Premier Wab Kinew tasked new cross-departmental committees with finding solutions to pressing issues in the province including poverty, MMIWG2S+ and gender-based violence, as well as building more opportunity through economic development, and the health and well-being of children in Manitoba.
In a media release, Kinew said, “Manitobans have told us what their priorities are—they want to see a safer, healthier province and one of the ways we can achieve these goals will be through new committees of cabinet. There are many challenges to solve and much for us to accomplish, but we are better when we work together. Our team is ready to get to work and deliver for Manitobans.”
Kinew noted that many of the most urgent issues facing Manitoba need broad, inclusive solutions that require collaboration between multiple government departments, community leaders and other important stakeholders. Four committees of cabinet have been established to make progress in these areas:
-the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S+) and Gender-Based Violence Committee of Cabinet chaired by Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, which also includes Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith (vice-chair), Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Ian Bushie, Billie-Jo Cross (MLA for Seine River), Amanda Lathlin (MLA for The Pas-Kameesak); and Logan Oxenham (MLA for Kirkfield Park);
-the Poverty Reduction Committee of Cabinet co-chaired by Fontaine and Smith, which also includes Health, Seniors and Long-term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Nello Altomare, Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino; Bushie as minister of Indigenous economic development, as well as community representatives Bonnie Emerson (Winnipeg), Dilly Knol (Winnipeg), Jeremy Smith (Dauphin) and Ashling Sweeny (Thompson);
-the Community and Economic Development Committee of Cabinet chaired by Kinew, which also includes Asagwara, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn, Bushie, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, Finance Minister Adrien Sala, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt, and Sukhjinderpal (Mintu) Sandhu (MLA for Maples); and
-the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet which includes Smith, Asagwara, Altomare, Advanced Education and Training Minister Renée Cable, Schmidt, Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Glen Simard, Diljeet Brar (MLA for Burrows); and Mark Wasyliw (MLA for Fort Garry).
Additionally, these further boards and appointments were formalized today:
-Treasury Board, chaired by Sala, and including Asagwara (vice-chair), Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses, Sandhu and Jennifer Chen (MLA for Fort Richmond);
-the Statutes and Regulations Review Board, chaired by Wiebe, and including Fontaine (vice-chair), Naylor, Oxenham and Rachelle Schott (MLA for Kildonan-River East); and
David Pankratz (MLA for Waverley) appointed as military liaison.
-The premier has appointed Sarah Thiele as clerk of the executive council and secretary to cabinet, the most senior role in the Manitoba government’s public service. Thiele previously served as deputy minister for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure since being appointed to that role in September 2020.
“Every day, public servants work hard to keep programs and services running for Manitobans who rely on them. Our government looks forward to building a strong relationship with the public service that is grounded in respect and collaboration. We look forward to rebuilding and strengthening the government’s relationship with the public service because they are at the centre of many programs and services that people rely on every day,” said Kinew. “This begins with the appointment of a new clerk, as well as deputy ministers who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Manitobans will be well-served by the clerk’s strong leadership and her ability to bring people together to focus on the priorities of our province.”
Orders in council with more detail on committees and appointments are posted at Province of Manitoba | Orders In Council (gov.mb.ca)
