Manitoba Minute: Executive Salaries, Teacher Agreement, and a Zebra Mussel Infestation

Saskatchewan Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics.

This Week In Manitoba:

• Premier Wab Kinew is calling on the federal government to meet NATO's spending benchmark of 2% of GDP within four years, rather than the current 2032 target. He emphasized that increased defense spending is crucial for maintaining the Canada-US trade relationship, especially ahead of potential changes in US leadership. Kinew also suggested that national security investments are necessary for trade stability.
  
  
• Officials are taking steps to contain the zebra mussel infestation found in Clear Lake. An adult zebra mussel and a partial shell were discovered during a visual survey near Boat Cove, where water samples had previously tested positive for zebra mussel DNA. Measures include installing an impermeable containment curtain to isolate the infested area and prevent larvae spread. The Boat Cove area will be temporarily closed to the public during installation. Parks Canada is also considering using potash to eradicate the mussels, depending on further surveys and water testing.
  
  
• The Province says extensive repairs to the Perimeter Highway will continue for the remainder of the summer, focusing on eight sections including the westbound lanes near Highway 3 and the South Perimeter overpass at Portage Avenue. The $9.1-million project aims to address potholes and damage, to improve driving conditions.

Last Week In Manitoba:

• After two years of negotiations, the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) has reached a tentative collective agreement covering most Manitoba teachers, excluding those in the Franco-Manitoban School Division or federal bargaining units. The new deal introduces a single contract for 37 English school divisions, affecting 16,000 educators. Following the introduction of Bill 45, which mandated provincial bargaining for public school teachers, this negotiation represents the first collective agreement under the new legislative framework. The agreement proposes a 12.85% salary increase over four years, with annual raises and a 1% retention adjustment in February 2026. Teachers will vote on ratifying the agreement from August 1st to 7th.
  
  
• An agreement was signed to return approximately 100 acres of Crown land to the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) at the site of the former Ste. Madeleine community. Premier Wab Kinew and MMF President David Chartrand participated in the signing ceremony. The land was taken from the Métis in the 1930s and their community was burned down. Chartrand described the agreement as a significant step toward justice and reconciliation. The signing occurred during the annual Ste. Madeleine Métis Days, a time for reflecting on Métis history and celebrating their culture.
  
  
• The former CEO of Shared Health received over $600,000 in 2023, an increase of nearly 83% from the previous year, despite working only four months before his abrupt resignation. His compensation, likely including severance, far exceeded that of the previous year, raising public concern. Other executives also saw significant pay increases due to retroactive pay raises aligned with unionized staff. This high compensation for executives contrasts with the modest annual pay increases for frontline health-care workers, drawing criticism from union leaders.