January 6, 2022

Treaty 1 and Dakota Territory, Homeland of the Métis Nation, Winnipeg MB—In the face of record-breaking omicron cases and hospitalizations Manitoba NDP House Leader Nahanni Fontaine urged Premier Stefanson to recall the legislature for an emergency session to address Manitoba’s health care and pandemic crisis.

“Manitobans are scared and worried. They are looking for calm leadership to assure them the province will come out of this pandemic, but so far the Premier has hid from the public and refused to take proactive steps to protect people,” said Fontaine. “The next few months are critical, but by staying out of the legislature, the PC’s will avoid all accountability. Leadership isn’t about hiding. It’s about doing your job, being open with the public and taking responsibility. The Premier needs to get back to work.”

Manitoba’s legislature is scheduled to return early March, but with cases, hospitalizations and staffing shortages spinning out of control, Fontaine wrote a letter to Government House Leader Kelvin Goertzen demanding the PC government recall the legislature to answer the public’s questions before months pass.

“We’re at a tenuous point in this wave for Manitoba families,” Fontaine said. “School has been delayed, testing and isolation norms have been dropped to deal with staffing shortages and community transmission of the virus is the highest we’ve ever seen. Our NDP team is ready to return to the House. We know Manitobans want answers and the Pallister-Stefanson PCs need to come out of hiding to address them.”