May 28, 2021 Province Provides Millions of Dollars for Safe Schools as Pandemic Continues The province is allocating $58 million in new funding for the 2021-22 school year to ensure continued pandemic protection for schools and toward resources to support the mental health and well-being of students and staff. Investments for next school year include: • $40 million for the per pupil allocation to school divisions and independent schools for additional staffing, learning and technology, and health and safety; • $6 million for potential costs for PPE; • $5 million for the Kindergarten to Grade 8 Remote Learning Support Centre for students who are medically compromised; and • $7 million in contingency including a $5-million recovery learning fund. The Kindergarten to Grade 8 Remote Learning Support Centre will support students requiring medical accommodations and not able to return to in-person classes. The centre, operated by St. James Assiniboia and Pembina Trails school divisions, will employ teachers, clinical staff and technical support to provide remote learning for 1,000 students. For the current school year, the province is projected to invest up to $170 million by the end of June including $85 million in federal contributions. Manitoba Education is working with education stakeholders and public health officials to ensure teachers and students are supported as they continue to teach and learn during this global pandemic. It is anticipated there will be some level of public health measures for fall 2021 and the types of measures in the fall will be dependent upon vaccination rollout. MLA Reyes Introduces Bill 233 Recognizing June as Filipino Heritage Month MLA Jon Reyes introduced a Private Member’s Bill this week, Bill 233: The Filipino Heritage Month Act. This Bill will recognize June as Filipino Heritage Month in Manitoba. This has been a traditional month of celebration because of Philippine Independence Day which occurs annually on June 12th. This Bill provides recognition for the social, cultural, political and economic benefits that Filipinos and those of Filipino descent provide to Manitoba. Honourable Cliff Cullen, Minister of Education, hosts telephone town halls The Honourable Cliff Cullen, help shape the roles and town halls, the Minister of Minister of Education and responsibilities of the School Education is completing a the Parent Engagement Task Community Councils and teacher engagement tour Force are hosting telephone explore best practices for across Manitoba. The 37- town halls with Manitobans parent participation and stop tour will hear from from across the province. engagement. frontline educators across The telephone Town Halls the province to find the best To date, three Regional Town will take place in Northern ways to serve students and Halls have taken place in Manitoba, Brandon and improve outcomes. The the Hanover, Evergreen and Rural Manitoba, and in participation so far has been Lakeshore, and Interlake the Winnipeg regions. The very successful in parents and Lord Selkirk districts. first telephone town hall and Manitobans providing The remaining 12 Regional took place May 27, 2021 input in how they want to Town Halls will take place directed in the Winnipeg be engaged in Manitoba’s over May and June. In region. The telephone education system. addition to the 15 virtual town Town Halls are focused on halls and four telephone answering questions that Governments of Canada and Manitoba Partner with Pollard Family on Expanded Affordable Housing Options The governments of Canada and Manitoba announced a partnership with the Pollard family of Winnipeg to build new housing for the protection of vulnerable homeless populations with mental health or addiction issues in Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood. Home First Winnipeg Inc., a non-profit charitable corporation established by the Pollard family to provide safe, quality and affordable housing for Winnipeg’s homeless population, will develop and construct the three-storey, 47-micro-suite apartment building. The Pollards are donating $3.9 million to Home First Winnipeg to go toward the $8-million cost of the development. Construction on the project is expected to begin this summer. The new secure housing complex at 390 Ross Ave. will include a commercial kitchen and common dining area on the ground floor, as well as a living room, game room, TV area for social interaction and a round room for Indigenous cultural activities. Staff will be on-site 24-7 to provide support to residents. The fenced yards will be landscaped, with an outdoor patio and community garden area for tenants. Residents will not be required to live a sober lifestyle, though supports will be provided for those seeking recovery from addictions. The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing more than $1.1 million for the project through the Canada-Manitoba Housing Agreement under the National Housing Strategy, which was signed by both governments in 2019. The 10-year bilateral agreement will provide almost $450.8 million in joint funding to protect, renew and expand social and community housing, and will support Manitoba’s priorities related to housing repair, construction and affordability. Since 2016, the Manitoba government has supported the creation of 713 new affordable and social housing rental units. As well, the province has supported home ownership for more than 220 households through partnerships with municipalities, non-profit organizations and other agencies. MLA Lagassé Introduces Resolution Recognizing Investments in Mental Health and Addictions MLA Bob Lagassé introduced announced 31 initiatives a Private Members valued at more than $50.6 Resolution (PMR) in the million to improve mental Legislature recognizing the health and addictions province’s commitment to services throughout the investing in programs and province. These initiatives services to support mental align with the VIRGO health and addictions report, and support access recovery in Manitoba. Since to evidence-based mental Bob Lagassé 2019, the province has health and addictions care. MLA for Dawson Trail Manitoba Provides over $220,000 to Norwest Youth Hub, Tamarack Recovery Centre The Manitoba government 150 more counselling sessions Addictions Counselling Phone is providing $220,000 to the a month and add more mental Service and provide remote NorWest Youth Hub and health support groups for aftercare services to program Tamarack Recovery Centre for youth. graduates. additional counselling support A further $35,000 is being This funding builds on and staffing resources during provided to Tamarack previous investments in the the COVID-19 pandemic. The Recovery Centre to expand NorWest Youth Hub and other funding will be used to provide its Addictions Counselling mental health and addictions counselling support, additional Phone Service. This non- programs. Since 2019, the staffing resources and crisis support service Manitoba government has physically distanced services provides people with no-cost, announced 31 initiatives including $185,000 to NorWest individualized sessions with valued at more than $50.6 Co-op Community Health for their addictions counsellors. million to improve mental additional staff in the Youth The funding will allow the health and addictions services Hub to support 50 to 100 new organization to dedicate two throughout the province. clients, offer approximately staff members to run the Province Launches Online Engagement Seeking Input on New Recreational Angling Strategy The province is launching • modernizing angling • instituting minor changes online public engagement licenses; to ice-fishing regulation to seek input for changes • changing angling seasons, including contact to Manitoba’s angling possession limits and size information displayed on regulations, which are outlined restrictions to create new permanent ice fishing in Manitoba’s Recreational fishing opportunities while shelters and removal dates; Angling Strategy. This ensuring protection of fish • implementing a future ban strategy outlines proposed populations; on the harvest; and changes to the regulation and management of recreational • use of aquatic live bait, • updating enforcement of angling. Proposed changes in including bait fish and fisheries offences. the strategy include: leeches, to reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species; To learn more about Manitoba’s plans to transform recreational angling, visit https://engagemb.ca/angling The online public engagement will close June 30..