Manitoba Minute: Issue 61

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

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• A shocking new Leger poll shows that support for Alberta Independence has reached 47% amongst Albertans, with 48% opposed and 5% undecided. The poll also asked voters in the rest of the country how they felt about Alberta potentially leaving Canada. 62% of Canadians nationally were opposed to Alberta separating, with just 26% in favour. However, when asked whether they understood why Alberta might want to become an independent country, 55% responded yes and 37% responded no. With a potential referendum on separation coming next spring, polling showing support at almost 50% confirms that the issue of separation will almost certainly dominate both federal and Alberta politics in the coming year.
  
  
• The Manitoba government has introduced Bill 47, the Fair Trade in Canada Act, which aims to reduce interprovincial trade barriers by allowing mutual recognition of goods and services standards with other jurisdictions. If passed, the legislation would simplify trade by accepting products that meet another province’s standards, except for those provided by Crown corporations. Minister Jamie Moses framed the bill as a strategic response to global tariffs and a way to strengthen Canada’s internal economy. As part of the announcement, June 1st will be recognized annually as Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day. The bill follows a recent memorandum of understanding with Ontario and mirrors similar efforts in BC, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Moses emphasized that cooperative trade policies can unlock more opportunities for Manitobans while reinforcing national economic unity.
  
  
• The Manitoba government has launched a new Innovation and Productivity Task Force to boost economic growth through better use of data, technology, and intellectual property. Co-chaired by former BlackBerry CEO Jim Balsillie, the task force will work with government departments, industry experts, Indigenous leaders, and researchers to develop a strategy for leveraging emerging tools like artificial intelligence and sovereign cloud systems. The initiative aims to support made-in-Canada solutions that improve prosperity and protect Manitoba’s intellectual assets. A strategic plan is expected later this year, with contributions from leaders across business, law, tech, and academia.
  
  
• Western Premiers, including Wab Kinew, have agreed to work together to develop new economic corridors aimed at improving access to global markets and boosting Western Canada's role in the national economy. The joint plan includes infrastructure such as highways, railways, ports, and pipelines, with a focus on transporting resources like oil, gas, hydroelectricity, and emerging fuels. Manitoba stands to benefit from improved connections to the West Coast and Hudson Bay, which could enhance trade and economic growth. The Premiers are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to support these efforts with federal funding, especially in remote and northern areas. The initiative is crucial for addressing infrastructure gaps that limit the region’s economic potential.
  
  
• Progressive Conservative MLA Jeff Wharton has been stripped of his critic duties by Manitoba Opposition Leader Obby Khan following an ethics commissioner’s report. The report found Wharton, along with former premier Heather Stefanson and former deputy premier Cliff Cullen, violated the province’s conflict of interest law by pushing for approval of a silica sand mining project after losing the 2023 election. While Wharton remains in caucus, he no longer holds his critic role for business and mining. All three were found to have breached the caretaker convention, which restricts outgoing governments from making major decisions. Wharton apologized publicly, but the project was ultimately rejected by the incoming NDP government. The commissioner recommended fines for each of the three, and the legislature is set to vote on accepting the report.
  
  
• Child-care workers at provincially funded centres in Manitoba are receiving a large wage increase, with some seeing hourly raises of up to $5. The new wage grid, retroactive to April 1st, is backed by $60.4 million in combined provincial and federal funding. Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt said the move brings wages in line with the Manitoba Child Care Association’s (MCCA) long-advocated salary scale. Front-line educators will see the largest increases, with top wages rising from $22.90 to $27.56 per hour, depending on certification and centre size. Assistants currently in training programs will also receive immediate raises. The announcement, made at the MCCA’s annual conference, was met with cheers and emotional reactions from over 900 attendees. MCCA executive director Jodie Kehl called the moment “surreal” after nearly two decades of advocacy.
  
  
• The Manitoba government is extending the deadline for Winnipeg homeowners to declare their primary residence and receive up to $1,500 in property tax credits after some missed out due to registration issues. Eligible residents now have until November 25th to apply, while a separate update for other municipalities is expected soon. The issue stems from the NDP government's 2023 reforms, which replaced the previous rebate system with a flat $1,500 credit only for primary residences. Finance Minister Adrien Sala partially blamed municipalities for communication failures that led to missed registrations. Winnipeg City staff are actively working with the Province to help affected homeowners access the credit. Homeowners on monthly payment plans may see adjusted instalments or receive a cheque. The change has sparked political debate, with the NDP saying the new system benefits lower-value homes, while the opposition argues it amounts to a tax hike for many. The Province expects to save $148 million in the first year under the new system.

🚨 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: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!