April 23, 2021

Province Signs Deal with North Dakota to Vaccinate Manitoba Truckers in the United States

Premier Pallister and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced the Essential Worker Cross- Border Vaccination Initiative, where North Dakota will administer COVID-19 vaccinations to Manitoba- based truck drivers transporting goods to and from the United States. This historic program is the first of its kind between a Canadian and American jurisdiction.

With the assistance of the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) and its members, Manitoba will identify and co-ordinate with eligible individuals and work with North Dakota to schedule vaccination appointments for truck drivers during their routine trips to the U.S. over the next six to eight weeks. It is estimated roughly 2,000 to 4,000 Manitoba drivers will take part in this program. The North Dakota Department of Transportation’s rest area near Drayton, N.D., will initially serve as the vaccination site, which will also be open to North Dakotans ages 16 and older to get vaccinated. Vaccinations will take place from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The state and province are establishing a joint-operations group to manage the initiative. The North Dakota Department of Health will provide nurses and other staff to administer the first and second doses of the vaccine to provide full immunization of truckers. There is no cost to the state or province as the U.S. government supplies the vaccine and reimburses the costs to administer.

This deal will ensure the continuation of trade between the United States and Canada at the fifth- business border crossing connecting the two jurisdictions. This represents the gateway to economic opportunity and prosperity in the Midwest and Prairies. Province Continues to Make Progress on COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

The province announced In total, these three expanded vaccine eligibility communities represent nearly 398,302 doses of vaccine this week – including lowering 35,000 people who either have been administered the eligibility for AstraZeneca work or live in the area. This in Manitoba. vaccine to 40 and up. This includes those people who allowed a large number of work in specific jobs in those Manitobans to become eligible communities are now eligible to receive a vaccine and including school staff and protect themselves and their child-care providers as well community, including Hon. as people who work in food- , Minister of processing facilities, grocery Health and Seniors Care, who stores, convenience stores, received her first Astrazeneca gas stations and anywhere vaccine dose. that serves food including restaurants and food banks. Eligibility was also expanded to include front-line police and To date, 398,302 doses of firefighters, and those aged vaccine have been administered The province announced 18 or older who live or works in Manitoba. Every person expanded vaccine in certain front-line jobs in immunized is keeping eligibility this week. the Downtown East, Inkster themselves and those around The eligibility for AstraZeneca vaccine has been lowered East and Point Douglas South them safe and better protected to 40 and up. neighbourhoods in Winnipeg. from COVID-19.

WCB Distributing $71 million in Surplus Funds to Manitoba Employers

For the third year in a row, the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) is distributing surplus funds to employers, whose premiums fund the workers compensation system. In May, eligible employers will receive a credit based on 40 per cent of their 2020 premium. To be eligible for the refund, employers must have fulfilled their payroll reporting responsibilities for 2020 and owed a WCB premium in 2020. Employers who have not yet reported their 2020 payroll still have time to submit their information to receive the surplus distribution.

This announcement builds on the government’s commitment to protecting Manitobans from the impacts of COVID-19 and Eligible employers will receive a credit based on 40 per cent providing financial relief to businesses during these uncertain of their 2020 premium. times. Province Marks Earth Day with $20 million Investment in Provincial Parks

Premier Pallister and Climate and Conservation Minister marked Earth Day on April 22nd and announced the creation of a new $20-million Provincial Parks Endowment Fund that will support park improvements and programming in perpetuity. This endowment fund will assist in offsetting the changing demands and increased costs of enhancing and sustaining provincial parks, including their critical infrastructure.

The Provincial Parks Endowment Fund will be managed by The Winnipeg Foundation and is expected to generate as much as $1 million annually. Funds will be dispersed through a process involving citizen and stakeholder engagement to determine project priorities. The fund also encourages private and philanthropic contributions and enables the province to follow the wishes of generous donors who want to leave a legacy of support for Manitoba’s provincial parks. With a matching formula that provides one dollar for every two dollars donated from other sources, the fund has the capability to grow and support even more projects and improvement.

The fund will support a variety of projects including: • Development and • Habitat restoration and • Municipal servicing maintenance of trails and enhancement; infrastructure; boardwalks; • Historical assets and cultural • Campground enhancements; • Improvements to sites; and amphitheatres, shelters, • Infrastructure to support • Interpretive infrastructure to playground equipment, programming; support programming. docks and launches; • Machinery and operational • Park road maintenance; equipment;

Happy Earth Day! Manitoba PC MLAs continue to implement Manitoba’s greenest climate strategy. Manitoba Providing over $50 million to Support Dental Care and Training for EIA Recipients

The Manitoba government is providing $32 million over three years to ensure ongoing high- quality dental care for Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) recipients and children in care, while creating a new $20-million endowment fund to help those receiving assistance regain their independence through employment. The Manitoba government supports dentists to provide basic dental care to EIA recipients and children in care through a funding agreement with the Manitoba Dental Association, in which the province covers a portion of the costs. The province is providing more than $32 million to extend the agreement for an additional three years, further protecting vulnerable Manitobans by ensuring continued dental care. The province is also supporting EIA recipients with assistance gaining employment through the $20-million endowment fund to be managed by The Winnipeg Foundation. Annual revenue from the fund will be distributed as grants to community partners and agencies to enhance training and opportunities that help EIA recipients find employment and regain their independence. The minister said these opportunities for assistance could include wage subsidies, work placements, financial and wellness supports, culturally appropriate pre-employment programs, and unique partnerships with employers and community supports. Applications for the grants are expected to open in 2022.

The province is providing more than $32 million to extend the agreement for an additional three years, further protecting vulnerable Manitobans by ensuring continued dental care.

Province Investing $2.5 Million in Trails to Support Outdoor Recreation For Manitobans

The Manitoba government is investing an additional $2.5 million to establish the Manitoba Trails Strategic Fund in order to help create, maintain and expand recreational trails across the province. Outdoor recreation is very important and one of the safest ways to support physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment will help support the development and maintenance of new trails across our province, giving Manitobans opportunities to engage in activities that are beneficial for their health and well-being while following public health guidelines The Manitoba Trails Strategic Fund has been developed in partnership with Trails Manitoba to provide grants totalling up to $2.5 million to help ensure equitable, provincewide support for trail projects. These funds will encourage collaboration with local organizations and municipalities for trail expansions and improvements. In 2020, the province committed $7.5 million in funding to be managed by The Winnipeg Foundation and administered by Trails Manitoba for the establishment of trail-related funds including operating funding for Trails Manitoba, the Trails Grant for Manitoba and the dedicated Trails Grant for Winnipeg. The demand for trails and active transportation routes has exceeded all expectations with enthusiasm from across the province. Province Introduces Legislation to Provide Education Property Tax Rebates to Manitobans

This week, the Manitoba the province has drafted a and a 10 per cent rebate on government introduced the stand-alone bill that would other properties in 2021. The Education Property Tax entrench the 2021 rebates in bill would also provide for Reduction Act, which would legislation and establish an corresponding reductions in allow nearly $250 million obligation on government to various existing education in education property tax pay out the new school tax property tax-related credits rebates to be provided to rebate to property owners. and rebates to ensure that all Manitoba property owners. property owners are paying As part of Budget 2021, the The province would provide 25 per cent less on residential rebate cheques would provide a 50 per cent education and farm properties, rebates averaging $1,140 per property tax rebate directly to regardless of whether an property owner over the next residential and farm property owner qualifies for existing two years. In order to provide owners over the next two credits and rebates. Manitobans with rebates as years (25 per cent this year soon as possible this spring, and 25 per cent next year)

Social Media Corner

Many PC MLAs received their Brad Michaleski, MLA for Dauphin, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Minister marks highlights new investments this week to protect themselves Earth Day by participating in in affordable housing options and the community, including a local garbage cleanup project. in Dauphin. Minister .