Russia has invaded Ukraine. It is heartbreaking.

My heart breaks for Ukraine. Eighty-nine years ago, in the winter of 1932-1933, was the Holodomor, a famine in Ukraine which is today recognized by Ukraine, Canada and other countries as a genocide of the Ukrainian people carried out by the Soviet government. Somewhere between 3.5 and 10 million people died in Ukraine. Today in the winter of 2022-2023, Russia has invaded Ukraine. People in Ukraine face almost impossible odds, but we hope for them and we in Canada must do what we can to support people in Ukraine. Manitoba Liberals yesterday called for an early return of the Manitoba Legislature to debate and discuss the situation with all MLAs being able to contribute their ideas. The early return of the Legislature has been rejected, but we will have a matter of urgent importance - dealing with the situation in Ukraine - brought forward on Wednesday March 2, the second day of our session. It is not soon enough, but it will have to do.

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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

The Gerrard Report

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