Province Signs Deal with North Dakota to Vaccinate Manitoba Truckers in the United States
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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-
Heather Stefanson, 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 Sarah Guillemard 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 Audrey Gordon 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 Scott Fielding.
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