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Manitoba stands to lose up to $40 million a year when scheduled changes to the federal health-funding formula kick in in 2017, according to Premier Greg Selinger.

A problem for Manitoba is it lacks the buying power of a big province like Ontario, which can use its clout to demand better deals from generic and name-brand drug companies. Many provinces, including Manitoba, have been frustrated at Ottawa's refusal to take a lead in developing a national drug plan -- something that could conceivably save Manitoba taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year.

Manitoba has sought alliances with other provinces to save money. It buys cancer drugs in bulk with Saskatchewan, for example, saving roughly $1 million a year. And at their meeting last fall in Halifax, provincial health ministers committed to continuing to discuss a wider bulk-buying strategy.

Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals members hand out picketing information at hospitals

Jan 26, 2016

The entire health-care system in Manitoba would "grind to a halt" if members of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals go on strike, their union president says. About 3,000 health-care workers are threatening to go on strike if the province doesn't step up and offer them a fair deal by Jan. 31. The union has been without a contract for almost two years.

Doctor shortages mean nurses get short end of the stick

Apr 29, 2016

Nurses in rural Manitoba are frustrated with an increasing number of emergency rooms that rely on nurse managed care, says the Manitoba Nurses Union. Under nurse managed care, nurses have access to a remote physician over the phone. The system allows emergency rooms to stay open despite physician vacancies.

'We want to see if it works in the Manitoba context,' says Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen

Sep 07, 2016 4:31 P

Manitobans may be able to pay for an MRI or CT scan after the provincial government completes a review of wait times in the health-care system. Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen was in Saskatchewan last week to meet with provincial health officials and review some of that province's best practices. He said Saskatchewan's experience with privately offered magnetic resonance imaging tests is "interesting" and won't rule it out for Manitoba.

Oct 29, 2013

Winnipeg- Personal care home workers are rallying today for better quality long-term care in Manitoba. The Canadian Union of Public Employees - Manitoba has called today’s noon-time rally at the Manitoba Legislature to bring attention to the need for adequate staffing in the province’s long-term care facilities. “Many of our long-term care homes are consistently short-staffed” says Daniel Richards, Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Local 3729 at Lions Manor, “this means that staff have to take-on additional duties, and are hard-strung to find the time to give the level and quality of care that our elders deserve”.

Health spending to be tackled in a separate review

May 17, 2016

A highly touted province-wide audit designed to cut $50 million in Manitoba government spending won't include front-line health care services, but that doesn't mean it will be spared the knife.

PC leader supports privatization initiatives that leave 'people out in the cold,' Greg Selinger says

Apr 12, 2016

The PCs have polled ahead of their opponents in recent weeks​, and Pallister found himself in the cross-hairs of the other party leaders Tuesday night during a televised debate at the CBC Manitoba headquarters in Winnipeg.

Bill Morneau, Cameron Friesen meet at legislature Monday

Aug 15, 2016

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Monday that Manitoba will get more money from Ottawa this year, after meeting with Manitoba Finance Minister Cameron Friesen at the legislature on Monday. The provinces will get more money this year from Ottawa, Morneau told reporters after consulting with Manitobans at a St. Boniface restaurant with area MP Dan Vandal and Winnipeg Centre MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette.

Aug. 03, 2016

The family of a Manitoba man who died last year filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the federal and Manitoba governments, alleging inadequate health care at the nursing station in Cross Lake, Man.The family said the treatment given to Tyson McKay was not an isolated incident among remote indigenous communities across Canada. “I want to help our people, the indigenous people across Canada and northern Manitoba,” McKay’s brother, Kelvin McKay, said outside the courthouse.

Posted on April 21, 2016

By Scott Price

Seventeen years of NDP governance in Manitoba has come to an end. The Progressive Conservatives, lead by Brian Pallister, have won an unprecedented victory capturing 40 seats and 53% of the popular vote. The Manitoba NDP have been reduced to 14 seats with only 2 (Flin Flon and The Pas) outside of Winnipeg. What now and what should we expect from a Brian Pallister lead PC majority in Manitoba?

'It is an assault on unions, plain and simple, and will negatively affect all working Manitobans'

Jun 23, 2016

Secret ballot union certification votes can be influenced by employers, Mark Hudson argues.

WINNIPEG – On November 20th the Manitoba NDP government presented their annual speech from the throne, a blueprint for the province over the next year. “The government of Manitoba made it very clear to Manitobans that our province is building towards the future” said Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba. “We are proud that our government is committed to responsible, pragmatic initiatives that will build on over a decade of success without resorting to service and job cuts.” The speech highlighted numerous initiatives that affect CUPE members, notably the elimination of interest on Manitoba student loans. “CUPE represents thousands of students, including student and academic support staff at the University of Manitoba, and the elimination of interest on student loans will help workers pursuing higher education complete their studies without massive student debt” said Moist.

29. Jan, 2015

Chinta Puxley The Canadian Press WINNIPEG–Federal government documents show Manitoba is one of the worst places for First Nations people to live in Canada. Internal reports from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development show Manitoba First Nation people are more likely to grow up in poverty, drop out of school, live off social assistance in dilapidated housing and suffer family violence.

Their life expectancy is also eight years shorter than that of other Manitobans. The 10 regional updates spanning 2012 to 2014 lay out the poor living conditions on Manitoba reserves, but offer little concrete action on the part of the government.

3,500 members of MAHCP have been without a contract for almost 2 years, union says

Dec 17, 2015

Bob Moroz, president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP), said members of the union have been without a contract for almost two years.

Mar 16, 2016

Today the Premier of Manitoba officially dropped the writ, beginning a month-long election that will determine the next government of Manitoba on April 19. But what does this election mean for CUPE members? The Conservatives and Liberals want to cut jobs, privatize services, and reverse the gains we have made as workers under the NDP. While election platforms will be rolled out throughout the campaign, we have already seen overtures made by the Conservatives and Liberals that will affect our members. This is a brief overvie

Health Care workers: When the Conservatives were last in power, Brian Pallister was a Cabinet Minister and he cut health care jobs. Many CUPE members remember the impact of these cuts. The Conservatives today are no different. They have already discussed finding ways to reduce the workforce in order to “save money”. In Saskatchewan and Alberta conservative governments have privatized laundry services and cut jobs. The Alberta Conservatives even wanted to introduce fees for health care services. Albertans had enough, and voted in an NDP government. In Ontario and BC, Liberal governments have found “savings” off the backs of workers. In BC, laundry services have been contracted out resulting in job cuts and pay cuts. Liberals in Manitoba would surely follow that lead.

Transcona, Brandon to get new clinics vow NDP, Liberals target seniors with income under $20K

Mar 17, 2016

Health care was a big topic on the campaign trail for Manitoba provincial election candidates on Thursday, with the NDP promising more QuickCare clinics and the Liberals promising free ambulance services for low-income seniors.

The firm will look at whether services are being provided at a reasonable cost, if they're producing good results and if expectations are being met. (File Photo)

November 1, 2016

WINNIPEG – The consulting firm KPMG LLP has been awarded a government contract to find ways to eliminate waste in Manitoba's health care system and improve its efficiency and responsiveness. The province says the government, regional health authorities, Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, Cancer Care Manitoba and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba will be included in the Health Care Sustainability and Innovation Review.

Brian Pallister says he's 'not looking at privatization in the sense of our existing systems'

Apr 13, 2016

Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister is facing questions after he said he would not rule out privatizing parts of Manitoba's health-care system if elected next week. Pallister made the remark at a televised leaders' debate at CBC Manitoba's headquarters on Tuesday evening, prompting attacks from his political rivals and concerns among some voters who do not want to see privatized health-care services.

Jun 1, 2016

The Pallister Government’s first provincial budget offers minor improvements to many important areas of the public sector, says CUPE Manitoba. “We are pleased to see this government’s continuation of funding to health care, education, post-secondary education, and social services,” says Kelly Moist, president of CUPE Manitoba. “In an environment where cuts would have been the ‘easy way out’, we are pleased that this government listened to Manitobans, and has instead maintained or increased funding to many key public services”.

"A major issue for our rural diagnostic health care professionals is recruitment and retention, and being understaffed because jobs are not being filled. These professionals are having to work too much overtime and then have to be on call — it’s exhausting and isn’t sustainable.” — Michelle Gawronsky, President MGEU Winnipeg (9 Aug 2016) — Starting today for the next 2 weeks, workers at Diagnostic Services of Manitoba (DSM) — members of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) Locals 388–390, 392 and 393 — will take a strike vote at meetings across the province.

Employer's final offer didn't address workload and staffing issues