COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – PCs are working for Manitobans

As we welcome in the new year, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes to each and every one of you. I sincerely hope you had a fulfilling and restful holiday season, and may 2026 bring you happiness, good health, and new opportunities. Happy New Year!

As the official opposition our Manitoba PC caucus, under the leadership of Obby Khan, continued working hard through to the end of 2025, introducing new legislation and holding the NDP government accountable.

On Dec. 1, the PCs called for a public inquiry into Manitoba’s failing healthcare system following the deaths of three patients awaiting care, and the unprecedented “grey-listing” of two Manitoba hospitals at the same time. Grey-listing is a term used by the Manitoba Nurses Union to indicate that a workplace is unsafe for nurses, as well as for support staff and patients. Hospital nurses voted to grey-list the Health Sciences Centre last August, and voted to grey-list the Thompson General Hospital the following November. St. Boniface Hospital is set to be voted on by nurses, possibly this February, which could result in the concurrent grey-listing of three Manitoba hospitals. The last time a Manitoba hospital was grey-listed was in 2007, under the previous NDP government.

Also in December, as MLA for Lac du Bonnet and in my role as PC education critic, I introduced two pieces of PC legislation aimed at enhancing student safety while riding on school buses in Manitoba. Bill 220, the School Bus Seat Belt Safety Act, brings in new safety requirements to ensure that all newly-manufactured school buses are equipped with modern, three-point seat belts, and that schools adopt clear policies for their use. These new safety measures will help to protect students by reducing the risk of injury in the event of crashes or sudden stops. Many are aware of the recent school bus accident on Jan. 13 in Swan River that saw 14 students and the driver of the bus treated at the local hospital, and four of the students were then air-lifted to Winnipeg hospitals for further care. I’m not a fortune teller but I strongly believe that had they been wearing seatbelts, certain injuries could’ve been prevented. My thoughts and prayers go out to the students and all those involved.

In addition, I introduced Bill 221, which amends the Highway Traffic Act to increase fines for drivers who illegally pass a school bus that is stopped for students while boarding or un-boarding. This legislation will create even higher fines for those convicted of repeating this offense. Bill 221 motivates drivers to obey the rules, and promotes safer roads for all Manitoba communities. I look forward to having both pieces of legislation pass by June, 2026.

On a positive note, after two years of advocating by our PC caucus in the legislature to reduce the breast cancer screening age to 40, Manitoba is moving forward to lower the self-referral screening age for breast cancer from 50 to 45. Re-introduced as Bill 213 in December by PC health critic and Roblin MLA Kathleen Cook, the Earlier Screening for Breast Cancer Act is legislation that sets a firm deadline to lower the breast cancer screening age to 40 no later than Dec. 31, 2026. There is more work to be done, but thanks to the continuing efforts of MLA Cook and hundreds of survivors and advocates, it is a step in the right direction benefitting Manitoba women.

In celebration of reading and literacy, every February is “I Love to Read Month” in Manitoba. It is always a great honour for me to participate by reading to the students in our schools within the Lac du Bonnet constituency.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at wayne@wayneewasko.com, or call me at 204-268-3282. Also, you can follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @wayneewaskomla and friend me on Facebook.