On Oct. 7 the Manitoba legislative assembly will resume its spring session that was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am excited to return to the assembly to continue my work advocating and fighting for Northern Manitobans.
Here are some issues I plan on raising in the house:
Better resources for schools: I would like to see more funding allocated to our schools in order to keep students safe and, when the government does allocate funds, I would like to see them actually use the money. The government has sat on its laurels when it has come to a safe education plan, irresponsibly waiting for federal funding to provide students with the safety measures they need. We have seen that schools have been a source of transmission for COVID-19 with the latest outbreaks linked to schools. Action must be taken now to better protect students, caregivers, teachers, educational assistants and other support staff.
Supports for people with disabilities: People with disabilities have received minimal help from the government throughout the pandemic and in many cases were left to fight for themselves. I will push for the supports they need.
Daycare: Women have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic as many mothers have not been able to return to work due to a lack of supports this government has provided, in particular the lack of childcare. As well, workers in the childcare sector are mainly women and they’ve been abandoned while the government continues to try and push their failed home day care plan. They need to invest in childcare centres and existing home daycare so they have the resources needed to raise wages and hire additional staff and provide the supplies needed to keep children and staff safe. I will fight for quality affordable public childcare and will stand up to this governments attempts to privatize childcare.
Supports for people in poverty: Homelessness and unemployment have been on the rise as people lost their jobs during the pandemic and many have been unable to return to work. The government must invest in long-term housing strategies. The government must stop the sale of Manitoba housing units and invest the needed money to make the repairs so units are available for families. Both federal and provincial government must commit to providing housing so that no one has to live on the streets, especially as winter is coming.
Cuts to healthcare: The Pallister government has continued their attack on healthcare, most recently cutting services in rural Manitoba despite the fact that we are experiencing a global pandemic. I will continue to push back against these cuts and do my best to ensure that Northern Manitobans’ healthcare isn’t next on the chopping block.
More supports for the North: The North was left out from the Manitoba recovery plan altogether. I will fight to get Northern Manitobans the support they deserve.
So far the North has handled the COVID-19 pandemic very well and it has largely been due to precautions put in place and the responsible behaviour of its citizens. So to our community members I ask them to continue following public health recommendations, to wear a mask when necessary and to continue to social distance.
Please contact me if you have any comments, questions or concerns at Danielle.adams@yourmanitoba.ca or 204-677-2744.
