At the start of the new legislative session, Manitoba’s provincial government has unveiled its latest speech from the throne, delivered by the Honorable Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville on November 18.

It also marks the first time in Canadian history that a provincial throne speech is being published in Anishinaabemowin, the language from which Manitoba’s name is derived.

Beginning with healthcare, the NDP government promises to shift their focus from shoring up the healthcare workforce to taking a more patient-centric approach. A safer healthcare environment for patients can be had, the government says, by ending the practice of mandatory staff overtime, beginning with nurses on the front lines.

“You wouldn’t get on a plane with a pilot who’s worked two back-to-back shifts,” read Neville. “Why should you go to an ER where nurses have been asked to do that very thing?”

As well, staff-to-patient ratios will be legislated in areas of priority. Institutional safety officers will become a fixture in some Manitoba hospitals and two police officers will be stationed full-time to the Health Sciences Centre. 

When it comes to long-term care, the government promises 141 new personal care home beds in the coming year along with additional staff available for homecare services.

Come January, residents will have access to digitized health cards. Around the same time, a new patient portal will be created, giving people online access to lab results and immunization records.

Patients will soon have the ability to skip the doctor and get prescriptions for birth control, urinary tract infections, and common ailments directly from their pharmacist.

New paramedics will be trained through the creation of 14 new spots in Red River Polytechnic’s primary care paramedic program. At the same time, the government pledges to hire every paramedic coming out of the advanced classes.

Also among the newest initiatives are those intended boost the economy and lower costs for Manitobans. The NDP will initiate a provincial study in the hopes of helping Manitobans save money on groceries.

In partnership with First Nations and the Red River Metis, Canada’s first Crown/Indigenous corporation will be formed. 

“The Manitoba Crown-Indigenous Corporation will build the best businesses and environmental case for a trade corridor to Churchill,” Neville read. 

Further, the government promises to invest more in the protection of intellectual property, establish sovereign AI infrastructure, and increase business access to the digital economy.

“To help Trump-proof our economy, we will build new dual-fuel combustion turbines in WestMan, bringing 750 megawatts of power online to help heat our homes on the coldest days of the year,” Neville read. “As we decrease our reliance on the United States, we are increasing our investments in homegrown entrepreneurs and job creators.” 

Rural municipalities can expect increased provincial support in the upcoming budget, too. 

Major infrastructure projects will include the continued twinning of Highway 1 from West Hawk Lake to the Ontario border and an overpass near Dauphin.

The government promises to continue reducing homelessness, create a targeted methamphetamine response, and ban dangerous weapons.

Next fall, the province will break ground on a new correctional facility in Dauphin.

Focusing on the environment, the government will put more muscle into their wildfire response following the worst wildfire season the province has seen in 30 years.

Government efforts will also strengthen Manitoba’s hydrogen energy sector while also focusing on protecting northern wildlife species like the Beluga whale and polar bears.

Another initiative is the introduction of new park-themed license plates based on Manitoba’s provincial parks.

On the education front, the province will institute a new program designed to help kids who are falling through the cracks of the current system.

With advancements in AI, government consultations will be held with parents, educators, students, and experts to ensure the safe use of AI as a tool for learning, not a replacement for it.

“Our first One Manitoba youth summit this winter will give high school students a chance to share their ideas with us and learn from local leaders who overcame challenges to reach their goals and make our province better,” the speech added.