Affordability
Childcare
Liberal's promises
Debt
Liberal's promise
"Manitoba Liberals will provide $2-million in annual funding to Credit Counselling Society, a charitable organization that helps people get their finances back on track at no cost. The funding will go to expanded services and education." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Post-secondary costs and loans
Liberal's promises
"Reinstate the tuition rebate program, providing a rebate of up to 60% on all eligible tuition fees when students begin working to encourage graduates to stay in Manitoba" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Ensure stable, multi-year funding for all post- secondary institutions" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Poverty and the minimum wage
Liberal's promises
"The implementation of a provincial guaranteed dignified income (Mincome) for people with severe physical or mental disabilities, as well as people over 60. It will be top-up based on the previous year’s income" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Remove barriers to work and volunteer for people on EIA, including by increasing the amount a person can receive when volunteering from $100 to $500 a month" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Public transit
Liberal's promises
Tax measures and rebates
Liberal's promise
"Manitoba Liberals will make changes to the Basic Personal Exemption by offering income tax relief for low and middle-income earners. All Manitobans earning up to $120,000 will be eligible for income tax relief on a sliding scale; which represents 96% of Manitobans. For the 0.1% making $300,000 and up, the exemption would be zero." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Climate Change & the Environment
Electric vehicles
Liberal's promise
"To grow a greener province, a Manitoba Liberal Government will create a $300-million Green Fund that will support Manitobans in restoring the environment, offering energy-saving retrofits and ultimately fighting climate change.
Manitoba Liberals will renegotiate a deal with the Federal Government to redirect a portion of the revenue from the pollution pricing plan so that we can set our own conditions. In addition, we will establish new green building codes for both new builds and retrofits.
The Green Fund will be partially funded by Efficiency Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and a redirected portion of the revenue from the pollution pricing plan.
Eligible projects under the Green Fund will include, but are not limited to:
» Efficiency programs for producers to reduce the impact of agricultural greenhouse emissions, such as N02;
» Residential and commercial green retrofits to reduce home energy costs including to the removal of radon and replace lead water pipes;
» Increasing wind and solar power generating stations across the province;
» Increasing the number of EV charging stations." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Forests
Liberal's promises
"We will work with farmers, Indigenous communities and municipalities to create wilderness corridors and restore habitats such as forests, wetlands, grasslands. This will include significant efforts to remove and displace invasive species." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Green construction and retrofits
Liberal's promise
"To grow a greener province, a Manitoba Liberal Government will create a $300-million Green Fund that will support Manitobans in restoring the environment, offering energy-saving retrofits and ultimately fighting climate change.
Manitoba Liberals will renegotiate a deal with the Federal Government to redirect a portion of the revenue from the pollution pricing plan so that we can set our own conditions. In addition, we will establish new green building codes for both new builds and retrofits.
The Green Fund will be partially funded by Efficiency Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and a redirected portion of the revenue from the pollution pricing plan.
Eligible projects under the Green Fund will include, but are not limited to:
» Efficiency programs for producers to reduce the impact of agricultural greenhouse emissions, such as N02;
» Residential and commercial green retrofits to reduce home energy costs including to the removal of radon and replace lead water pipes;
» Increasing wind and solar power generating stations across the province;
» Increasing the number of EV charging stations." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Land
Liberal's promises
"We will work with farmers, Indigenous communities and municipalities to create wilderness corridors and restore habitats such as forests, wetlands, grasslands. This will include significant efforts to remove and displace invasive species." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Set up a carbon credit system that will enable payments for farmers for ecological services and sustainable land stewardship" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Pollution
Liberal's promises
"Update provincial environment laws to better protect Manitobans from pollutants in their neighbourhoods and strengthen enforcement" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Update the province’s data-collection to better inform residents of harmful chemicals that may be present in their communities." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Public transit
Liberal's promises
Water
Liberal's promises
"Create “Floating Wetlands” in Winnipeg’s Rivers around each combined sewer outlet to immediately help capture the excess pollution and nutrients naturally and at low cost." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"A Manitoba Liberal Government will also invest in the restoration and protection of freshwater fish species and habitats to ensure that fishers in Manitoba can continue to harvest fish sustainably while we protect our waterways from invasive species." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Education
French schooling
Liberal's promises
"Strengthen and restoring the Bureau D’éducation Française and Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities with stable long-term funding"
"Support the Université de Saint-Boniface’s development plan to offset shortages in the French education sector" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
International students
Liberal's promise
Learning needs
Liberal's promises
"Provide universal coverage for all cognitive and learning challenges so that immediately upon entering the school system students can receive proper support." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Work with school divisions to identify and implement more successful alternative learning models such as the MET School program." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Post-secondary costs and loans
Liberal's promises
"Reinstate the tuition rebate program, providing a rebate of up to 60% on all eligible tuition fees when students begin working to encourage graduates to stay in Manitoba" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Ensure stable, multi-year funding for all post- secondary institutions" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
School construction and upgrades
Liberal's promises
School nutrition
Liberal's promise
Healthcare
Diabetes
Liberal's promises
"We will focus on reducing the number of new cases of diabetes and prevent secondary complications. This includes expanding the role of the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer to include the development and implementation of a provincewide plan to prevent diabetes. This will be done by working with First Nation and other communities to expand the NUKA model of care.
The NUKA model provides for a reduction in patient stress through a better integration of mental and physical health care and for improved integration of specialist care into primary care practice. The NUKA model has been shown, where implemented, to be highly effective in decreasing the need for emergency room visits by 40% and decreasing hospital admission by 36%. The most successful use of the NUKA model in Manitoba is utilized Opaskwayak Cree Nation who have found a reduction in the need to transfer patients to Winnipeg as a result of its implementation." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Manitoba Liberals will also restore the coverage of the cost of life-saving drugs - including diabetes drugs and devices for all Manitobans - pumps and CGMs, CPAP machines." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Drugs and addiction
Liberal's promises
"Support organizations that run overdose prevention centres to ensure people with addictions can receive treatment, counselling and timely mental health services focusing on prevention, treatment and recovery" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Health staffing
Liberal's promises
"Review the Workers Compensation Act to expand coverage for burnout benefits for all workers" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Healthcare governance & transparency
Liberal's promises
"A Manitoba Liberal Government will require RHAs, Shared Health and Public Health to report annually to a public committee of the legislature, at which CEOs and Board Chairs will have to face questions and provide answers to MLAs. Manitoba Liberals have already introduced legislation twice on this matter with no support from either the PCs or the NDP." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"In addition, we will restore the decision-making power back to the local community level, away from Shared Health and RHAs. This will make our health system more responsive to the needs of the community." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Mental health
Liberal's promises
"Work with the University of Manitoba to create a new Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program that will train psychologists more quickly to expand the number of psychotherapy practitioners in the province" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Palliative care
Liberal's promise
"In addition to a major expansion in homecare, a Manitoba Liberal government will also expand the palliative care program to ensure Manitobans in their last year of life can live in dignity and, where possible, at home while maintaining cancer and other treatments to enhance the quality of their last days." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Prenatal and postnatal care
Liberal's promises
"Manitoba Liberals commit to work in partnership with the Federal Government to restore birth services and pre-natal care to First Nations communities so expectant mothers do not have to fly to Winnipeg for care." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"In addition, Manitoba Liberals will establish a birth centre and dialysis unit in the community of Cross Lake. Instead of spending money on flights and hotels, we will invest in providing care and safe delivery." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Furthermore, we will deliver a program to train Indigenous midwives and doulas to ensure they have safe and supported births within the North." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Primary care
Liberal's promise
"Work with Doctors Manitoba to change the fee-for-service model to a flex-pay model so family doctors can take the extra time they need with their patients" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Rural healthcare
Liberal's promise
"Establish a Doctor of Medicine (MD) Degree Program at the University of Brandon affiliated with the University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine focused on training physicians for rural and northern communities" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Seniors' health and services
Liberal's promises
"[...] a Manitoba Liberal government will enact legislation to implement an independent Seniors Advocate to investigate, advocate, and provide solutions for government on all issues that affect seniors." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Work with Regional Health Authorities to implement unannounced and independent inspections and visits of personal care homes and ensure all recommendations are carried through." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"At the age of 70, every Manitoban will receive an assessment through the public health care system of what their long-term needs are to ensure standardized quality of care. The assessment would recommend programs and supports specific to the individual’s needs, with the mandate to ensure independence and dignity. These options would include long-term care facilities, 24/7 at-home support services, or part-time care. Seniors would have their living situation assessed and individuals would receive recommendations for changes they should make to maintain their independence." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Housing & Homelessness
Home construction and supply
Liberal's promise
"Manitoba Liberals will work with all levels of government, Manitoba Housing, private landlords, and organizations to create 10,000 new housing units in the next ten years. This will be accomplished by renovating existing units, purchasing or building new units for low-income housing, and incentivize the construction of new apartment blocks and multi-dwelling units which include a proportion of low-income housing." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Home purchases and ownership
Liberal's promises
"We will preserve some rebates as an affordability measure for lower income Manitobans, small property owners, Manitobans with disabilities and seniors on fixed incomes. As with our income tax cuts, we will ensure that those who have smaller incomes will receive larger rebates. This will provide genuine tax relief to those who need it most while also staying fiscally responsible." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Homelessness
Liberal's promise
"Currently, people in Manitoba who are homeless must be considered “chronically homeless” for six months before they can qualify for housing. This policy means that we will never end homelessness. Manitoba Liberals will adapt the progressive model where those who present themselves as unhoused will receive appropriate housing that same day. We will create a dashboard linked to supports to help people and organizations navigate to the help they need including accessing food, social services, shelter, and warming locations." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Jobs, Businesses, & Labour
Agriculture
Liberal's promises
"We will create a new “Debt Compromise Board” which will provide Manitoba businesses and farmers a forum where they can meet with their lender to find ways to restructure debts so we keep farmers on the farm and businesses up and running." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Manitoba Liberals commit to establish the Manitoba Business Development Bank with a mandate to provide equity capital and investments to Manitoba entrepreneurs, farmers and independent businesses, for start-up and scale-up of their operations. Our goal is to help Manitoba entrepreneurs, whatever their background, to grow and build wealth for themselves and the province. It will be available on First Nations and also help commercialize innovation and research at Post-secondary institutions." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Business taxes
Liberal's promise
"In order to ensure accountability and avoid tax fraud, we will require tax-paying corporations in Manitoba to declare their beneficial owners in a public searchable registry." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Fishing & Aquaculture
Liberal's promise
"A Manitoba Liberal Government will also invest in the restoration and protection of freshwater fish species and habitats to ensure that fishers in Manitoba can continue to harvest fish sustainably while we protect our waterways from invasive species." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Infrastructure
Liberal's promises
"Repairing highways, provincial roads, bridges and intersections that need immediate repair and upgrade as determined in consultation with Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), while enhancing the role of Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure in long-term strategic planning for the province" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Working with communities, cellular providers and Manitoba Hydro Telecom to expand cellular service along transportation corridors while improving broadband internet to rural and northern Manitoba" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Providing ongoing capital and operational funding for the Keystone Centre to maintain its role as a driver of economic activity in Western Manitoba" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Mining and minerals
Liberal's promise
"In partnership with Indigenous communities and municipalities, we will work to rebuild Manitoba’s mining sector to ensure it is environmentally sustainable by creating a pathway for mining operations to proceed and create the kind of environment that will lead to a substantial increase in mining investment in Manitoba." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Poverty and the minimum wage
Liberal's promises
"The implementation of a provincial guaranteed dignified income (Mincome) for people with severe physical or mental disabilities, as well as people over 60. It will be top-up based on the previous year’s income" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Remove barriers to work and volunteer for people on EIA, including by increasing the amount a person can receive when volunteering from $100 to $500 a month" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Startups and small businesses
Liberal's promises
"Manitoba Liberals commit to establish the Manitoba Business Development Bank with a mandate to provide equity capital and investments to Manitoba entrepreneurs, farmers and independent businesses, for start-up and scale-up of their operations. Our goal is to help Manitoba entrepreneurs, whatever their background, to grow and build wealth for themselves and the province. It will be available on First Nations and also help commercialize innovation and research at Post-secondary institutions." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"We will create a new “Debt Compromise Board” which will provide Manitoba businesses and farmers a forum where they can meet with their lender to find ways to restructure debts so we keep farmers on the farm and businesses up and running." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Society & Government
Crown corporations
Liberal's promises
Electoral Reform
Liberal's promises
Gender-based violence
Liberal's promises
"Create new emergency women’s shelters with beds dedicated to women and children in Winnipeg, Brandon, and Thompson" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Immigration
Liberal's promises
"Negotiate an enhanced family-reunification stream for the Provincial Nominee Program and reduce the application fee from $500 to $50" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"Negotiate with the Federal Government for a larger percentage of new Canadians immigrating to Manitoba through the provincial nominee program" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Indigenous Women, Girls, & 2-Spirited People
Liberal's promise
"Implement Indigenous-led advisory bodies within policing agencies to ensure gender-based violence is a priority." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Indigenous children in care
Liberal's promise
"From 2006 to 2019, the Manitoba Government illegally took federal benefits intended for Indigenous children who were in the care CFS. Childrens’ Special Allowances were monthly payments intended to pay for the care of all Indigenous children.
When children were taken into the custody of CFS, the Manitoba Government clawed back, dollar for dollar, these necessary supports. This left lasting harm and has limited many childrens’ full potential. In opposition, the Progressive Conservatives described this act as “Immoral and illegal” and the New Democratic Party (NDP) called it “theft”. Despite criticizing each other, neither party has committed to returning the funds for its intended use.
Manitoba Liberals commit to return $338-million stolen by the PCs and NDP to all Indigenous children who were in the custody of Child and Family Services." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Indigenous communities affected by Hydro
Liberal's promises
"In addition, a long-term fund will be established to address the costs and damage created by Hydro projects, restore habitats, and repair environmental damage. Manitoba Liberals will commit a portion of the Manitoba Government’s income stream from Manitoba Hydro to this fund each year." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Indigenous relations
Liberal's promise
"To achieve that goal, Manitoba Liberals commit to creating an Indigenous Secretariat that will have an independent voice directing government on how best to offer programs and services for Indigenous peoples.
That would include implementing the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ensure that Jordan’s Principle is enforced." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Justice system
Liberal's promises
"Manitoba Liberals commit to strengthening the support network of the judicial system by expanding the resources for programs that divert people away from incarceration." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
"We will fund Native Clan and Clan Mothers Healing Village to provide meaningful options to incarceration and safe placements after release, to provide shelter, supports to create a path to healing — including culturally appropriate provincial halfway houses." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Municipal governments
Liberal's promise
"A Manitoba Liberal Government will work with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and citizens to repeal Bill 37, which provided for the Municipal Board to override local municipal decision-making. We will reform the municipal board to make it politically independent and accountable." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Public safety
Liberal's promises
"Establish non-police mental health and addictions crisis teams to work in tandem with law enforcement agencies across the province, with a focus on de-escalation and treatment" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Searching the Prairie Green Landfill
Liberal's promises
Whistleblowers
Liberal's promises
"Pass anti-SLAPP legislation to protect freedom of speech by Manitobans and media outlets by shielding them from lawsuits designed to intimidate or silence legitimate public debate" — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Misc. topics
Arts and culture
Liberal's promise
Charities
Liberal's promise
"Create the ‘Manitoba Works for Good’ voluntary jobs program which will provide wage and job subsidies for not-for-profit and other organizations to provide work for the public benefit and for community improvements projects." — Dougald Lamont & the Manitoba Liberals — Real Choice, Real Change
Francophone culture
Liberal's promises
"Strengthen and restoring the Bureau D’éducation Française and Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities with stable long-term funding"
They may still in the future!
In the meantime, you can learn more about them on their website.
Biography
Michelle Budiwski's upbringing in Northern Manitoba was marked by poverty, addiction, and abuse. She sought help and managed to overcome these challenges and now uses her experience to help others find the help they need to overcome theirs.
Michelle is a strong advocate for mental health support, addiction awareness, treatment, and suicide prevention. She has volunteered extensively throughout the area, raising awareness and support for underrepresented groups, organizations, and causes. Such supports are why Michelle moved to Rivers, MB in 2005. Pregnant with her second child at the time, relocation to the area was necessary to seek treatment for her husband's Complex PTSD diagnosis resulting from his prior military service. Tragically, her husband died by suicide in 2008, leaving Michelle alone to raise their two children, aged 14 and 2.
While her past experiences give her first hand appreciation of many social challenges in the area, it’s her past work and business experiences that provides the grounding to understand that social services are built upon the contributions of a successful business sector. Michelle's entrepreneurial spirit has led her to establish a number of small businesses over the past 25 years, both in northern Manitoban and in the Westman, such as the highly successful Escape the Final Countdown in Brandon and Muck-Off, a rural residential cleaning company based in Rivers.
She also started her multi-media platform, Real Westman, where Michelle amplified the local voices of those in need and worked tirelessly to create awareness towards more inclusivity and diversity in Westman while also showcasing all the great locations, businesses and events our region has to offer.
Michelle volunteers as a business mentor with Futurepreneurship Canada. She advocates for rural economic development, recognizing its significance in fostering strong and vibrant regions within the province.
Michelle has earned a post-graduate certificate in Adult Education from Red River College and is currently working to complete her MBA, focusing on Human Resource Management.
Michelle believes the role of the province is to create the environment that will support families, healthcare, and education at all levels while also fostering business and entrepreneurship to drive the economy forward and generate wealth for all. She prioritizes the protection and well-being of the most vulnerable members of society, including elders, seniors, and marginalized people while championing equality, inclusion, and diversity.
When elected as the representative for her riding of Spruce Woods, Michelle aims to help the rural communities and people have a voice in government so that their postal codes no longer dictate their opportunities—fighting for a government that values and uplifts every individual, regardless of background or location.
Recognizing that the past provincial political pendulum continues to swing back and forth with little benefit for Spruce Woods, Michelle has the tenacity and fortitude to anchor this riding and give it a voice inside the perimeter. Her personal experiences, entrepreneurial acumen, and tireless dedication and resolve for community is a track record that Michelle is committed to bringing positive and real change for the people of Spruce Woods.
Michelle is married to Chris Budiwski, a second-generation Canadian whose grandfather immigrated from Ukraine and settled in the Olha, Manitoba area, working in the field of Agriculture as Chris still does. Together they had two more children, now aged 9 and 11. As a mother of four, raising a family across decades of changes and challenges, Michelle understands the trials and aspirations of families in her community. Michelle Budiwski is seeking the support of residents in Spruce Woods as a candidate of real change, running under the banner of the Manitoba Liberal Party.
We'll be talking with them about this.
In the meantime, you can learn more about them on their website.
michellebudiwski.ca michellebudiwski.ca