Manitoba Minute: Landfill Search, School Trustees, and Tax Holiday Extended

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

This Week In Manitoba:

• Manitoba’s gas tax holiday is being extended until the end of 2024, allowing residents to continue saving 14 cents per litre. Initially promised by Wab Kinew during his 2023 election campaign, the tax relief began in January and has been extended multiple times. Kinew emphasized that the gas tax cut has helped reduce inflation in the province, noting it supports residents dealing with rising interest rates and grocery costs. Manitoba now holds the lowest average retail gas price in Canada due to the ongoing tax holiday.
  
  
• The Manitoba government is allocating an additional $1.2 million to resume the Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit program, which provides vital rental support to those at risk of homelessness. This funding will increase the program's total budget to $10.8 million for the year and is expected to assist approximately 550 families. Recently, the government paused new applications for the program due to unprecedented demand, but intake has now reopened, prioritizing previously submitted applications. The housing benefit, which offers rent top-ups of up to $422 a month, has supported over 1,600 new families and individuals since October 2023. This program is jointly funded by the province and the federal government.
  
  
• Recruitment is underway for individuals to assist in searching the Prairie Green landfill near Winnipeg for the remains of two First Nations women, Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, who were murdered by a serial killer. The Manitoba government is collaborating with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to fill multiple positions, including general search technicians and forensic anthropology search technicians. Both organizations aim to ensure that the remains are returned with dignity and respect. Premier Wab Kinew highlighted the importance of this effort, calling it a vital step toward healing for the affected families and communities.

Last Week In Manitoba:

• A meeting of the Mountain View School Division trustees in western Manitoba, held without quorum, led to a decision to ban all flags except the Canadian, Manitoban, and school flags. This meeting occurred after a confrontation with a provincially appointed advisory panel meant to guide the board following months of governance issues. The advisory panel was established after several trustees resigned and the superintendent was dismissed, which all stemmed from divisive comments on residential schools made by a trustee. Despite the lack of quorum, the four trustees proceeded with the meeting. The Education Minister must now determine the next steps for the school board.
  
  
• Doctors at CancerCare Manitoba have raised concerns about significant issues in the workplace, including excessive workloads, lack of communication from leadership, and a culture of fear regarding raising concerns. According to a letter from Doctors Manitoba, these challenges are leading to physician burnout and making recruitment and retention difficult. The issues have prompted discussions between the CEOs of CancerCare and Doctors Manitoba. Doctors Manitoba also said that their Annual Physician Survey revealed that only a third of physicians feel they can raise concerns in the health system without fear of reprisal.
  
  
• The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU) have announced that 25,000 health-care workers will strike on October 8th unless an acceptable contract offer is presented. Workers rejected the Province's last proposal in August due to concerns over recruitment and retention, and the unions argue that addressing the staffing crisis is essential for improving patient care. The strike would impact support workers such as health-care aides and clerks, reducing home care services and other non-essential health functions. Essential services will still be provided, though overall service quality may decline. Negotiations are ongoing.