Manitoba Minute: Issue 57

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

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• Manitoba's Public Utilities Board has approved a natural gas rate increase that will raise typical residential customers' bills by approximately 12.4%, or $73 annually, effective May 1st, 2025. This hike is attributed to factors such as a colder-than-average winter and increased demand for natural gas and liquefied natural gas exports. The decision acknowledges that the rate increase may cause financial hardship for some customers and encourages Centra Gas to assist those struggling with payments through options like payment plans. Customers with fixed-price contracts will not be affected by the rate hike. The next rate adjustment will occur on August 1st, 2025.
  
  
• Starting May 1st, 2025, Manitobans aged 19 and older will be allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants for personal use at home, following the lifting of the ban announced in April 2024. The new law, which was proclaimed last week, stipulates that plants must be grown indoors in a locked room or container to prevent youth access. While individuals can grow a maximum of four plants, this limit applies regardless of the number of adults in the home. Cannabis seeds must be purchased from licensed retailers, and residents are advised to check for any restrictions set by rental properties or condo boards. Quebec is now the only province in Canada with a ban on homegrown cannabis for personal use.
  
  
• Manitoba is buying three new DHC-515 Firefighter water bombers to replace its aging fleet of CL215 aircraft. The upgrade, announced in the 2025 budget with an $80 million down payment, aims to enhance the province's wildfire response capabilities. The new planes, which are made in Calgary, offer advanced technology, more reliable engines, and increased fuel and water capacity. They are expected to join the fleet starting in 2031. The move comes as wildfires in Manitoba grow in frequency and intensity. In other wildfire news, Earl Simmons, the head of Manitoba's Wildfire Service, is set to retire, and plans are underway to find his replacement.
  
  
• The Speaker of the Manitoba Legislature apologized after a heated question period. The Opposition asked about a therapy contract and suggested it might be for Finance Minister Adrien Sala, which led to shouting and accusations. The NDP responded by calling the question inappropriate, and the Speaker initially agreed, but later admitted that the Opposition had the right to ask such questions. He criticized the lack of decorum and warned that further disruptions could lead to members being removed. The therapy contract was later revealed to be for mental health support for workers involved in a search at a landfill for the remains of murdered First Nations women.
  
  
• Hundreds gathered at the Manitoba Legislature for Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the six million Jews killed during the genocide. Premier Wab Kinew emphasized that remembering the Holocaust is a shared responsibility for all communities. Attendees read out over 1,000 victims' names, and Belle Jarniewski, of the Jewish Heritage Centre, stressed the importance of remembering the Holocaust amid rising hate. The provincial government also announced a new mandated Holocaust education program, which will be incorporated into the Grade 6, 9, and 11 social studies curricula starting this fall. The government is developing resources to help teachers educate students on the subject.
  
  
• The Manitoba government will end its $4.8 million subsidy for direct WestJet flights from Winnipeg to Atlanta and Los Angeles, confirmed Finance Minister Adrien Sala. The subsidy, which began in 2022 to connect Manitoba's film industry with Hollywood and boost economic opportunities through Atlanta's major Delta hub, will not be renewed. Sala stated that the government has fulfilled its commitment and emphasized a decline in U.S. travel since Donald Trump's inauguration. Meanwhile, WestJet is reviewing its U.S.-Canada flight schedules due to changing demand and has already announced new routes to St. John's and Halifax. The Winnipeg Airport Authority is prepared to adapt to any potential changes as airlines assess market conditions.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

It’s Election Day! Voters from coast to coast are casting their ballots to decide who will form the next government. Make sure you take the opportunity to have your voice heard.

Need details on where to vote, what ID to bring, or who’s running in your riding? Visit the Elections Canada website for everything you need to know:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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