On Canada Day, a major story is Canada leading the world in helping bring an end to the recent EBOLA outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

When there is so much concerning news coming from around the world, it is important to highlight one of the good news stories. The recent outbreak of Ebola in the Congo is coming to an end thanks to a vaccine developed in Canada, in Winnipeg. More than 3,000 people who have been exposed to those who developed Ebola have been vaccinated and none who have been vaccinated have come down with Ebola. The use of a treatment using three monoclonal antibodies, also developed in Canada, in Winnipeg, has also helped reduce deaths from Ebola. Canadians who have traveled to the Congo to help with the treatment and the vaccination have also made a contribution. We can be proud, as Canadians, of what we are contributing globally. As I described recently in the Manitoba Legislature, Canadians are leading the way in the fight against Ebola, and also in the fight to reduce HIV and AIDS around the world. Click on this link.

For more on the current outbreak, cick on this link

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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

Pushing for safe consumption sites and safe supply to reduce overdose deaths

On Monday June 20th, Thomas Linner of the Manitoba Health Coalition, Arlene Last-Kolb Regional Director of Moms Stop the Harm and Winnipeg City Councillor Sherri Rollins were at the Manitoba Legislature to advocate for better measures to reduce deaths from drug overdoses, most particularly for safe consumption sites and for a safe supply, measures which can reduce overdose deaths.

There is an imperative to have a provincial plan to ensure every child learns to read

Too many Manitoba children with learning disabilities like dyslexia are not being identified and helped early on starting in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that it is the provinces responsibility to ensure that every child learns to read, and even when, in the case of a child with dyslexia intensive intervention is needed. In 12 years Manitoba has failed to produce a provincial plan to address this issue. We are holding a Forum (see below) on this subject. Please come out to the Forum. There is no cost. Everyone is welcome. To learn more about the need to do better helping children, youth and adults with a learning disability click on this link

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