Pallister cuts to heart of what is needed in public health by cutting help for women who want to breastfeed

Many, many women, children and health professionals gathered at the Manitoba Legislature today to protest against the Pallister government's cuts to breastfeeding services. Lactation consultants who provide breast feeding advice are at the very core of good public health services. Breastfeeding can make a difference to children, a difference which lasts a lifetime. It can help with attachment between mother and child. It can help in reducing diabetes later in life. It can help in reducing infections and other health issues in the first year of life. And, as I heard from one of the women at the rally today, advice on breastfeeding is vital. Breastfeeding is hard for a first time mother. Help from an experienced lactation consultant can make a big difference. Help from an experienced lactation consultant can save a lot of dollars in health care and other costs in the future. The Pallister is not just cutting around the edges. This is a core service, and one which is absolutely vital to mothers and children and to our society as a whole. I was glad to see so many out today. Thank you all for coming. I will be with you fighting this awful Pallister government every step of the way.

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Being able to participate matters - Let’s build a more inclusive, accessible Manitoba

Too often, our homes, buildings, and outdoor spaces are designed without sufficient consideration given to how they will impact little people, those with large bodies, or those with disabilities. Manitoba should become a leader in designing and building new structures so they’re comfortable and accessible to all. Further, the province needs to do more to adapt our existing infrastructure, so that it meets everyone’s needs. The design of our built environment makes daily living a challenge for too many. A friend, who uses a wheelchair, must call ahead wherever she goes to ensure she can enter a restaurant, store, salon, etc. A young person in River Heights has a struggle each fall to make sure that with his cerebral palsy he is able to get the support he needs to do well in school. A large-bodied man I know has been bedridden for five months because he lacks access to a usable lift or wheelchair. Samantha Trubyk, President of the Little People ...

Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March. South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory. The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions. This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14. Manitoba ( red line ) started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then. South Dakota ( blue line ) has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4. Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations

Debating the importance of the french language, education in french and french services in Manitoba

Thursday, May 17, we had a debate on a resolution on french language education and french language services in the Manitoba. The debate arose because the Pallister government has made major cutbacks in french language education. In part these cuts have reduced the status and funding for le Bureau de l'éducation française which is the division of the Department of Education which deals with education in french. Several items are notable: The Pallister Conservatives block a motion to have the normal full hour of debate. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I have a question. Before I ask it, this is a pretty important subject and I'd like to have leave to make sure that we have a full hour of debate, and so the debate would go 'til about 12:15. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Has there been leave to go to 12:15? An Honourable Member: Agreed. An Honourable Member: No. Mr. Deputy Speaker: N...

The Gerrard Report

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