PCs End 2025 with Growing Momentum, Disillusioned by NDP Failures on Affordability, Crime, Healthcare
WINNIPEG — Manitoba Progressive Conservatives ended the year and 2025 legislative sitting by calling for urgent action on NDP failures to address affordability, crime, children’s safety, and healthcare. Despite many Manitobans being forced to cut back on their holiday spending, a convicted child sex offender trying to abduct a child at school, and the need for a public inquiry following the deaths of three Manitobans waiting for medical care, the NDP sadly voted to ignore the issues that matter most to Manitobans.
“Affordability is the number-one issue for most Manitobans right now,” said Obby Khan, Leader of the Official Opposition. “It’s the holiday season and a lot of parents are struggling to pay their mortgage or rent, put groceries on the table, and buy Christmas presents for their kids. Sadly, there are a lot of families with fewer presents under the Christmas tree this year. The answer is reducing the NDP tax burden so that you have more money for rent, food, and giving.”
PCs also called out the NDP on their failed record on crime after a registered sex offender was charged with assaulting and attempting to abduct an elementary-aged girl at Winnipeg’s Darwin School. That was followed by news that Manitoba has the highest murder rate in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. Reporting 94 homicides last year, Manitoba’s murder rate is now three times the national average under Wab Kinew’s NDP.
“Why are convicted pedophiles allowed to repeatedly violate their bail conditions,” asked Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen, PC Critic for Justice. “We’re talking about protecting our kids. Wab Kinew and his justice minister continue to fail Manitobans.”
PCs also called for a public inquiry after the deaths of three Manitobans waiting for healthcare. Debbie Fewster died last fall while waiting for heart surgery, Chad Giffin died earlier this year in the ER waiting room at HSC, and just last month, Genevieve Price died at Grace Hospital after waiting 30 hours for care.
“Wab Kinew and his health minister don’t have any answers,” said Roblin MLA Kathleen Cook, PC Critic for Health. “The NDP need to stop pretending everything is fine, launch a public inquiry, and stop making things worse in healthcare.”
After the NDP refused PCs’ call for urgent action every day during the last week of the legislative session, Khan said that Wab Kinew’s failures on affordability, crime, and healthcare are likely behind growing support for Progressive Conservatives.
“We have the momentum. The latest poll shows that NDP support is slipping and PC support is growing,” said Khan. “After two years on the job, Manitobans are starting to see Wab Kinew and his NDP for who they really are. They talk a big game, but when it comes to real action, there’s no substance—only empty promises.”
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For media inquiries, please contact PCCaucus_Media@leg.gov.mb.ca
PC Bills Introduced in 2025/26 Winter Session
* Bill was reintroduced after being rejected by NDP previously.
| Bill | Description |
|---|---|
| 206 — The Specialist Wait Time Reporting Act* | Requires the health minister to publicly report on wait times for consulting with a medical specialist and for receiving care from the specialist. The reports must be made twice each year. |
| 207 — The Health System Governance and Accountability Amendment Act (Reporting When Timely Care Not Available) aka Debbie’s Law* | Requires health authorities to notify patients when life-saving care cannot be provided within medically recommended time frames, give patients out-of-province care options when waits in Manitoba are too long, and mandates reporting of all patient deaths linked to healthcare delays for life-saving procedures. |
| 208 — The Retail Sales Tax Amendment Act (Farmer’s Identification Number)* | Enables farmers to obtain a farmer’s ID number that allows them to not pay tax on products and services that are exempt when used in farming. |
| 209 — The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act (Net-Metering Agreements)* | Compels Manitoba Hydro to enter into agreements to purchase electricity at market rates from private homeowners and businesses that generate excess electrical capacity beyond their own needs through solar power generation. These agreements would offset the cost of installing solar panel arrays and incentivize homeowners and businesses to convert to solar power. |
| 210 — The Criminal Trespassers Act and Amendments to The Occupiers’ Liability Act* | Protects property owners from unjustified lawsuits by criminals who are injured while trespassing. |
| 211 — The Budget Bill Public Accountability Act* | Requires the government to hold at least 10 hours of public committee hearings to ensure adequate public scrutiny of government expenditures and budget measures. |
| 212 — The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Stalking-Related Measures)* | People convicted of criminal harassment (i.e., stalking) can receive an automatic driver’s licence suspension if a vehicle was used in committing the crime. A vehicle can also be seized and impounded if officers discover that the person using the vehicle was committing criminal harassment. |
| 213 — The Earlier Screening for Breast Cancer Act* | The government must lower the initial eligibility age for routine breast cancer screening services to 40 years old by a hard deadline of Dec. 31, 2026, with annual reporting on progress. |
| 215 — The Wildlife Amendment Act* | Increases fines for the illegal killing of protected wildlife species in Manitoba. |
| 220 — The School Bus Seat Belt Safety Act | Brings in new safety requirements that will ensure that all newly-manufactured school buses are equipped with modern, three-point seat belts and that schools adopt clear policies for their use. |
| 221 — The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Increased Penalties for Passing School Buses) | Increase fines for drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus, including even higher fines when a person is convicted of this multiple times. |
| 222 — The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Speed Limits on Provincial Roads) | Allows towns to set the speed limits on provincial roads running through their communities. |
| 223 — The Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Amendment Act | Allows all property owners, including cottage owners who are Canadian citizens over the age of 18, to vote in local school board elections where their secondary properties are located. |
| 224 — The Residency Requirements for Elections Act (Various Acts Amended)* | Updates rules for voter eligibility across Manitoba, reducing the minimum residency requirement from 6 months to 3 months. |
| 225 — The Deaf Awareness Week and Day of Sign Languages Act | Establishes Deaf Awareness Week annually on the last week of September and Day of Sign Languages on Sept. 23. |
| 226 — The Catholic Schools Week Act | Establishes Catholic Schools Week each year during the second week of February. |
| 227 — The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Impaired Driving Measures) | Imposes additional consequences when an impaired driving offence involves bodily injury or death. |
| 228 — The Workers Compensation Amendment Act (Distribution of Surplus Funds) | Requires the WCB to distribute surplus amounts to employers when the Board is in an overfunded position. |
| 229 — The Christian Heritage Month Act | Establishes Christian Heritage Month every December. |