Proud to serve Manitobans Review March 19, 2021 Provinces Strengthening Education System to Put Students First Manitoba is one of the highest will have more meaningful spending provinces on education involvement in local decision- and getting among the country’s making through new School lowest student achievement Community Councils. These results. Per capita, Manitoba has important changes will free up the highest number of school resources to be re-invested where divisions and elected trustees they are needed most – in the across all provinces. Clearly, it’s classroom. time for a change in the education Manitoba Education will be system. undertaking public consultations The plan streamlines the school on a variety of areas on topics This week, the province released system by unifying 37 school such as curriculum development, its kindergarten to Grade 12 divisions into one Provincial teacher training and learning, strategy, focusing on putting Education Authority to manage and ways to support the most students first. This strategy will administrative services while vulnerable students. This reform Manitoba’s education maintaining the French school includes further conversation with system by shifting resources to division, Division Scolaire franco- education partners, parents, and the classroom and giving parents manitobaine (DSFM). Within the the wider Manitoba community, a greater say in their child’s authority, 15 regions will focus on and a survey that will be available schooling. addressing local needs. Parents on http://engagemb.ca. Province Launches Support Program for Hospitality Industry Impacted by COVID-19 been covered by other relief programs. Grants will be provided as a reimbursement for a percentage of eligible expenses incurred. The announcement was applauded by stakeholders, including the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association who thanked the province for partnering and supporting these businesses and this The province unveiled a support administered by the Manitoba industry during these uncertain program providing $8 million Hotel Association and the times. More information to Manitoba’s accommodation Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters on COVID-19 supports for and tourism sector through a Association, will provide funding businesses may be accessed new Hospitality Relief Sector to hotels and full-time licenced here: https://manitoba.ca/ Program. The new Hospitality resource tourism operators supportsforbusiness. Relief Sector Program, to be for fixed costs that have not New Supports for Child-Care Centres in Response to COVID-19 The governments of Manitoba that have been impacted by for families and communities. and Canada are allocating COVID-19. The new COVID-19 This announcement builds on $4.37 million through the Response Block Grant will funding provided to eligible child Canada-Manitoba Early provide one time grants to care facilities in September Learning and Child Care over 230 non-profit child through the $2.4 million Bilateral Agreement to provide care centres to offset costs COVID-19 Response Grant. one-time grants to early associated with the pandemic learning and child care facilities and ensure access to child care Province Expands ‘Youth Hub’ Sites to Support Mental Health and Addictions Services The Manitoba government and and Point Douglas The Manitoba government is Shared Health are partnering neighbourhoods, located at investing $1.92 million in this with philanthropic partners and led by Ka Ni Kanichihk, youth hub expansion, and to expand Integrated Youth in Winnipeg. the philanthropic partnership Services by awarding five • a downtown-based Youth including the Bell-Graham additional Youth Hub sites, Hub located in the West Boeckh Foundation Partnership, representing a $1.92 million Broadway neighbourhood United Way Winnipeg, RBC investment. These sites provide of Winnipeg. Foundation, The Winnipeg low-barrier, integrated services • a Westman–region Youth Foundation, the Moffat Family for young people and their Hub in downtown Brandon. Fund, the Réseau Compassion Network and others will be families at a single easy-to- • a Youth Hub in downtown contributing $2.96 million access location. A network Selkirk serving Indigenous over three years. United Way of organizations and service and non-Indigenous youth Winnipeg is leading and co- providers work closely together from Selkirk, Peguis First ordinating the initiative including to provide youth-centred Nation and other Interlake the creation of a Manitoba Youth services across a continuum of communities. care so that young people can Hubs Network to enable shared • a Youth Hub for families access all of the core health capacity building across all in St. Boniface/St. services they need in one place. youth hub sites. Vital neighbourhoods The five new sites include: in Winnipeg, including • an Indigenous-led Youth francophone, newcomer Hub serving the Centennial and Indigenous youth. Provinces Opens Survey on Next Steps of Re-Opening Services and Activities The Manitoba government questions about Manitobans’ is seeking feedback from perspectives on the risk of the Manitobans on plans to move virus and their comfort levels to the ‘restricted’ (orange) level with different activities. In on the Pandemic Response addition, people will be asked System and continue re- their thoughts on the timing, opening services and activities such as if changes should for Manitobans as the pandemic happen sooner, or wait until continues. after the Easter and Passover The province has launched a holidays. To provide feedback, survey on https://EngageMB.ca visit https://engagemb.ca/ and invites Manitobans to share restartmb-pandemic-response- feedback. The survey asks system. MLA Nesbitt Introduces Private Member’s Resolution Greg Nesbitt, MLA for Riding Protection Act, would ensure all Mountain, was pleased to current and future operations of introduce a Private Members’ Manitoba Hydro are transparent Resolution (PMR) in the to Manitobans, while ensuring Legislature urging the province Hydro remains publicly owned. to continue taking steps to He noted that the NDP are ensure all future hydro projects deliberately stalling this bill from demonstrate value and advancing to the next step in accountability to Manitobans. the legislative process, further Nesbitt highlighted the PC threatening Manitobans as the government’s Bill 35, The sole owners of Manitoba Hydro. Public Utilities and Ratepayer Social Media Corner Manitoba recognized as a MLA Audrey Gordon recognizes MLA’s Reyes and Goertzen “template” on vaccination rollout Honour 150 recipients in attend virtual event by Macleans Southdale.