In yesterday’s Speech from the Throne, the government announced several encouraging commitments as they laid out their plan for the legislative season ahead.

Key Throne Speech Highlights for MGEU Members

  • A new Centre for Justice in Dauphin
  • A comprehensive after-action review of the 2024 wildfire season
  • A new direct-entry Primary Care Paramedic program at Red River College Polytechnic
  • Legislated staff to patient ratios in priority areas of the health care system
  • New personal care homes in Lac du Bonnet, Arborg, and Transcona
  • Increased hip and knee surgeries at Selkirk Hospital
  • Additional midwife hiring in the Interlake–Eastern Health Region
  • New detox beds and expanded wraparound services at Main Street Project

Many of these commitments reflect issues that MGEU has been advocating for publicly.

“We are glad to see government’s commitment to issues like the new Dauphin correction facility,” said MGEU President Kyle Ross. “MGEU members in Manitoba’s correction facilities have been raising concerns about overcrowded jails for years, and while we look forward to working with government on this, we also want to underscore the more immediate need to relieve pressure in the system.”  

MGEU also welcomes a review of the wildfire season and encourages government to ensure the voices of frontline workers are part of that process. In addition, we are pleased to see the government’s commitment to legislating staff to patient ratios in the health care system, and look forward to seeing the details of that legislation.

Plans to improve services must include addressing staffing crisis

Without continued work to address Manitoba’s public-sector staffing crisis, these commitments could fall short.

“The Throne Speech contains commitments to improving services for Manitobans, whether it’s a new Primary Care Home in Lac du Bonnet or introducing digital health cards, but that work takes workers,” added Ross. “Addressing the staffing crisis, with both recruitment and retention, must continue to be part of any plan moving forward.”

And while the MGEU supports commitments such as additional seats for Primary Care Paramedics at Red River College Polytechnic, adding training capacity alone is not enough. There must be targeted recruitment efforts to ensure the program can attract new students and translate that into a stronger workforce.

“We look forward to working with the government to ensure these commitments turn into meaningful improvements for workers and the Manitobans they serve,” Ross added.