You Are Here: Home > About Arthritis > Arthritis in the News > Arthritis Society's response to Manitoba budget

Arthritis Society's response to Manitoba budget

Stephanie Mosher, Vice President Western Canada 


We applaud the Manitoba government and Minister Cameron Friesen for making the surgical backlog a top priority in yesterday’s budget.  

The $110 million investment announced in the budget is good news for the thousands of Manitobans with arthritis who have been waiting in pain for too long for joint replacement therapy. But we know permanently improving surgical wait times is about more than money, and the creation of a Diagnostic and Surgical Backlog Task Force shows the Manitoba government understands that too.  

We look forward to seeing the implementation of the five-point plan and welcome the opportunity to provide input on the plan and the strategies for wait-list management and patient prioritization. 

 Other specific health investments in the budget include: 

  • Almost $20 million for developing the Seniors Strategy and $32 million for initiatives from the Stevenson Review in regards to personal care homes. 

  •  More than $11 million for increasing nursing enrollment in Manitoba’s postsecondary institutions. 

  • $812 million in continued capital commitment for rural and northern health care under the five-year Clinical and Preventative Services Plan  

  • $17 million for implementing year one of the five-year Action Plan for Mental Health and Community Wellness  

  • $630 million for ongoing COVID-19 response and other contingencies 

Back to News