Manitoba Minute: Issue 71

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

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• E-scooter-related injuries have surged across Canada, with Manitoba seeing a 50% increase from 2023 to 2024, prompting calls for regulation. Advocates stress the need for rules to prevent dangerous behaviour, particularly among younger riders. Currently, Manitoba has no regulations on e-scooter use, allowing riders of any age to operate them on sidewalks, roads, or bike paths at any speed. Some riders take personal precautions but acknowledge that others act recklessly. Others argue for clearer policies on speed limits and age restrictions but say municipalities have not prioritized the issue. The Province has stated it is exploring ways to establish a formal framework for e-scooter safety.
  
  
• A monument honouring Chief Peguis and the first treaty signed in what is now Manitoba has been delayed for a second time and is now expected to be completed in late 2026. The project, originally slated for 2024, has faced legal, administrative, and fundraising challenges, including ongoing efforts to secure charitable status. The bronze statue itself is nearly finished, but construction of the monument’s foundation and landscaping won’t begin until next year. The monument will be located on the northwest section of the Manitoba Legislature grounds and will include inscribed stones representing the 1817 treaty signatories. It will be the first monument on the grounds to honour First Nations contributions. The design was created by a Peguis First Nation artist, and the Province has committed $500,000 toward the $1-million project. Organizers are not currently seeking additional provincial funding.
  
  
• Results of a recent Manitoba government-commissioned Leger poll were released. The poll found that 75% of respondents are concerned about the rising cost of living and 70% about health care wait times - both consistent with past surveys. Crime was the third-most cited concern, mentioned by 69%, up from 55% in early 2023. While Manitoba’s crime severity index dipped slightly in 2024, it remains among the highest in Canada. The Province has responded with several measures, including new machete restrictions, increased retail theft policing, and expanded use of ankle monitors. Health care remains a pressing issue, with 80% of respondents saying the system needs improvement. On immigration, 51% believe Manitoba is admitting too many newcomers, citing job competition (32%), pressure on public support systems (24%), and housing demand (19%) as key reasons. Only 25% felt immigration levels were appropriate.
  
  
• Another survey, this one by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) revealed that 88% of Manitoba drivers are concerned about distracted driving, with 63% reporting they’ve witnessed near-misses or violations related to it. Despite this concern, 46% admitted to engaging in distracted driving, and 13% said they’ve been in a collision because of it. The CAA says Manitoba's current laws don’t cover the full range of distractions, which can include things like eating, adjusting electronics, or dealing with pets while driving. Police in Winnipeg have already issued nearly 1,700 distracted driving tickets in 2025. The survey also explored speeding, with 82% of respondents identifying it as a problem and 65% supporting photo radar enforcement. Over 60% favoured harsher penalties for repeat speeding offenders, especially in sensitive areas like school zones.
  
  
• A new centralized scheduling system for home-care visits in Winnipeg has caused significant disruptions, with clients and health-care workers reporting cancelled, delayed, and poorly timed appointments. Since the system’s rollout about five months ago, the cancellation rate rose from 1.68% in June 2024 to 3.12% in June 2025. Nurses say the new system forces them to complete too many visits in too little time, leading to rushed care and burnout. Some appointments even disappear from their schedules unexpectedly, leaving clients without necessary care. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority introduced the change to improve staffing issues and coordination but it has instead created confusion and inefficiencies. Health officials acknowledge the problems and have hired additional scheduling clerks and workers to help. The Health Minister says efforts continue to make the system more reliable and supportive for both workers and patients.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has launched a multi-year corporate strategy. The plan targets five key areas: affordability, financial stability, organizational effectiveness, customer value, and corporate responsibility.

If you have thoughts, you can complete the survey by August 22nd, 2025:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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