that children under the age of 12 will likely not be vaccinated this fall, and this is causing anxiety for families and educators. One of the best things that can be done to keep kids safe is to invest in upgrading ventilation systems in schools - but the Progressive Conservative government has made no investments to date. Documents show that no ventilation upgrades were made this past school year in schools across Manitoba, including Transcona, and when asked at his last press conferences what upgrades were going to take place over the summer, the Minister of Education refused to answer. Instead of supporting our schools and making them safe, the PC government withheld $80 million in federal funding to keep schools safe through the pandemic and cut $5 million in provincial funding from our kids’ classrooms in the 2020-21 school year. The PC government is clearly not interested in investing in our children’s education or safety. It is more focused on plowing ahead with Bill 64 before it’s even passed.We recently found out that the Minister has appointed a board responsible for overseeing the implementation of Bill 64, before it has even reached committee stage, and it is made up entirely of hand-picked political appointees. Not a single educator was selected to sit on this board. These political appointments are only going to make it easier for the PCs to make cuts to our kids’ classrooms, just like the $5 million they cut this school year.It’s time for the PC government to abandon Bill 64 and get to work on upgrading ventilation in our schools so kids and educators can go back to school safely. The NDP caucus will continue to fight for safe schools where all of our kids can succeed. Want to know more about upcoming events relating to Bill 64? Contact me at nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca or give us a call at 204-594-2025. 

The pandemic has been hard on kids. And now, with a new school year around the corner, it’s time to plan ahead so our kids can have a safe return to school and a great year.

We know that students need many supports to succeed and stay healthy this coming school year, that is why we are actively engaging with parents, teachers, educators, and other professionals to listen to what is needed to ensure students and staff have a safe return to school. 

We know that children under the age of 12 will likely not be vaccinated this fall, and this is causing anxiety for families and educators. One of the best things that can be done to keep kids safe is to invest in upgrading ventilation systems in schools - but the Progressive Conservative government has made no investments to date. 

What a school year that was… well done, all

After a school year like no other, students, teachers, education assistants, custodians, clinicians, clerical staff and all other adults who work in the public and independent school system have reached the end of an eventful time in education.  The pandemic has had a significant impact on everyone, students have displayed their resilience in dealing with in-person, remote and hybrid learning. Adults working in schools have also had to greatly alter how they did their jobs with student safety being the number one factor in how they made these adjustments. As a former educator, I know how challenging this must have been and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their unprecedented efforts in ensuring safe, stimulating learning environments that tried to respond to the needs of each individual child. This will go down in history as one of your greatest achievements as educators.To the graduating class of 2021:You have all shown tremendous agility and adapted to a myriad of learning challenges. Please know that this adaptability and agility are exactly what is needed as you move to post-secondary education or into the working world. Employers and post-secondary institutions are looking for people who are quick to adapt and able to learn new skills in an ever-changing working world. As Grade 12 graduates, you have learned to do the very things that will make you caring and successful young adults and as your MLA, I look forward to seeing how you will positively impact your community, province and country.In community news, the pandemic remains the single largest challenge for the small businesses in Transcona.  My family and I are residents here in the constituency and as residents, we continue to patronize local business establishments to fulfill our consumer needs. It is my hope that you all consider doing the same.  We continue to get closer to the end of pandemic restrictions and it is my sincere hope that we will be able to see each other in person, safely, in the not-too-distant future.  As always, please feel free to reach out. I can be reached at 204-594-2025 or by email, nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca We check our messages daily.

After a school year like no other, students, teachers, education assistants, custodians, clinicians, clerical staff and all other adults who work in the public and independent school system have reached the end of an eventful time in education. 

 The pandemic has had a significant impact on everyone, students have displayed their resilience in dealing with in-person, remote and hybrid learning. Adults working in schools have also had to greatly alter how they did their jobs with student safety being the number one factor in how they made these adjustments. 

As a former educator, I know how challenging this must have been and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their unprecedented efforts in ensuring safe, stimulating learning environments that tried to respond to the needs of each individual child. This will go down in history as one of your greatest achievements as educators.

Child-care and family support issues in Transcona

As we navigate the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Manitoba, Transcona families are having difficulty accessing supports and maintaining their childcare spots. I have heard from many constituents about this issue and I want to highlight a couple stories in particular.One Transcona small business owner rents space in a strip mall and has managed to keep their business open throughout the pandemic. They managed to survive the second wave because it hit during a busy time for their business. As a result, they chose to opt out of small business supports offered by the province.  Now, however, during the third wave and with their child’s school moving to remote learning, they are facing additional challenges. They now have to manage both keeping their business open and helping their school-age child at home who requires support during remote learning.  They were able to stay afloat without a bridge grant from the province through the winter, but now, when they need help, the Progressive Conservative government won’t give them one because they didn’t apply for previous rounds.  As you can imagine, this is causing added stress during an already difficult time.Another constituent is struggling with the discrepancies between pre-school and school-aged child-care supports. She has a school-aged child at home doing remote learning but also a preschool-aged child in childcare. She is an essential worker and has had to take a leave of absence from her job without pay and benefits, to be at home with her school-aged child. She decided to pull her preschool child out of daycare in order to save some much-needed money, since she is already at home with her other child. However, she was informed by her daycare that, in order to maintain the spot for her preschool child, she would have to continue to pay fees even though they are not attending. The province is covering fees for parents that have school-aged children in before- and after-school care, but won’t do the same for pre-school aged children, meaning families like this one run the risk of losing their childcare spots. The pandemic has financially strained all Manitobans. The NDP caucus will continue to push this government to give small business and young families the supports they need in a timely fashion.  As always, please feel free to reach out to my office either by calling 204-594-2025 or emailing nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca

As we navigate the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Manitoba, Transcona families are having difficulty accessing supports and maintaining their childcare spots. I have heard from many constituents about this issue and I want to highlight a couple stories in particular.

One Transcona small business owner rents space in a strip mall and has managed to keep their business open throughout the pandemic. They managed to survive the second wave because it hit during a busy time for their business. As a result, they chose to opt out of small business supports offered by the province.  

Now, however, during the third wave and with their child’s school moving to remote learning, they are facing additional challenges. They now have to manage both keeping their business open and helping their school-age child at home who requires support during remote learning. 

Support for those who need it most

Manitobans want their schools to be safe places for both students and school staff. As the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is now upon us, cases among young people are steadily rising and we are seeing more and more cases connected to schools. As a result, Evergreen School Division has moved to remote learning, as well as École Marie-Anne-Gaboury in Louis Riel School Division. It’s only a matter of time before variants of concern will begin to appear across all divisions, so we must act now to protect our school staff, students, and communities. School staff have been prioritized for vaccination in select hotspot areas in central and north Winnipeg, but school staff across the province are feeling unsafe going to work, and students and parents are worried about bringing COVID-19 home from school. Every single person who works in a Manitoba school is an essential worker, and we need all of them to be protected and prioritized for the vaccine so that our kids can continue to get the benefits of in-person learning.I know Transconians, like all Manitobans, are suffering from COVID fatigue. We’ve been cooped up inside for too long and while there is a light at the end of the tunnel, we’re not quite there yet. That’s why I’d like to promote an upcoming opportunity for Transconians to get outside and support our neighbours in need. Starting on June 23 is the first-ever FlaminGO 5K Fun Run/Walk in support of the Transcona Food Bank. Flamingos are social birds that rely on each other in order to thrive, much like our Transcona community. This socially-distanced fun run will be a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the warm weather and help our neighbours by walking or running around our neighborhood. The event’s $15 registration fee will be donated to the Transcona Food Bank - in return, participants will receive a commemorative medal and a flamingo key chain made by Transcona business Pocket Trumpet Post.If you register before May 7, you will also be entered to win a Nexgrill mini-barbecue valued at $130. To win, take a picture of you in your flamingo attire while on your 5K Fun Run/Walk and post it on the event’s Facebook page, or on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #FlaminGOFunRun. Register now at https://form.jotform.com/210953599154262 or contact organizer Lisa Webinger at lisa.webinger@gmail.com for more information. As always, I encourage all Transconians to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, and I hope that on June 23 you will join me in supporting our neighbors in the #FlaminGOFunRun.Reach out anytime by calling 204-594-2025 or nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca 

Manitobans want their schools to be safe places for both students and school staff.

 As the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is now upon us, cases among young people are steadily rising and we are seeing more and more cases connected to schools. As a result, Evergreen School Division has moved to remote learning, as well as École Marie-Anne-Gaboury in Louis Riel School Division. 

It’s only a matter of time before variants of concern will begin to appear across all divisions, so we must act now to protect our school staff, students, and communities. 

Manitobans need time to consider Bill 64

I know all Manitobans want our schools to be safe placse that help our kids reach their full potential. Since the release of Bill 64, The Education Modernization Act, my office has been inundated with calls and emails from Transcona constituents concerned about this legislation.Bill 64 would completely restructure how our public education system is run. One of the most substantial changes here in Transcona is that all Winnipeg school divisions will be merged into one region, amalgamating River East Transcona School Division with five other divisions. All consequential decisions regarding our children’s education will also be centralized into a Provincial Education Authority.  I’m hearing concerns from our community that this will mean a loss of local control over the programming our kids can access. RETSD is well known for its heritage language programs, German and Ukrainian bilingual as well as its French Immersion schools. Parents are worried that these programs may be in jeopardy if all decision-making power is concentrated with the Pallister government. I’ve heard our community is also concerned with the immense volunteer workload parents will be expected to pick up through School Community Councils. Many of our schools already struggle to attract and retain parent volunteers.  Life is busy - between the demands of working one or more jobs and raising a family, many parents won’t have time to participate in these new councils. This will shut out many families from participating in decision-making, particularly those whose voices may be already overlooked.I’ve also heard concerns about the powers of the Provincial Education Authority. The Provincial Education Authority will be made up individuals hand-picked by the Minister of Education. This is not transparent leadership and demonstrates that the PC government’s top priority isn’t our kids, it’s their bottom line. Bill 64 completely ignores the real reasons our kids are struggling, such as child poverty, mental health challenges, and a lack of one-on-one support. Bill 64 is a massive overhaul of our education system in Manitoba. Parents and educators need time to learn about the harmful changes in this bill and make their voices heard. That’s why the NDP caucus decided to use our abilities under legislative rules to delay the passage of Bill 64 until the fall. The delay will give parents and educators more time to learn about the bill’s impacts on classrooms, and to mobilize against the PC’s plan for cuts. As always, I encourage you to reach out to our office with comments and concerns at 204-594-2025 or nello.altomare@Yourmanitoba.ca

I know all Manitobans want our schools to be safe placse that help our kids reach their full potential. Since the release of Bill 64, The Education Modernization Act, my office has been inundated with calls and emails from Transcona constituents concerned about this legislation.

Bill 64 would completely restructure how our public education system is run. One of the most substantial changes here in Transcona is that all Winnipeg school divisions will be merged into one region, amalgamating River East Transcona School Division with five other divisions. All consequential decisions regarding our children’s education will also be centralized into a Provincial Education Authority.  

I’m hearing concerns from our community that this will mean a loss of local control over the programming our kids can access. RETSD is well known for its heritage language programs, German and Ukrainian bilingual as well as its French Immersion schools. Parents are worried that these programs may be in jeopardy if all decision-making power is concentrated with the Pallister government. 

Transcona deserves high-quality services

The Manitoba Legislature is back in session and there a number of items that continue to be at the forefront for the Transcona community as the Pallister government continues to target northeast Winnipeg with its cuts.  You will recall that, in December 2020, the government decided to suspend IV clinic services at Transcona Access. These services, despite assurances from the Winnipeg  Regional Health Authority, have yet to return. In September, they government closed the CancerCare clinic at Concordia Hospital. That closure is difficult to comprehend, since it goes against CancerCare’s stated goal of providing quality clinical services for patients close to home. The clinic at Concordia Hospital provided high quality care and was greatly appreciated by residents.Now these same residents must travel to clinics that are further from home, require paid parking, and are more difficult to access. When I was a patient of CancerCare Manitoba, I received treatments at St. Boniface Hospital. The service I received was world class, but I recall how much the long walk down the hall took out of me on my way to the clinic. Forcing patients to travel even further from home makes it unnecessarily difficult for many Manitobans to access care during a pandemic, when they are already compromised, both physically and emotionally.In 2016, the Pallister government made an election promise to expand personal care home space in Manitoba and made its announcement in front of Transcona’s Park Manor.  Once elected, the expansion of Park Manor personal care home was swiftly cancelled, even though there is a high need for beds in northeast Winnipeg. Park Manor, in part due to its many shared rooms and congregate living spaces, experienced one of the worst PCH outbreaks of COVID-19 in Manitoba.The Pallister government has repeatedly broken the promises it made to the Transcona community. My colleagues and I in the NDP caucus will continue to stand up for our community to receive the high-quality services we need, including childcare, increased PCH capacity, and quality health care close to home. Contact my office anytime at 204 594 2025 or by emailing nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca

The Manitoba Legislature is back in session and there a number of items that continue to be at the forefront for the Transcona community as the Pallister government continues to target northeast Winnipeg with its cuts.  

You will recall that, in December 2020, the government decided to suspend IV clinic services at Transcona Access. These services, despite assurances from the Winnipeg  Regional Health Authority, have yet to return.

 In September, they government closed the CancerCare clinic at Concordia Hospital. That closure is difficult to comprehend, since it goes against CancerCare’s stated goal of providing quality clinical services for patients close to home. The clinic at Concordia Hospital provided high quality care and was greatly appreciated by residents.

Taking action and seeking transparency

Residents of Transcona need to have their concerns acknowledged and taken seriously.  It was recently brought to our attention that folks in east end Transcona have been experiencing strong odours emanating from the industrial park on Pandora East.Bothcity councillor Shawn Nason and myself engaged with one of the businesses that operate in the area, Delta9 and as a result of this engagement, a community feedback line has been created. When experiencing these strong odours, residents are encouraged to reach out by email at community@delta9.ca; via the Delta9 website at www.delta9.ca/community, or by calling 1-855-245-1259. You can also reach out to my office with any other questions or concerns regarding this matter. ☐ ☐ ☐As many of you know, I was a teacher and school administrator, first in Transcona-Springfield and then in River East Transcona School Division. My experience in public education greatly informs me in my role as official Opposition critic for K-12 education in our province. I understand that the provincial government is no longer updating school exposure numbers on its COVID-19 website. In connecting with many of you over the phone, through email and on social media, I know that there is great concern with this development and I will continue to raise the issue and demand that we have more transparency from our government.On the subject of transparency and education, we have two upcoming issues on the horizon -  the release of the education review and tabling of Bill 64 - The Education Modernization Act. We know very little of the contents of either. Unfortunately, we do know that, for the Pallister government, “review” and “modernization” are often just other words for cuts. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-delayed education review is likely outdated and completely irrelevant in meeting the needs of our public school system.Parents, teachers and school board trustees, along with other stakeholders, are holding their breath regarding the contents of this review. Please be assured that, as the education critic, I will hold this government to account, along with my NDP colleagues, and have them answer for their so-called “modernization” of public-school education. Do you have concerns about the pending release of the education review and Bill 64? You can contact my office always at 204-594 2025 or by email at nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca

Residents of Transcona need to have their concerns acknowledged and taken seriously.  It was recently brought to our attention that folks in east end Transcona have been experiencing strong odours emanating from the industrial park on Pandora East.

Bothcity councillor Shawn Nason and myself engaged with one of the businesses that operate in the area, Delta9 and as a result of this engagement, a community feedback line has been created. 

When experiencing these strong odours, residents are encouraged to reach out by email at community@delta9.ca; via the Delta9 website at www.delta9.ca/community, or by calling 1-855-245-1259.

Education must be supported, not cut

Education, and with it the lives of our children and families, was massively disrupted in 2020. I know that families, teachers, and other educational staff in Transcona and across the province have been doing their very best to adapt and give our children the best year possible. Manitobans deserve a government that will match their commitment to keeping our schools and our children safe — but we have yet to see it. On Jan. 5, the province opened its long-awaited Manitoba Remote Learning Support Centre, originally expected in November. On the same day, over 200,000 students returned to school in some combination of in-person and remote learning. Both teachers and parents have spoken out that this timing is useless for teachers, who have had no time to use the support centre to prepare. Teachers have also explained how the centre provides no relief for educators who have been and continue to teach both in-class and remotely.It’s not surprising, given this government’s track record, that teachers are still struggling to get the help they need after months of telling the government that they need help. Instead of listening, the premier is continuing to plow ahead with his education review looming over the heads of Manitoba teachers. We learned pretty clearly from his healthcare review that “review” is simply code for more cuts, which is the last thing our children need right now. This review is now also completely outdated, as COVID-19 has changed everything, and should be scrapped entirely.Then there is the issue of Bill 64, the Education Modernization Act. The government has not released the contents of Bill 64, along with over a dozen other pieces of legislation that will impact everything from education to health care to childcare. So, while we don’t know the exact wording of Bill 64 yet, we can guarantee that —  given the government’s record of hiding changes in omnibus bills and waiting until the last minute to introduce legislation — it will have a profound effect on public education in Manitoba. As the critic for education, I along with my NDP colleagues will continue to fight for your children’s education, as well as the health and safety of all Manitobans. My staff and I would like to wish everyone a happy new year and all the best in 2021. If you need to contact us, please call 204-594-2025 or email nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca 

Education, and with it the lives of our children and families, was massively disrupted in 2020. I know that families, teachers, and other educational staff in Transcona and across the province have been doing their very best to adapt and give our children the best year possible. 

Manitobans deserve a government that will match their commitment to keeping our schools and our children safe — but we have yet to see it. 

On Jan. 5, the province opened its long-awaited Manitoba Remote Learning Support Centre, originally expected in November. On the same day, over 200,000 students returned to school in some combination of in-person and remote learning. Both teachers and parents have spoken out that this timing is useless for teachers, who have had no time to use the support centre to prepare. Teachers have also explained how the centre provides no relief for educators who have been and continue to teach both in-class and remotely.

Health care a concern this holiday season

I know this holiday season will be a difficult one for many. Please know that the sacrifices we are making, particularly staying home, are having an impact on our health-care system to ensure that we have capacity for all Manitobans when they need care the most.Health care services for residents of Transcona and northeast Winnipeg remain a deep concern. The Pallister government isn’t satisfied with closing the ERs at Concordia and Seven Oaks hospitals, so it has also shuttered CancerCare centres at the same hospitals.  Furthermore, with virtually no notice to our community, it closed our community IV clinic at Access Transcona.The community IV clinic provided antibiotic therapy for patients who have infections or require more care but are well enough to be discharged from hospital. Treating people in the community keeps them out of hospital and allows them to have more comfortable experiences close to home. Avoiding unnecessary hospital visits is especially important during a pandemic. The government’s cuts demonstrate that the premier and his government think money is more important than health care for Transcona families. I am especially concerned about Transcona residents living in personal care homes such as Park Manor right now. A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Park Manor on Nov. 5 and as of Dec. 8, nearly 80 per cent of residents had tested positive and over 10 per cent had died. One of the reasons the virus was able to spread so quickly is that the many residents live in four-person rooms. This overcrowding of rooms could have been prevented had the government built the beds it promised in 2016 — yet a shovel still hasn’t hit the ground to date. Staff were also not able to wear N-95 masks until the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority fitted them on Nov. 25, nearly three weeks after the outbreak was declared. Another area of concern is the safety of our schools during this pandemic. COVID-19 testing in Toronto schools has indicated that children are asymptomatic spreaders of the virus. We should be doing similar testing, even in just a small number of schools, to determine if this is this case in Manitoba. Teachers and educational staff continue to tell us what they need — but the government just won’t listen. We need to immediately ensure physical distancing, adequate PPE, and enough human resources to meet the challenges this pandemic has forced upon our schools.  I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. If you would like to reach out to me, I may be contacted by email at nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca or by phone at 204 594 2025. 

I know this holiday season will be a difficult one for many. Please know that the sacrifices we are making, particularly staying home, are having an impact on our health-care system to ensure that we have capacity for all Manitobans when they need care the most.

Health care services for residents of Transcona and northeast Winnipeg remain a deep concern. The Pallister government isn’t satisfied with closing the ERs at Concordia and Seven Oaks hospitals, so it has also shuttered CancerCare centres at the same hospitals.  Furthermore, with virtually no notice to our community, it closed our community IV clinic at Access Transcona.

The community IV clinic provided antibiotic therapy for patients who have infections or require more care but are well enough to be discharged from hospital. Treating people in the community keeps them out of hospital and allows them to have more comfortable experiences close to home. Avoiding unnecessary hospital visits is especially important during a pandemic. The government’s cuts demonstrate that the premier and his government think money is more important than health care for Transcona families.