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.

Submitted by the Province of Manitoba

advance of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Dec. 6, the Manitoba government is providing new supports to help protect victims of crime, including gender-based violence, announced, Dec. 4, by Justice Minister Cliff Cullen and Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox, minister responsible for the status of women.

“The Manitoba government is committed to assisting victims of crime, including gender-based violence, through provincial programming and by supporting the work of community agencies,” said Cullen. “We recognize that supporting victims of crime and addressing gender-based violence requires collaboration across government departments and with people in our communities who are impacted.”

Today, the ministers released the province’s new Framework to Address Gender-based Violence and, to help support the framework’s priorities, announced $5.6 million for agencies that provide support to victims of crime. Both announcements support the recommendations of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) National Inquiry Calls for Justice.

The framework was created by Manitoba’s Gender-Based Violence Committee of Cabinet, established in 2018 to provide a whole-of-government approach. The framework will guide the integration of services and co-ordination of policies, legislation and initiatives across government.

“The increased stress of COVID-19 has resulted in an increased likelihood of violence with intimate partners and relationships at home, and it is especially important that we take concrete action to address gender-based violence in all its forms,” said Cox. “Our framework focuses on prevention, support and intervention to ensure actions are responsive, inclusive and community-informed moving forward. We’re pleased to make a substantial investment of dedicated funding to help support the priorities and actions of the framework.”

The framework, which is rooted in research, principles and recommendations of several reports and advice from community stakeholders, aims to prevent gender-based violence by challenging the pervasiveness of abuse and addressing the underlying attitudes and norms that perpetuate it.

Government committed to taking action in the following areas over the next three years:
• addressing root causes and systemic drivers of gender-based violence;
• providing direct assistance to survivors and victims of gender-based violence to make sure they get the right help at the right time to reduce the impact of the violence and support healing; and
• intervening and supporting people who have committed gender-based violence to help end the cycle of violence.

The province is issuing a call for proposals to divide $5.6 million in available funding in the following two categories:
• Indigenous-led agencies developing projects to address violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people, a key MMIWG inquiry recommendation; and
• community-based organizations developing projects to support victims of crime including proposals for new and expanded work with victims of crime, gender-based violence, or in response to MMIWG inquiry recommendations.

The ministers noted the open call for proposals is inclusive to a wide variety of community-based organizations to ensure the greatest impact on the diverse needs of victims of crime. Projects selected will help ensure victims of crime receive a range of community-based supports, which could include culturally based, trauma-informed supports such as counselling and healing, legal information, crisis services, peer support and advocacy.

The $5.6 million comes from a reallocation of surplus funds from the Victim’s Assistance Fund. More information about the call for proposals will be communicated to eligible agencies in the coming weeks.

Manitoba’s Framework to Address Gender-based Violence is available at www.gov.mb.ca/msw, along with a What We Heard document detailing stakeholder engagement at http://engagemb.ca. 

Submitted by the Province of Manitoba

The province has issued a ministerial order that enables professional nursing colleges to modify their criteria to allow licensed nurses from other provinces and retired nurses to work in Manitoba, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced Dec. 4.

“In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that we put the focus on getting as many qualified health-care professionals as possible into the workforce to help protect Manitobans,” said Friesen. “By enacting temporary changes to nursing registration requirements, nurses from other provinces and retired nurses will be able to get licensed more quickly in Manitoba.”

The minister discussed with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba and College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba that licensed nurses from other provinces and former members of each respective college, who are typically retired nurses, may now be eligible to work in Manitoba during this emergency, provided they can meet the modified criteria for registration.

“Through effective collaboration between our partners in government and in nursing regulation, our goal is to be responsive to the needs created by the pandemic, while ensuring public safety,” said Jennifer Breton, executive director, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM). “These changes allow the CLPNM to efficiently license qualified former licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and LPNs registered in other jurisdictions to join Manitoba’s nursing workforce in a timely and efficient manner.”

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have worked closely with the ministry, our nursing regulatory colleagues and health system leaders, and have implemented timely processes for registration of safe, qualified registered nurses to support the pandemic response in our province,” said Katherine Stansfield, CEO/registrar, College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba. “These changes allow us to continue that important work in service of the public interest.”

“This ministerial order enables the expedited temporary registration of qualified registered psychiatric nurses to assist with dealing with the threats of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Laura Panteluk, executive director/registrar, College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba. “We are committed to continuing to work with all of our partners in the health system on this important issue and to assist in Manitoba’s pandemic response.”

The colleges must be satisfied the individual is able to practice competently. These measures are in place for at least six months to ensure nursing resources are available in the immediate future, the minister noted. 

“We welcome and appreciate any nurses who respond to this call to lend a helping hand to care for Manitobans during this pandemic,” said Friesen. “We have the strictest measures of any province in place to fight the spread of COVID-19. Adding extra capacity to our health-care system to care for those who need it is another way our government is protecting the health and safety of Manitobans.”

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.

For up-to-date information on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, visit:
https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/index.html.