Submitted by Province of Mantioba

The annual Legislative Building open house is moving online this year so that Manitobans can continue to celebrate the holiday season with their elected officials.

“The Legislative Building open house is another shining example of the creativity and prairie resourcefulness of Manitobans,” said Lt.-Gov. Janice C. Filmon. “This celebration is just one of the ways to embrace the holiday spirit, enjoy fabulous homegrown talent and reflect on the many reasons we are so grateful to call Manitoba home.”

The open house launches Friday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. and will feature a concert with a talented assortment of artists highlighting the very best of Manitoba. The virtual open house will feature performances by The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, William Prince, The Lytics, Sweet Alibi, JP Hoe, Al Simmons, Rayannah and Duncan Mercredi.

“This year, as with many of our holiday traditions, we will have to celebrate differently in order to stay safe and protect each other,” said Premier Brian Pallister. “We look forward to all Manitobans being able to join us virtually this year as we celebrate the season from the safety of their own homes.”

The Legislative Building open house is just one of the online programs to take place in December as part of the province’s new Safe at Home Manitoba campaign.

The Safe at Home Manitoba grant provides $3 million to a wide variety of Manitoba organizations and individuals who are able to produce free programming such as live streaming of the performing arts, cooking at home classes, at-home fitness programs and home-based art programs for children.

For more information on other online programming, including Festival du Voyageur, Sport Manitoba, the Manitoba Museum, as well as Manitoba Parks, visit the Safe at Home Manitoba website at www.safeathomemb.ca.

To watch the Legislative Building open house and view a full copy of the event agenda, visit:https://safeathomemb.ca/events/the-legislative-holiday-show/.

Manitobans can also get event details by visiting the Facebook Event page: https://fb.me/e/3YbtPHdL8.

Submitted by Province of Manitoba

The Manitoba government has worked with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba to expedite the registration of up to 39 internationally educated nurses so they may enter the workforce, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen and Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler announced today.

“Nurses are critical in our fight against COVID-19. Finding a way to safely allow these internationally educated nurses to enter into the nursing profession right now will address some of the strain our health-care system is facing,” said Friesen. “With today’s announcement, we are strengthening Manitoba’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Bridging Pathway for Internationally Educated Nurses program at Red River College provides employment opportunities to nurses upon registration. However, a group of up to 39 nurses that successfully completed BPIEN has not been able to register with the CRNM due to testing delays caused by COVID-19.

The minister reached out to CRNM and worked together to allow this group of nurses to practice either as graduate nurses or on a temporary full registration. The changes will make qualified, internationally educated nurses eligible to be placed on the graduate nurse registration, even if they have not written and passed the national nursing exam (NCLEX-RN), or if they have not written the language test or have an expired language test score.

Internationally trained nurses who have written the NCLEX-RN and passed an English language test but whose score time-expired, will be eligible to be placed on a temporary full registration.

Last week, CRNM contacted all 39 internationally educated nurses to follow through with their registration process at the college. Already this week, 15 of those nurses were registered, received offers of employment and are working in their profession.

“Newcomers have always been an essential part of Manitoba’s workforce,” said Eichler. “Highly skilled, internationally educated professionals are able to respond to our labour market needs and begin protecting Manitobans.”

Due to COVID-19 public health orders, the Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses test is not currently available. Current test results are one of the final steps in the licensing process. Once available, the nurses will need to complete the test in order to gain full licensure.

Submitted by Province of Manitoba

A contract to study and evaluate Manitoba’s provincial parks has been awarded by Travel Manitoba to Manitoba-based firm Meyers Norris Penny in combination with HTFC Planning and Design and Prairie Research Associates, Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard announced today.

“We are excited at the possibilities this review will explore as we continue to look for options to improve the number of visitors and enhance their experiences at Manitoba’s provincial parks,” said Guillemard. “Parks are the jewels of our province and we intend to make them even better. Our parks are not for sale. They are ready for reinvestments after many years of neglect. I am excited to see what this study has in store.” 

The goal of the Travel Manitoba-funded study is to consider the current state of Manitoba’s provincial parks and to review all options for improved parks services, as well as to develop additional facilities and amenities. The review will also consider how other jurisdictions, provincially and nationally, manage parks and will provide options for revenue generation in order to sustain high-quality, public provincial parks. It will conclude with recommendations for the development of a new Manitoba provincial parks strategy.

“Manitoba’s provincial parks offer residents and visitors alike a range of outdoor pursuits,” said Colin Ferguson, president and CEO, Travel Manitoba. “We look forward to the recommendations of the study to help us determine how we can make our parks an even more enjoyable experience for all.”

The transparent review process will survey provincial park users, cottage owners, business owners who operate within the parks and special interest organizations, the minister noted.

The study is expected to conclude in the spring of 2021 with a report delivered to the minister from Travel Manitoba.
 
Manitobans can stay up to date with provincial parks news, activities and events by following the social media accounts www.facebook.com/MBGovParks or www.twitter.com/MBGovParks.

Submitted by the Province of Manitoba

On Dec. 4, I was pleased to take part in a videoconference with my provincial and federal counterparts on the Ministerial Conference of the Canadian Francophonie.

Manitoba is home to a significant and dynamic French-speaking population, and I appreciated the opportunity to discuss issues of importance and to share the priorities of Manitoba’s francophone community.

During today’s meeting, my fellow minsters and I reaffirmed our commitment to work together in promoting the Canadian Francophonie and improving services and communications in French, especially in light of emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

I also shared our government’s priorities as we work to protect and enhance services and supports to our francophone communities including:
• working with other jurisdictions to adopt best practices in the provision of services in French,
• promoting bilingualism as a key driver for post-COVID economic recovery, and
• reaffirming the equal partnership between provinces and territories and the federal government in ensuring the vitality of francophone communities.

The French language is an integral part of our province’s history and its future. I look forward to continued partnership as we work to support and strengthen our francophone community for generations to come.