MGEU sounds alarm over proposed bargaining unit contraction

A union representing Manitoba health-care workers says it's worried home care workers and health-care aides may be forced to take on unfamiliar roles as a result of a decision this week by the province.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, which represents 17,500 health workers, said Thursday it has grave concerns about a new regulation that would place home care workers and health-care aides in hospitals and personal care homes in the same bargaining unit.

MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky said she's been told government wants the flexibility to use the workers and aides interchangeably. She said this news is upsetting both groups, some of whom have told her they'd rather quit than be forced to take on a new role.

"A good health-care system needs to support (its) health-care workforce, not stress them out and turn their lives upside down," Gawronsky said at a news conference. "Only a high-priced consultant who isn't working on the front lines would try to improve quality of care by shuffling health workers around the system."

Quiet opening fitting for controversial site

One of this city’s most loudly debated facilities — after all the angst, all the opposition and all the vocal support — began operations in the most low-key way possible.

There was none of the usual fanfare that accompanies a new social or medical offering, no news conference, no speeches. Only a quiet Tuesday, around which was woven a lot of hope, and a great deal of worry.

Winnipeg’s first supervised drug consumption site has been a long time in the making. It’s been just over two years since the province first announced it would partner with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre to design and open the site; advocates had been calling for a supervised consumption facility for years.

But the launch, originally eyed for 2025, was repeatedly delayed as the province and service providers sorted out approvals and negotiated community concerns. In the meantime, the drug crisis in Winnipeg kept growing, with paramedics burdened by a skyrocketing number of overdose calls.

Today’s horoscope

MOON ALERT: After 4:30 a.m. there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The moon is in Aquarius.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Your interactions with friends and members of groups might be intense. Someone might do something that catches you off-guard. Or perhaps, you’ll meet someone unusual? Very likely, you’ll feel sympathetic for someone else, and you might look for ways to help them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Manitoba Book Awards

releases short list

The Manitoba Book Awards has unveiled the short lists for the literary prizes to be presented this year.

For the 2026 awards, jurors evaluated 42 submissions in both English and French, and will present six prizes in total for best first book as well as best fiction, non-fiction and poetry, plus the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award and a prize for French literature.