From promises to progress

Wolseley

Halfway through our mandate, on Nov. 18, 2025, our government opened the third session of the 43rd Manitoba legislature. The speech from the throne outlined a clear focus on recovery, reconciliation, and renewal – and a belief that when Manitobans work together, great things happen.

While there were many exciting announcements, I want to highlight how we are strengthening health care and public safety.

Over the past two years, real progress has been made in health care. More than 3,500 new front-line health workers have been added, new primary care clinics have opened, and capacity has expanded in personal care homes and hospitals. A key goal moving forward is improving patient safety and ending mandatory overtime for nurses.

When we took office, Manitoba had the worst doctor shortage in Canada. That gap is now closing, with 285 net new doctors added since October 2023 – the largest increase the province has ever seen.

In the coming year, Manitobans can look forward to digital health cards and a new patient portal, making it easier to securely access lab results and immunization records.

We’re also responding to feedback from workers, businesses, and labour groups with plans to eliminate sick note requirements, reducing stress on working families and cutting down on unnecessary paperwork for doctors.

Support for seniors is another priority. With a new seniors’ advocate in place, 141 new personal-care-home beds, and more staff added to home care, we are working to fix long-standing problems and make sure seniors and their caregivers are heard.

Pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe more medications, allowing people to visit their local pharmacy for birth control, treatment for UTIs, and other common conditions – saving time and reducing pressure on doctors’ offices.

Keeping communities safe is also a major focus. Investments have been made in policing, modernizing addictions treatment, and expanding harm reduction and recovery services. This includes a new protective care centre, more detox beds, and a supervised consumption site in Winnipeg.

We are also cracking down on meth production and distribution through stronger law enforcement, drug screening at northern airports, and banning weapons in public spaces, while also helping families and businesses protect themselves through security rebates.

Together, these steps are about making communities safer, healthier, and better supported across Manitoba

You can read the full text of the speech from the throne at: www.gov.mb.ca/thronespeech

If you need support with government services, please reach out: lisa.naylor@yourmanitoba.ca or 204-792-2773.