Manitoba Achieves Second Vaccine Milestone One Month Ahead of Schedule - Manitoba PC Caucus

July 9, 2021

     Manitoba Achieves Second Vaccine Milestone One Month Ahead of Schedule

Manitoba has achieved its second holiday vaccine milestone of the ‘4-3-2-One Great Summer’
reopening path nearly a month ahead of schedule, meaning more than 75 per cent of eligible
Manitobans have received at least one dose and more than 50 per cent of people have received both
vaccine doses. Public health officials have recommended that at least one incubation period should
pass between changing public health orders. As a result, new public health orders are expected next
week to reflect the immunization milestones achieved.

                                                 To help reduce barriers and support even more
                                                 Manitobans to get their first or second dose of
                                                 the vaccine, every super site in the province will
                                                 be offering only walk-ins on Wednesday, July
                                                 14. More than 20,000 vaccines will be available
                                                 including approximately 8,000 Pfizer vaccines
                                                 earmarked for young people aged 12 to 17. There
                                                 will be Moderna and Pfizer vaccines available at
                                                 every super site.

     Per capita, Manitoba continues
     to be first in the country in the
   total number of doses administered
        and percentage of eligible
          people aged 12 or older
           who are immunized at
         129,111 per 100,000 and
       51.1 per cent, respectively.

Province Announces Plan to Increase Nursing Seats
                        and Support Internationally Educated Nurses
The Manitoba government announced plans to add close to 400 new nursing education seats
across the province and to launch a new initiative that will provide financial and process support for
internationally educated nurses (IENs) looking to become licensed in Manitoba.
There are currently more than 800 nursing seats in Manitoba, offered at six publicly funded post-
secondary institutions across the province. The province plans to create close to 400 new seats
over the next few years, starting with intake as early as 2021/2022. The government will work with
post-secondary institutions to identify what steps are needed to ensure they can increase their seat
capacity in a sustainable way.
The province is also launching a separate initiative to help provide IENs already in Manitoba with
financial assistance for assessment and training costs to support their goal of working in the nursing
field. The Manitoba government will provide up to $23,000 per IEN to help cover a variety of costs
that come with obtaining licensure in Manitoba. This includes funding for clinical competence
assessments and bridge training, as well as other related expenses such as living allowance,
transportation and childcare. Supports will be tailored to each individual’s needs.
Those IENs who wish to begin
the process of accessing
financial support can do so
through the new online portal.
Through the portal, individuals
will be asked to provide
information on their education
and experience to help them
plan their steps to be licensed in
Manitoba, as well as determine
what financial supports may
be available to complete these
requirements. IENs who wish              MLA Jon Reyes highlights new financial supports
to apply for these supports can               for IENs to get licensed in Manitoba
visit: tinyurl.com/vennmvn9

     Province Awards Nearly $700,000 for Heritage Resources Conservation Grants

The Manitoba government announced it will be providing $683,740 to support local,
community-based projects for the preservation and enhancement of Manitoba’s heritage
sites. The Heritage Resources Conservation Grant provides funding to community groups,
volunteer organizations and heritage organizations to support projects that demonstrate a
commitment toward the conservation and long-term sustainability of heritage resources that
are legally protected under the Heritage Resources Act. A total of 51 projects will receive
funding for a variety of projects that improve the structures and accessibility for those
accessing these important sites.

Province Appoints New Student Advisory Council
                           on Education System Transformation

Minister Cliff Cullen announced the creation of a new Student Advisory Council Council as
part of the Better Education Starts Today (BEST) strategy to provide insights and advice
on issues and topics that are current and emerging for Manitoba kindergarten to Grade 12
students.
The province received close to 200 applications for consideration. The 29 students are aged
14 to 18, and as a whole, represent the diversity of the people in Manitoba, the minister said.
They come with diverse interests, identities, backgrounds and perspectives from across the
province and include Indigenous, French language, LGBTQ, visible-minority students and
students with a disability. Council members will serve a 12-month term starting in August 2021
and ending in August 2022. For more information on the Student Advisory Council,
go to https://bettereducationmb.ca/manitoba-education-student-advisory-council/.

          Canada and Manitoba Invest in New $73 Million Wastewater System
                            in Winkler and Stanley Area

Last week, representatives from the governments of Canada and Manitoba announced
funding for Phase 1 upgrades to the regional wastewater treatment system in the City of
Winkler and the Rural Municipality of Stanley. The announcement was attended by Terry
Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine
McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Reg Helwer, Minister
of Central Services; the Honourable Cameron Friesen, Minister of Justice and MLA for
Morden-Winkler; and Martin Harder, Mayor of Winkler.
This project, the first of two phases, consists of building a new mechanical wastewater
treatment facility in Winkler, retrofitting the first of two existing lagoon cells, and adding two
lift stations in Stanley. The Government of Canada is investing more than $25.2 million in
this project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure
Program. The Government of Manitoba is providing over $21 million, and the municipalities of
Winkler and Stanley are contributing $27.2 million combined.