Manitoba Minute: Issue 112

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

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is welcoming a decision by Manitoba’s Workers Compensation Board to return $90 million in surplus funds to eligible employers through a 35% credit on 2026 premiums. CFIB said the rebate will provide some financial relief for small businesses dealing with rising costs and ongoing economic uncertainty. The organization noted that employers fund the workers compensation system and argued surplus money should be returned when the board becomes overfunded. CFIB representatives said the WCB is expected to remain above its 130% funding target even after the rebate is distributed, leading some business owners to question why a larger share of the surplus was not returned. The group pointed out that previous rebates were closer to 50% and argued Manitoba should adopt legislation requiring automatic rebates once funding levels exceed a certain threshold, similar to rules in Ontario. CFIB said the current discretionary system creates uncertainty for businesses already operating with tight margins and rising expenses. The organization also argued predictable rebates could help businesses reinvest in operations, improve workplace safety, and address what it described as a growing shortage of entrepreneurs in Manitoba.
  
  
• Premier Wab Kinew says the Province is considering creating a commissioner or regulator to enforce a proposed ban on social media platforms and AI chatbots for children under 16. Kinew said the regulator would initially work with technology companies to encourage compliance, but companies that refuse to cooperate could face extremely large fines. The Premier acknowledged that many details of the proposed legislation are still being developed and said it may not be introduced until next year. Manitoba is exploring using provincial powers related to consumer protection and business practices to regulate platforms, including concerns that some companies knowingly target young users through algorithms. Questions also remain about how the Province would enforce age restrictions, particularly when children can use VPNs or other people’s information to access social media accounts. Kinew argued that even if enforcement is difficult, the proposal could still increase public awareness about the potential harms social media poses to children. Opposition Progressive Conservative leader Obby Khan criticized the proposal as lacking a concrete implementation plan and accused the government of making headlines before working out the details.
  
  
• The Manitoba government and Assiniboine College are launching a new primary care paramedic training program aimed at addressing staffing shortages in rural communities. Premier Wab Kinew announced the program will begin in January with 32 training seats, including an initial 16-student cohort based in Dauphin. Graduates will receive jobs in western Manitoba through return-to-service agreements intended to strengthen front-line emergency medical coverage in rural areas. Officials say the new program will build on the college’s existing emergency medical responder training and allow students to upgrade to full primary care paramedic credentials closer to home. Assiniboine College representatives said interest in the program is already high, with more than 100 people reportedly expressing interest in Dauphin alone. The Province is also funding specialized training equipment to better prepare students for real-world emergency response work. The Manitoba Association of Health-Care Professionals welcomed the expansion of rural training opportunities but argued the Province still needs to do more to address the ongoing paramedic staffing crisis, including potentially making the program tuition-free to attract and retain more workers.
  
  
• Manitoba has appointed Noni Classen as the new Commissioner of Teacher Professional Conduct, effective May 19th. Classen, a certified teacher and former director at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, replaces the previous appointee who was dismissed for working from Florida. Her role involves investigating misconduct complaints from the public and school boards, issuing penalties, and publishing disciplinary reports. The Province is expanding her mandate to include addressing systemic issues and potentially overseeing limited teaching permit holders. The appointment is supported by the Manitoba Teachers' Society, which values Classen's "trauma-informed" expertise. Minister Tracy Schmidt emphasized that this is a full-time position that must be performed physically within Manitoba. Classen stated that her career has prepared her for this responsibility, with protecting children remaining her top priority.
  
  
• Former Manitoba premier Brian Pallister, retired CFL star Andrew Harris, Olympic hockey player Jocelyne Larocque, and singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk are among the 12 people selected to receive the Order of Manitoba this year, the Province’s highest honour. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Manitoba’s social, cultural, or economic well-being, with recipients chosen through public nominations and recommendations from an advisory council. Pallister, who served as Premier from 2016 to 2021, is being recognized alongside leaders in health care, philanthropy, Indigenous advocacy, sports, and the arts. Other recipients include Mondetta Clothing CEO Ash Modha, Indigenous leader Diane Roussin, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Joss Reimer, orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Peter MacDonald, and former children’s advocate Billie Schibler. The ceremony will take place at the Manitoba Legislative Building on July 16th and will be presided over by Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville.

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