Advanced Education, Skills & Immigration confirmed UM’s 2022/23 provincial funding allocation as $354,465,526. This is an increase from UM’s 2021/22 allocation of just over $3 million, which the Province has dedicated to the nursing program expansion.

“The University of Manitoba is critical to our province’s economic, social and cultural success,” said Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor. “Previous cuts to UM’s provincial operating grant have been challenging, and we are pleased to see more stable funding this year along with new funding to help meet our province’s pressing need for more nurses.”

In its letter dated February 15, 2022, Advanced Education, Skills & Immigration also confirmed its direction that, “respecting the intent of keeping tuition affordable for students, universities should target 3.75% as the maximum tuition increase this year.”

The full letter is available here.

“We were asked to lead the vaccine rollout because of our strong collaborative relationships with First Nations and our expertise at delivering trusted, culturally safe care in our communities,” said Melanie MacKinnon, a Cree nurse who leads Ongomiizwin, the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing in the UM Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, and is executive director of its Health Services branch.   

“Our goal is to get 100,000 first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine into 50,000 arms in 100 days. I’m the lead of the operation, and my deputy is a federal government representative. So we’re not doing this instead of the federal government, we’re doing it with them.”

The target of immunizing 50,000 adults includes residents of 21 Northern communities that are adjacent to First Nations.

Elders in all 63 First Nations have already been vaccinated, MacKinnon noted, so the project will serve ages 18 to 60 or 70, depending on the age span already immunized.

The massive rollout of health-care personnel, supplies and equipment starts March 15 and is scheduled for completion by July 15. A workforce of about 350 vaccinators will drive or fly to First Nations to ensure that every community has access to the vaccine.

“The University of Manitoba is the only university in Canada to be recognized as having the Indigenous-led clinical operations and public health expertise to direct a project on this scale,” said Dr. Brian Postl, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. “This is a tribute to Ongomiizwin, which is at the forefront of building a new model that empowers Indigenous people to have greater authority over their own health care.”

Ongomiizwin – Health Services, formerly known as the UM northern medical unit, has a 52-year track record of serving communities in northern Manitoba and Nunavut. During the pandemic, it has coordinated the Rapid Response health-care teams that have been deployed more than 60 times by the Manitoba First Nations Pandemic Response Coordination Team (MFNPRCT) to manage outbreaks of COVID-19.

“During the COVID response, First Nations have collectively demonstrated a high degree of competence in health leadership and delivery,” MacKinnon said.

Dr. Marcia Anderson, a Cree-Anishinaabe physician, is vice-dean, Indigenous health of the Rady Faculty, executive director of Indigenous academic affairs for Ongomiizwin, and public health lead for MFNPRCT.

“Through collaboration between First Nations communities and organizations, the federal and provincial governments and the Rady Faculty, we have moved toward the collective vision of First Nations self-determination in health care,” Anderson said. “We look forward to seeing how this current approach, where all partners are bringing their best efforts to meet shared goals, will be translated into the broader health systems transformation in Manitoba.”

Ongomiizwin put out a call to recruit 350 health-care providers – including UM faculty and students in the health sciences – who are willing to commit to at least 10 days of paid work on the vaccination project.

“The response has been incredible,” MacKinnon said. “We surpassed our goal in less than a week. It’s awe-inspiring that so many faculty members, students and health professionals want to be part of this momentous pandemic response.”

Grand Chief Arlen Dumas of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) said: “We fully support this work being done to ensure the safety and well-being of First Nation citizens. We’re pleased to hear of the continued prioritization of First Nation citizens in this next phase of the vaccine rollout. This is a further testament to what can be achieved when all levels work together in unison for the good of all Manitobans.”

The vaccine rollout is being implemented in partnership with the AMC, Southern Chiefs Organization and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak/Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin.

Other organizations supporting the project include the federal government’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Shared Health (Manitoba), the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Red Cross.

According to the press release, this support is to prevent research staff from losing their jobs, safeguard their research and continue their important work after the crisis. Specifically, the funding will:

• Provide wage support for research staff affected by the pandemic and who are unable to access existing COVID-19 supports. The government will provide up to 75% per individual with a maximum of $857

This funding will maintain essential research-related activities and ensure labs can easily return to full capacity once physical distancing measures are removed. This will cover up to 75% of total eligible costs. 

“This new support from the federal government will allow essential research being done at UM to continue during the pandemic,” said Digvir Jayas, vice-president (research and international). “The important research conducted by our researchers is driving discoveries and innovations that are integral to the economic sustainability of Manitoba and Canada through this crisis and beyond.”

As Manitoba’s only research university, the UM drives discovery and inspires minds through innovative teaching and research excellence. UM researchers are world renowned in fields such as Arctic system science, climate change, global health and human rights.

The support totals nearly $9 billion and like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the new emergency benefit will be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency and students may earn up to $1,000 a month while also receiving federal aid.

“I am pleased that the federal government has taken steps to address the gaps in support for post-secondary students during this crisis,” said David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manitoba. “We know students are facing extreme financial uncertainty as we adapt measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. These new federal supports will help supplement the resources the University of Manitoba has made available to its students and ensure they can continue their education without disruption.”

The new supports include:

• The proposed Canada Emergency Student Benefit, which would provide support to students and new graduates who are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
• The new Canada Student Service Grant, which will help students gain valuable work experience and skills while they help their communities during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
• Double the Canada Student Grants for all eligible full-time students to up to $6,000 and up to $3,600 for part-time students in 2020-21.
• Broaden eligibility for student financial assistance by removing the expected student’s and spouse’s contributions in 2020-21, in recognition that many students and families will struggle to save for school this year.
• Enhance the Canada Student Loans Program by raising the maximum weekly amount that can be provided to a student in 2020-21 from $210 to $350.
• Increase existing distinctions-based support for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation students pursuing post-secondary education by providing an additional $75.2 million in 2020-21.
• Extend expiring federal graduate research scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships, and supplement existing federal research grants, to support students and post-doctoral fellows, by providing $291.6 million to the federal granting councils.

“Students are facing an unprecedented challenge as a result of COVID-19,” tweeted Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Economic Diversification Canada) and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency). “Today, our government announced the Canada Emergency Student Benefit to help students not covered by CERB. Whether you recently graduated or a student and counting on summer employment – we have your back.”

As part of this initiative, the Government of Canada will introduce legislation to be considered by Parliament to approve this package.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada also announced new temporary rule changes to facilitate expanded work rights for international students.

As noted in the news release: “thousands of international students are studying in health- and emergency service-related programs, including many who are nearly fully trained and ready to graduate. This temporary rule change provides health-care facilities with access to additional well-trained workers at a time when they are badly needed.”

“This is welcome news for international students who have been heavily impacted by the pandemic,” said Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International) and Distinguished Professor. “The university is committed to supporting our international students during this stressful time.”

On April 24, the Government of Manitoba announced the new Manitoba Summer Student Recovery Job Program under which employers can be subsidized to hire up to five students. With up to $120 million available for employers, it provides a $7 per hour wage subsidy, up to a maximum of $5,000 per student. The program is open to Manitoba students aged 15 to 29, with an employment period from May 1 to Sept. 4.

On May 1, Canadian Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) officially came into effect. CESB provides eligible post-secondary students, including those that are set to begin their studies in the summer or fall and recent graduates, with $1,250 per month from May through August. Students supporting another person who students with a disability qualify for $2,000 per month for the same time period. To receive the benefit, students must attest that they had planned to work full- or part-time but that work is no longer available and that they are actively seeking employment.

Upon graduation from the ICSWP, Olivier shared her proposal assignment with Jayde LaPlante, a Neecheewam Inc. colleague, and the two worked collectively this past summer before submitting the proposal to the Manitoba government.

Because of Olivier’s proposal, the Manitoba government will be investing $3.8 million to expand Neecheewam Inc.’s Winnipeg facility and improve access to Indigenous-led healing, care, and treatment services to sexually exploited youth. 

This new pilot program, currently titled “SAFE Place” will offer a longer-term four-bed treatment facility with a focus on individualized plans to meet the unique needs of each youth through traditional healing and cultural connection.

Olivier will be working with Cory Campbell, UM alumni and executive director, Neecheewam Inc. and Samantha Harris, current student, ICSWP, to develop this new program.

“The Inner City Social Work Program has created an environment and a culture that encourages students to think outside the box to promote change within the community. The program not only offers accessible and flexible education to students, but it also encourages students to follow their passion, dream big, and fight for community change”, says Olivier.

“Although this assignment was challenging for many of the students, the instructor, Bridget Kozyra, encouraged students to make their proposals as real as possible, she expressed the importance proposal writing plays in making community change, and she told students she wanted them to try to make their proposals a reality and to follow their passions,” says Olivier.

“I continue to tell students ‘Don’t ever underestimate the impact coursework has on the community, you never know what gets funded’”, says Bridget Kozyra, ICSWP instructor.

“I’m really proud of the initiative Julie showed. She took a chance on a large-scale idea, she followed her passion and the idea paid off. It was nice to see the connection between the work you do as a student and how it can directly impact the community,” says Kozyra.

Thank you to our students and alumni who continue to drive change in their communities.

For more information regarding the Manitoba government expanding supports for vulnerable youth please visit:  https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=46177&posted=2019-11-12

The University of Manitoba Economic Impact Analysis for 2014-2019, produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers and commissioned by the University of Manitoba, shows that the University has far-reaching positive impacts upon all Manitobans. What is more, the return on investment is remarkable: every dollar invested in UM generates $1.50 in economic activity.

“The University of Manitoba makes a real impact on the province of Manitoba and the city of Winnipeg,” says Dr. David Barnard, president and vice-chancellor at the University of Manitoba. “From direct economic benefits to cultural and social interactions that enrich and enhance lives, this institution adds immense value to the quality of life of all Manitobans.”

Some of the report’s findings include:

• UM generates and supports 15,828 jobs, resulting in $922 million in labour force income;
• UM produces $400 million in taxes for the government;
• The total gross domestic product impact of spending attributable to UM is $1.4 billion;
• UM brought an estimated 161,146 out-of-town visitors to the city in 2017-2018 alone, who spent more than $77 million in our local economy.

UM is the province’s largest and only research-intensive university, whose graduates are employed as leaders in every sector of the economy. The vast majority of Manitoba’s engineers, medical professionals and social workers, for example, are UM alumni. And UM conducts cutting-edge research of importance to our communities, such as flood mitigation, crop enhancement, and targeted population health studies.

“As responsible stewards of public funds, we train talented and engaged citizens who improve every facet of life in this province, from applied scientific research, to creating enriching cultural works, to curating materials on the Residential School system that advances the process of reconciliation,” Barnard says. “We are a catalyst for growth, and we are honoured and thankful for our alumni, faculty, staff, students and donors who are helping us improve Manitoba’s overall wellness and prosperity.”

Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, announced on Aug. 12 that the Government of Canada is investing $6,385,000 to support the trailblazing research. The funds will also support 12 scientific training positions at the University of Manitoba.

The Canadian Arctic is experiencing extraordinary changes, and the reduced sea ice cover and ice-free summers have led to a tripling in vessel traffic since 1990.

“With this increasing activity,” says one of the funded researchers, U of M professor Gary Stern, “comes a greater risk of accidental spills of fuel and other transportation-related contaminants. One of the challenges in the event of an accidental spill will be to distinguish between natural background and contaminating hydrocarbons caused by the spill.” As such, Stern’s project will create a chemical profile of a vulnerable shipping corridor in the Kivalliq Region of northwestern Hudson Bay. This profile will prove invaluable in developing oil spill mitigation strategies, in assessing the success of remediation strategies, and in helping establish responsibility for the spill, he says.

“We sometimes forget that Manitoba, too, is a coastal province,” Duguid says. “It is at the heart of the Hudson Bay watershed and directly connected to the North Atlantic. The University of Manitoba is a recognized leader in marine science, with a 140-year history of driving discovery. Thanks to this investment by the Government of Canada, the oil spill research completed here will help protect oceans close to home and on all three coasts of Canada.”

Professor Feiyue Wang of the U of M’s Centre for Earth Observation Science in the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, is heading five of the projects.

“Thanks to the Multi-Partner Research Initiative, University of Manitoba researchers will be able to develop new analytical techniques to characterize the fate and behaviour of oil spills, to develop and improve oil spill response techniques, and to train the next generation of highly qualified personnel in oil spill research, response and decision-making,” Wang says. “This MPRI funding is timely, as the University of Manitoba’s new Churchill Marine Observatory will soon be operational and equipped to facilitate studies to address technological, scientific and economic issues pertaining to Arctic marine transportation, oil and gas exploration and development throughout the Arctic.”

More on the projects

Onsite burning as a response technique for oil spills in Canadian waters

Project lead: Feiyue Wang (University of Manitoba)

Project summary:

Onsite or in situ burning (ISB) of oil spilled on water can rapidly remove significant amounts of oil from the marine environment. ISB can be an effective technique for oil spill response in certain situations. The goals of this project are to provide a critical review of ISB as an oil spill response technique in Canadian waters, train the next generation of researchers in oil spill response research and improve response options through ISB techniques for eliminating oil spilled at sea. This project will make recommendations to improve ISB in Canada.

Funding amount: $305,000

Partner:

SL Ross Environmental Research, Ltd.

Small-scale testing of alternative response options for spilled oils in Canada

Project lead: Feiyue Wang (University of Manitoba)

Project summary:

The goal of the project is to provide the oil spill response community with information to quickly and efficiently choose the most effective alternative response measures. This objective will be accomplished by conducting small-scale laboratory tests of different types of crude oil as they weather to a point where alternative response measures are no longer effective.

Funding amount: $680,000

Partner:

• SL Ross Environmental Research, Ltd.

Experimental field study of onsite burning with fire booms to reduce burn residues

Project lead: Feiyue Wang (University of Manitoba)

Project summary:

Onsite burning can rapidly remove significant amounts of oil from the marine environment. However, this technique results in burn residues, black carbon soot and other emissions from unburned or partially burned oil. The goal of this project is to investigate the effectiveness of burning oil on Canadian waters as an alternative response measure for managing oil spills. The project will involve burn experiments and measure the efficiency of removing oil by burning, the amount and quality of smoke emitted, the amount of residue remaining and its physical, chemical and toxicological properties.

Funding amount: $846,000

Partner:

• SL Ross Environmental Research, Ltd

Experimental field study of aerial herder and igniter use for onsite burning in drift ice and open water

Project lead: Feiyue Wang (University of Manitoba)

Project summary:

Increased vessel traffic and oil exploration in ice-covered waters threaten to increase the risk of oil spills in Canada. One of the challenges to oil spill responders in ice-covered waters is the potential for spills to occur in drift ice, which greatly complicates the task of removing oil with conventional containment and recovery techniques. The goal of this project is to investigate the effectiveness of burning oil in ice-covered waters, as an alternative response measure for managing oil spills. The research will focus on the use of helicopter-applied herding agents to shrink and thicken large offshore oil slicks in drift ice as well as in calmer ice-free water. The findings will verify and improve onsite burning techniques for Canada’s oil spill response community.

Funding amount: $1,400,000

Partners:

• SL Ross Environmental Research, Ltd.
• DF Dickins Associates, Ltd

Chemical analysis of oil and oil products and their changes in the environment

Project lead: Feiyue Wang (University of Manitoba)

Project summary:

The chemical characterization of oil and oil products is essential to understanding the behaviour, fate and toxicity of oils spilled in the environment, as well as assessing the effectiveness of oil spill response techniques. This characterization is complicated by the exceptionally complex composition of oil. The goal of this project is to study the chemical composition of oil and oil products and how they change in the environment. The project is essential to understanding the behaviour, fate and toxicity of oil spills and assessing the effectiveness of various oil spill response techniques. Having a coordinated and integrated chemical analysis approach will allow for cross comparability of results across all projects within the Multi-Partner Research Initiative.

Funding amount: $1,900,000

Baseline monitoring of hydrocarbon contaminants and microbial genomics along the Kivalliq transportation corridor

Project lead: Gary Stern (University of Manitoba)

Project summary:

Western Hudson Bay communities experience high volumes of ship traffic due to vast mineral exploration projects in the region. In the event of an oil spill, one of the challenges will be to discriminate between naturally occurring and contaminating hydrocarbons resulting from the spill. The goal of this project is to train Indigenous students to collect background data needed to distinguish between naturally occurring and contaminating oil products in the environment, thereby determining if natural biodegradation is a possible mitigation strategy along the Kivalliq transportation corridor. The project database will contain detailed profiles on hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon contaminants, as well as chemical concentrations in sediments, water and benthic invertebrates.

Funding amount: $770,000

Partner:

• McGill University

Onsite and offsite investigation of oil biodegradation potential in Arctic marine environments

Project lead: Søren Rysgaard (University of Manitoba)

Project summary:

There is a lack of adequate knowledge on the influence of certain Arctic characteristics on oil biodegradation, such as low temperatures, sea ice, oceanographic conditions, the oligotrophic environment, poor microbial adaptation to the degradation of oil compounds and massive phytoplankton blooms. The goal of this project is to determine how Canada can respond to oil spills in Arctic marine environments by understanding the abilities of cold water microbes to degrade oil compounds under extreme Arctic conditions. By performing a series of chemical and molecular analyses, as well as biofilm profiling and imaging techniques, this research will seek a deeper understanding of control methods and the microbiology of oil biodegradation under Arctic conditions.

Funding amount: $484,000

Partners:

• Aarhus University
• National Research Council Canada

Established in 2017 through the Front and Centre campaign, the institute supports undergraduate and graduate students from a number of disciplines, helping them develop leadership knowledge and skills to pursue careers in a broad range of fields. It also provides a knowledge centre for innovative educational programming in leadership and serves as a leadership research hub.

“Thank you to the Province of Manitoba and to all our visionary donors—Power Corporation of Canada, Canada Life, and IG Wealth Management—who have made this transformational investment in our province’s future,” says David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor at the U of M. “This is an exciting opportunity that allows Manitoba to continue to elevate its competitiveness by harnessing the potential of young leaders across all disciplines and program areas province-wide. I am delighted that these talented students will have the opportunity to develop the leadership skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century.” 

Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen said the government is committed to supporting post-secondary students.

“Our government is focused on ensuring Manitoba students have the education and training they need in order to compete for jobs today and in the future,” said Goertzen. “We are proud to support the James W. Burns Leadership Institute, enabling students to access relevant skills and opportunities for employment. Funding provided to the institute supports our goal to develop a talent pipeline that is responsive to industry workforce needs.”

“We’re pleased to hear the Government of Manitoba shares our companies’ commitment to leadership education. This investment to the James W. Burns Leadership Institute will help foster some of the province’s brightest young leaders, and benefit our province and communities,” said Paul Mahon, U of M alumnus and President and Chief Executive Officer, Great-West Lifeco. 

“As one of Canada’s 15 research-intensive universities, the University of Manitoba plays an important role in driving sustained economic growth in this country,” said Dr. David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manitoba. “This new budget recognizes the contributions universities like ours make and encourages work-integrated and lifelong learning, something the University of Manitoba provides through many channels, among them the successful co-operative learning opportunities in the Asper School of Business and the wide variety of focused offerings in Extended Education.”

Investments announced today include increased supports for scholarships and fellowships, parental leave for student researchers, and supports for Indigenous students.

The U of M welcomes the government’s commitment to helping more students access graduate studies through additional support to the Canada Graduate Scholarship program. The University of Manitoba has 3,753 graduate students who will go on to become future business, community, and government leaders in our province and around the world.

An international education strategy, expanded work-integrated learning and a new benefit to support life-long learning are among the highlights of today’s budget. The University of Manitoba currently offers students 100 international mobility programs, including service-learning, internship, co-op, and exchange programs with the chance to travel and study abroad in more than 30 countries.

The many Co-operative Education Programs at the University of Manitoba provide both students and employers with an opportunity to work together in a meaningful partnership.

Lifelong learning at the University of Manitoba include diverse options from Extended Education, which offers more than 100 certificate and diploma courses for students of all ages, educational and professional backgrounds, and geographic locations. These unique partnership programs are designed to provide learners with in-demand training and education. In the past year, more than 10,000 students took a course through Extended Education.

More information on Budget 2019 can be found here: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2019/home-accueil-en.html

“The University of Manitoba understands the financial constraints this government faces and has already demonstrated its commitment to prudent budgeting. At the same time we encourage this government to see the value in investing in results for Manitobans by investing in this province’s only research-intensive university. The University of Manitoba spurs innovation and prosperity, and adequate funding will yield results for Manitoba and Manitobans. We will continue to encourage government to grow its investment in the post-secondary sector and secure the future competitiveness of this province.”

The Manitoba government released its budget, “Getting the Job Done,” on March 7, 2019, which includes a 0.9 per cent decrease to Operating Grants and Strategic Initiatives for 2019-20, which includes all post-secondary institutions. The U of M still awaits confirmation from government regarding its specific budget information.

As a leader in climate research, the University of Manitoba welcomes Budget 2019’s investment in critical prairie climate research. The U of M also looks forward to contributing to a sustainable protein strategy.

“The University of Manitoba – its students, researchers, and alumni – has a significant impact on the economic and social prosperity of the province,” notes Dr. Barnard.

The University of Manitoba generates $1.8 billion in provincial economic activity, attracts more than 180,000 visitors to the province annually, and supports more than 20,000 Manitoba jobs.

Dr. Barnard adds: “We are at the centre of innovation in technology and healthcare, and we are training the next generation of leaders. Through strategic investment we will continue to advance Manitoba’s growth and economic prosperity. We know that an investment in a research-intensive university is an investment in Manitoba’s future.”

The University of Manitoba educates the majority of this province’s engineers, lawyers, medical professionals and community and business leaders. Researchers drive innovation in medicine, agriculture and global public health. Under the leadership of the Board of Governors and through the efforts of alumni, donors, faculty and staff, students, government and industry partners, Manitoba’s university will continue to improve the quality of life for the people in our province.