A “Made in Manitoba” Crisis

Previously published in the Winnipeg Free Press July 14, 2023

By Katherine Burley, Robert Chernomas, & Ian Hudson

On July 11 a rally to “ Save Public Health Care” took place, timed to coincide with the meetings of the Canadian premiers in Winnipeg. While provinces across the country are facing health care challenges, Manitoba’s system needs more saving than average.

The Manitoba government has prioritized parsimony over quality, applying its broad-based agenda of cost cutting and privatization to healthcare. In April 2017, Manitoba introduced a vision for overhauling the province’s healthcare system, entitled Manitoba’s Health System Transformation. This multi-year project, intended to bolster healthcare coordination and reduce costs, has involved cuts, closures, and massive restructuring. While this project was sold as a rationalization that would improve efficiency, it has demoralized the province’s healthcare workers and has compromised the care they are able to provide.

Child care also an austerity victim

Susan Prentice and Jesse Hajer

Previously published in the Winnipeg Free Press August 29, 2023

August 25, 2023

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Manitoba research, published in 2017 in collaboration with Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, suggests that the costs of the landfill search for Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are dwarfed by the spiritual, emotional, social and economic costs of ongoing inaction to prevent MMIWGTS+ and to seek justice for families.  Fixation on the search costs distracts from these much, much larger costs.

The Parental Rights Trojan Horse

A shorter version was published in the Winnipeg Free Press August 21, 2023

Parental rights are a dog whistle for regressive politics that harm and bully 2SLGBTQIA+ students and community members. They are also a distraction from other substantial changes the government could be making to improve the well-being of children in schools–an actual priority of parents in this province.

Manitoba can’t afford cuts to parks, environmental protection

By Mark Hudson

Previously published in the Winnipeg Free Press August 15, 2023

Slashed to the bone: Austerity and Manitoba crown corporations

By Niall Harney and Lynne Fernandez

Previously published by the Winnipeg Free Press, August 5, 2023

Manitoba Government Cuts Undermine Safety and Justice

By Elizabeth Comack and Amelia Curran 

A Made in Manitoba Crisis

Previously published in the Winnipeg Free Press July 15, 2023

A large crowd of people joined the Save Public Health Care Rally, which went from the corner of Broadway and Main to the Union Centre — across the street from the Fort Garry Hotel, July 11, 2023. (Mike Thiessen / Winnipeg Free Press)

New report chronicles job loss impacts of privatization of MTS & acquisition by Bell 

For Immediate Release (Winnipeg, Treaty One). A new report published today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives documents the economic impacts of the Manitoba Telecom Service (MTS) privatization and subsequent acquisition by Bell. 

Response to P3 lobby: letter to the editor

Further to the P3 debate: CCPA Manitoba research and analysis is debunking corporate rhetoric and damaging public policy in Manitoba.