Manitoba Minute: Issue 65

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

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• Manitoba officials are beginning to lift evacuation orders across the province as conditions slowly improve following what Premier Wab Kinew has called the worst wildfire season in decades. More than 21,000 residents were forced to flee from communities like Flin Flon, where a 3,700-square-kilometre blaze prompted a full city evacuation. That order is now set to be lifted on June 25th, with power, gas, and health care expected to be restored before residents return. While fire crews have made progress, weather continues to challenge suppression efforts. The Province has come under scrutiny for not conducting an external review of wildfire services after the government changed hands in 2023. Officials say supports remain in place for evacuees, and additional communities are expected to begin re-entry in the coming days. The situation remains fluid as crews monitor hotspots and prepare for a potentially long fire season.
  
  
• Manitoba has recorded net gains from interprovincial migration for the first time in over two decades, with 106 more people arriving than leaving during the first quarter of 2025. This marks the first such quarterly growth since 2004, according to new data from Statistics Canada. While overall population growth slowed due to federal immigration caps, the shift in interprovincial migration offers a bright spot. Manitoba’s NDP government credits the reversal to housing affordability, a strong job market, and efforts to attract skilled workers. The province welcomed over 4,300 newcomers from other parts of Canada, while slightly fewer residents left. Premier Wab Kinew and Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino have both pointed to the province’s cultural appeal, lower cost of living, and targeted recruitment policies as factors in the trend. Although international immigration dipped, officials say the province remains committed to long-term growth and retention strategies.
  
  
• Manitoba PC Leader Obby Khan is accusing Premier Wab Kinew of deliberately delaying a byelection in Spruce Woods, a southwestern constituency left without representation since former PC MLA Grant Jackson resigned in March to run federally. Khan criticized the delay, noting that byelections in other ridings were called much more quickly, and suggested the NDP is stalling because they have little chance of winning in the conservative stronghold. The PCs have already nominated Colleen Robbins, while the Liberals have chosen Stephen Reid, and the NDP has yet to name a candidate. Khan urged Kinew to call the byelection promptly so the new MLA could participate in summer events and engage with constituents. A government spokesperson responded that the byelection will be held within the legislated six-month window, with September 24th as the latest possible date. Spruce Woods has been a reliable PC seat since its creation in 2011, with past candidates winning over 60% of the vote. Khan contends the delay is unfair to constituents and driven by political calculations.
  
  
• Manitoba has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine’s Kherson region to support reconstruction efforts in the war-torn area. Premier Wab Kinew announced the agreement in Calgary following the G7 Summit in nearby Kananaskis, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been scheduled to meet with him but left early due to deadly Russian attacks. The partnership reflects Manitoba’s strong support for Ukraine, having welcomed over 30,000 Ukrainians since the 2022 invasion. The agreement focuses on cooperation in agriculture, economic development, education, and health care. Kinew emphasized the importance of Manitoba’s Ukrainian community and the Province’s commitment to Ukraine’s recovery. Despite Zelenskyy’s presence, G7 leaders did not issue a joint statement on Ukraine. Prime Minister Mark Carney instead released a chair statement supporting peace efforts and calling on Russia to join Ukraine in an unconditional ceasefire.
  
  
• A Manitoba school trustee is taking legal action over the cancellation of a plan to reinstate God Save the King in school announcements. Paul Coffey, a trustee with Mountain View School Division, filed an application to the Court of King’s Bench on June 2nd, alleging that six fellow trustees acted unlawfully by voting to halt the anthem’s return. The case will be heard on June 23rd in Dauphin. Coffey argues the decision breached the Public Schools Act, overstepped legal authority, and damaged the board’s credibility. The directive to include the royal anthem alongside O Canada and land acknowledgements had been issued in January by board chair Jason Gryba. Coffey is now seeking a court declaration that the decision was invalid and should be overturned. The named trustees have declined to comment while the matter is before the court.
  
  
• A new mobile MRI unit is now on the road in Northern Manitoba, aiming to improve access to diagnostic services for remote and underserved communities. The unit will travel between several northern hubs, reducing wait times and the need for long-distance travel to Winnipeg or Brandon. Health officials say the project will particularly benefit First Nations communities, where access to advanced medical imaging has long been limited. The mobile MRI is part of a broader provincial effort to decentralize health care and address long-standing gaps in northern health services. Staffed by trained technicians and connected to specialists in larger centres, the unit is expected to serve thousands of patients annually. Residents and leaders have welcomed the move, calling it a vital step toward equitable healthcare access across the province.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

We regularly post on Facebook!

If you haven't followed us yet, please do so at the link below:

🪙 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!