KLEIN: Fix our house before welcoming more to Manitoba

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In recent years, Manitoba has witnessed a surge in the admission of foreign students and asylum seekers, pushing our province to the brink of a housing and healthcare crisis. The statistics are telling: between Jan. 1 and May 31 of this year, the Canadian government approved 216,620 study permits compared to 200,205 during the same period in 2023. This increase comes amid a housing crisis that shows no signs of abating and a healthcare system that is already stretched too thin.

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The National Post recently reported these startling figures, highlighting how 2023 was already a record year for foreign student admissions into Canada, with over 680,000 permits granted. In January of this year, Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged that the system was being abused, yet the influx continues. This situation is exacerbated by the provincial government’s plans to welcome more asylum seekers, driven by Quebec’s inability to manage its own intake.

Premier Wab Kinew and Mayor Scott Gillingham have both acknowledged Winnipeg’s severe housing crisis, yet the solutions proposed seem inadequate. Multi-family building permits are down over 70% from last year, indicating a slowdown in the construction of much-needed housing units. Meanwhile, hospital wait times have increased since Kinew took office. Manitobans struggle to find family doctors, and the wait times for specialists and MRI scans are growing longer by the day.

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The premier’s solution to these intertwined crises? Bring more people to Manitoba, thereby increasing the pressure on our already overburdened housing and healthcare systems. This approach, while it may generate positive headlines and political points, fails to address the root problems and only serves to exacerbate the situation for both current residents and new arrivals.

Let’s be clear: welcoming more people to Manitoba under the current circumstances is not a solution. It is a disservice to those we invite and those who already call this province home. Before we can extend a warm welcome to newcomers, we must first address the critical issues within our own house.

Healthcare: A System in Crisis

Manitoba’s healthcare system is in dire need of reform. We are competing with every province and state for healthcare workers, and simply offering higher wages is not enough. Although wages have increased significantly, they have not been able to stem the tide of healthcare workers leaving for better opportunities elsewhere.

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We need to think creatively and offer incentives that make Manitoba an attractive place for healthcare professionals. Tax breaks, subsidized housing, and professional development opportunities are just a few ways we can entice healthcare workers to stay. These measures will not only help retain current staff but also attract new talent from other regions.

Housing: A Basic Necessity

The housing crisis in Winnipeg is reaching critical levels. With multi-family building permits plummeting by over 70%, the city is failing to provide adequate housing for its residents. This shortage is compounded by the influx of new residents, putting further strain on an already limited supply.

The city must take decisive action to streamline the permit process for builders. The Planning and Development department needs to remove bureaucratic barriers and expedite approvals to ensure that new housing projects can proceed without unnecessary delays. By becoming the most builder-friendly jurisdiction in Canada, Winnipeg can address its housing shortage and create a more stable environment for all residents.

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A Call for Realistic and Prioritized Governance

The current approach by the NDP government, under Premier Kinew, is unrealistic and short-sighted. We need to focus on fixing our internal problems before extending an invitation to more people. This means prioritizing healthcare and housing, ensuring that every person who moves to Manitoba has access to the services they need.

Welcoming more people without first addressing these issues does a disservice to everyone involved. Newcomers are left to fend for themselves in a system that cannot support them, while current residents continue to suffer from inadequate healthcare and housing.

The Path Forward

To move forward, Manitoba needs a comprehensive and realistic plan. This plan should prioritize:

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1. Healthcare Reform: Implement creative incentives to attract and retain healthcare workers, ensuring that Manitobans have access to quality care.
2. Housing Development: Streamline the building permit process and encourage new housing developments to address the shortage.
3. Realistic Immigration Policies: Temporarily limit the intake of new residents until the healthcare and housing systems are stabilized.

By taking these steps, Manitoba can create a stable foundation upon which to build a thriving, welcoming community for all. It’s time for our leaders to be realistic and prioritize the needs of current residents before extending an invitation to more. Only by fixing our own house can we truly welcome others into our community.

— Kevin Klein is a former Tory cabinet minister, a former city councillor and is the President & CEO of Klein Group Ltd.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

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