Manitoba Minute: Issue 60

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

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• Ontario and Manitoba have signed a memorandum of understanding to reduce interprovincial trade barriers, aiming to boost economic cooperation amid growing pressure from US tariffs. The agreement facilitates smoother movement of goods, services, and workers between the two provinces, including measures like mutual recognition of qualifications and expanded direct-to-consumer alcohol sales. Ontario Premier Doug Ford likened the economic impact of tariffs to the pandemic and emphasized infrastructure spending over cuts. Premier Wab Kinew described the deal as a way to unlock opportunities and strengthen the national economy.
  
  
• Manitoba is currently battling a severe wildfire situation, with 21 active fires burning across the province - well above the 20-year average. Two people tragically died after being trapped by an out-of-control fire near Lac du Bonnet, turning the emergency into a heartbreaking loss. Nearly 1,000 residents have been evacuated from the area, and Whiteshell Provincial Park remains closed until at least May 21st due to extreme fire conditions. Premier Wab Kinew urged Manitobans to take evacuation orders seriously and stay clear of affected areas. Fire crews continue battling large blazes, some spanning tens of thousands of hectares, with additional firefighters requested from across Canada to assist. The province is also managing flood warnings in western Manitoba.
  
  
• The Manitoba government has announced a $1-million funding boost to improve veterinary care and animal welfare in remote and northern communities. This includes a four-year pilot project with two Indigenous communities and expanded support for the Winnipeg Humane Society’s mobile One Health program, which offers low- or no-cost veterinary services such as spaying, neutering, and wellness exams. The Humane Society will receive $250,000 in provincial funding and match that amount to continue its outreach, having already run 22 remote clinics in 17 communities since 2024. An additional $100,000 will support collaboration with local groups to improve animal welfare, while the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association will get $50,000 for vaccine training and equipment. Two new animal health specialist positions will also be created to enforce the Animal Care Act in Thompson and Swan River. Officials say the funding aims to reduce animal overpopulation, prevent disease, and create safer communities across the province.
  
  
• Manitoba is introducing a new mandatory Grade 9 math curriculum designed to better prepare students for both academic challenges and real-world responsibilities. The updated course will emphasize practical skills and financial literacy, aiming to boost student success in subjects like precalculus and science. It will phase out the current optional transitional math course and be piloted in select schools starting in September 2026, with full rollout planned for 2027. The Province is also investing $65,000 to help teachers incorporate financial education into multiple subjects, including math, English, and social studies for grades 4 through 10. This initiative comes as Manitoba continues to address concerns over low student performance in national education rankings.
  
  
• Pharmacists in Manitoba will soon be authorized to prescribe birth control and HIV medications, a move the provincial government says is long overdue. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced that the changes will take effect in the coming weeks and are intended to improve access to care, especially in rural areas. This expansion means patients won’t need to visit a doctor or nurse practitioner to get a birth control prescription, reducing barriers for those without a primary care provider. Pharmacists Manitoba welcomed the decision, expressing surprise and support for the swift action. The government has yet to provide full details, but pharmacists expect to prescribe various contraceptives, including pills, injections, and IUDs. Manitoba is currently one of the few places in Canada where pharmacists cannot prescribe birth control, but this change will align the province with most others. There is also interest in expanding pharmacist prescribing authority to include treatments for minor ailments, pending future regulatory changes.
  
  
• The Province plans to launch an all-party committee to support local journalism by this summer. The committee will study ways to strengthen rural and northern news, including through government ads and public notices. Premier Wab Kinew says these measures could help media outlets remain viable. The Opposition Progressive Conservatives oppose parts of the plan, including NDP dominance on the committee. The committee will have four NDP members and two Tories, with no seat for the lone Liberal MLA. The NDP’s Robert Loiselle, who will chair the group, says they’re moving ahead regardless. He urged the Tories to participate and promised broad public engagement. Hearings will take place across the province.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Manitobans deserve more say in how their province is run - not just during elections, but in between them too.

Unlike other Western provinces, Manitoba still lacks recall and citizen-initiated referendum legislation, leaving voters powerless to remove MLAs or bring key issues to a vote. It's time to fix that. 

If you believe in a stronger, more accountable democracy, sign the petition to bring Recall and Referenda to Manitoba.

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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