Despite past economic challenges and future storm clouds ahead, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has set out a positive future path for the province. One that he says will make Manitoba a “have province.”
The Throne Speech read in the Manitoba Legislature outlines the issues facing the province, including trade wars with the United States and China, threats to Canadian sovereignty, and drought and historic wildfires displacing 35,000 people.
While capitalizing on emerging opportunities and tackling new challenges, the government used the Throne Speech to reaffirm its core election commitments.
The key highlights of the Throne Speech include:
- Strengthening healthcare and improving patient experience
- Tackling affordability
- Protecting the Economy
- Protecting Manitoba’s environment and fighting climate change; and
- Next Steps for growing the Port of Churchill.
Strengthening Healthcare and Improving Patient Experience
With wait times still a challenge and healthcare still top of mind with Manitobans, the Throne Speech reaffirmed the government’s election commitment to strengthen healthcare, improve patient outcomes and ensure care is there when people need it.
After two years of focusing on improving staffing and changing workplace culture for healthworkers, the Throne Speech signaled the government’s focus to improving efficiency and patient experience.
The rollout will include new access to digital healthcare in January 2026 with a new patient portal for Manitobans to access lab results and immunization records. This compliments the new plastic health cards the government rolled out earlier this year.
Tackling Affordability
The Throne Speech referenced forthcoming steps to make life and housing more affordable.
It committed to implement new rules to stop unfair rent increases and strengthen renters’ rights.
Additionally, the Throne Speech committed to a new provincial study to find new ways to save Manitobans’ money on groceries.
The government also used the Throne Speech to commit to continue to build more affordable housing units and support wastewater projects across the province.
Protecting the Economy
With Manitobans feeling the impact of an economic downturn over the past two years and new threats from external trade forces, the government pledged new steps to strengthen the economy while reaffirming its commitment to balancing the budget in its first term.
As part of its plan to Trump-proof the economy, the Throne Speech commits to building new dual-fuel combustion turbines in western Manitoba, which will generate 750 megawatts of power.
The Thone Speech also committed to exerting continued pressure on the federal government to take action to protect pork and canola producers amid Chinese tariffs.
Protecting Manitoba’s Environment and Fighting Climate Change
Since the trade war kicked off, skepticism among Manitobans has grown over the government’s commitment to the environment.
Responding to those concerns, the Throne Speech recommits Manitoba to take climate action. Manitoba’s Net Zero plan is being put in motion, with next steps rolling out in Spring 2026 which will include legislative changes.
Building off Manitoba’s clean energy advantage, the Throne Speech also committed to building Manitoba’s hydrogen energy sector.
Next Steps for the Port of Churchill
As expected, given federal and provincial support for expanding and modernizing the Port of Churchill, this key strategic economic development project was front and centre in the Throne Speech.
The Throne Speech emphasized the importance of Indigenous partnership in this project, and confirmed Canada’s first Crown-Indigenous Corporation will be enshrined into law.
Manitoba’s Crown-Indigenous Corporation will build a business and environmental case for the trade corridor and will be conducting a feasibility study this winter on expanding the shipping season.
What This Means
Premier Wab Kinew’s government continues to focus on fixing healthcare while pivoting to economic and affordability issues that are top of mind for Manitobans.
With the Kinew government still riding high in the polls, Manitobans will have the final say on whether this third Throne Speech will continue to bring charm for the most popular Premier in Canada.