Manitoba Minute: Popular Premier, Churchill Tourism, and a Child Care Expansion

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

This Week In Manitoba:

• Premier Wab Kinew remains the most popular Premier in Canada, with a 67% approval rating according to the latest Angus Reid Institute poll. This marks the fifth consecutive quarter Kinew has held the top spot. While Kinew has made strides in addressing campaign promises, the poll notes that some challenges, particularly in health care, require more time to resolve. Following Kinew, the next highest-rated premiers are Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston (55%) and New Brunswick’s Susan Holt (54%).
  
  
• The Manitoba government is expanding its $10-a-day child care program to include school holidays. Acting Education Minister Tracy Schmidt announced the change, which will reduce costs for licensed child care on approximately 73 non-school days annually. Previously priced at $20.80 per day, the new rate will help families save an estimated $140 just over the holiday season.
  
  
• The federal government is providing over $206,000 to the University of Manitoba’s Canadian Reconciliation Barometer Project through the Canada History Fund. This initiative, active since 2015, tracks Canadians' understanding and progress toward reconciliation. The funding will support the creation of an advisory council of elders and knowledge keepers, along with educational materials to promote awareness.

Last Week In Manitoba:

• Premier Wab Kinew announced plans to develop a list of potential retaliatory measures in response to US President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on Canadian goods. While details of the list remain undisclosed, Kinew emphasized the importance of protecting key sectors like agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. The Province also plans to enhance border security by deploying conservation officers and commercial truck inspectors, as well as covering RCMP overtime costs.
  
  
• A new report highlighted the economic impact of Churchill on Manitoba’s tourism industry. The town contributed nearly $100 million to the Province's GDP in 2023 and supported 1,395 jobs. Home to attractions like polar bears, beluga whales, and the northern lights, Churchill welcomed around 25,000 visitors last year, generating $88 million in spending on accommodations, dining, and guided experiences. Travel Manitoba plans to use these findings to guide future development and marketing efforts. The study also identified opportunities to enhance northern lights excursions and Indigenous cultural experiences, offering more year-round activities for tourists.
  
  
• Homicides in rural Manitoba have surged in 2024, with the RCMP reporting 56 cases, nearly double the annual average of 30-35. The RCMP noted the challenges of responding to incidents across vast, remote areas, which often require extensive planning and prolonged absences for officers. Violent crime, including intimate partner violence, appears to be increasing across Manitoba and western Canada. Authorities are assessing whether this spike is an anomaly or part of a broader trend, which could prompt resource reallocation and prioritization.