Changes in practices necessary, if serious about reconciliation

By Anne Lindsey Offer money to leaders in a cash-poor community to gain support for a resource extraction project. Publicly shun and disenfranchise individuals who don’t agree. Deceive people into signing their support without full information. Divide the …

Valley of despair in Manitoba health care

By Brianne Goertzen The overhaul of Manitoba’s health care system has been met with repeated calls to slow down from those on the front lines of care. The consistent and persistent stories from patients and front line workers …

The Big Squeeze between City and Provincial Budgets

By Lynne Fernandez The City of Winnipeg budget is always affected by the provincial budget, but this year Mayor Bowman did his best to reverse that situation. Before, during and after the release of the city’s budget, the …

What is happening to public education in Manitoba?

By Molly McCracken School trustees are consulting with parents and stakeholders for this upcoming year’s school budgets while they seem to be under attack by the provincial government. Education Minister Goertzen had heated exchange with Winnipeg school trustees …

Hard lessons from Europe’s austerity agenda

By Lynne Fernandez First published in the Winnipeg Free Press February 19, 2019 It’s been obvious since his election that Premier Pallister is committed to austerity. His government is cutting public services and staff, reducing funding to municipalities …

Inconsistent Information For Environmental Review: Frac Sand Mining in Manitoba

By Don Sullivan Update from “What the Frack is Happening in Manitoba” Nov. 22, 2018 https://policyfix.ca/2018/11/22/what-the-frack-is-happening-in-manitoba/ The corporation proposing a major mining operation on the shores of Lake Winnipeg is not providing accurate and timely information. This is …

Q & A: Minimum Wage & $15/h Wage in Manitoba

Who earns a minimum wage in Manitoba? What are the benefits to a $15 minimum wage in Manitoba? The benefits of gradually phasing in a $15 minimum wage would be far-reaching: The 5.4% of workers who earn minimum …

The Deep Roots of the Meth Crisis

By Jim Silver First published in the Winnipeg Free Press December 19, 2018 Winnipeg’s meth crisis continues to skyrocket. I think a case can be made that in large part, the meth problem is a reflection of a …

State of the Manitoba Economy: Assessing the Real Challenges

By Lynne Fernandez First published in the Winnipeg Free Press December 18, 2018 As reported in the Free Press,  Brian Pallister is “fixing the province’s finances”, with what he calls small, gradual funding cuts. Two questions arise from …

Why is milk so expensive in First Nations Communities?

By Mengistu Wendimu and Annette Aurélie Desmarais This study finds milk is significantly costlier in First Nations communities than in Winnipeg and Northern Manitoba. The cost was higher in First Nations with and without access to an all-weather …