Manitoba Government Invests in Health Care and Community Infrastructure in Selkirk Region

Press Release

April 24, 2026

LOCKPORT—The Manitoba government is investing in Selkirk and the surrounding region with better health care and community initiatives, Premier Wab Kinew announced here today during the Selkirk BIZ State of the Region address.

“Families in Selkirk can access better health care close to home,” said Kinew. “More surgeries, new midwifery services and fewer vacancies in home care mean people are getting the care they need in their own community, without long waits or travel.”

At Selkirk Regional Health Centre, 800 hip and knee procedures were completed last year, with another 800 expected at the centre this year, the premier noted. The Manitoba government is also adding 200 more hip and knee surgeries across the province to help more patients get care sooner.

In November 2025, the Manitoba government introduced midwifery services to the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority for the first time, establishing Selkirk as the regional centre. Two full-time midwives are supporting families across the region, with 73 families receiving care. Midwives have supported births at Selkirk Regional Health Centre this year and have started offering outreach clinics in Lake Manitoba First Nation, with plans to expand to additional communities, the premier said.

Access to home-care services in Selkirk has also improved, with health-care aide vacancy rates reduced to six per cent, down from 25 per cent in early 2024. As a result, there is currently no waitlist for home care in the community. This progress has been supported by a regional micro-credential training program that removes barriers to entry and helps more Manitobans enter the health-care workforce.

Additional investments are supporting care in the region, including $59,000 for HVAC upgrades at Betel Personal Care Home.

“It is an absolute honour to have Premier Kinew attend our state of the region address,” said Mayor Larry Johannson, City of Selkirk. “Coming off a successful 2026 budget announcement, it was great to hear from him on some more terrific investments in our community.”

In addition to health-care investments, the Manitoba government has invested more than $12 million in roadwork in the Rural Municipality (RM) of St. Clements and the RM of St. Andrews over the past three years. Safe roads are vital to delivering essential services people need, especially in rural and smaller communities. These kinds of investments are making highways safer for daily commutes, trips to work and school, while supporting the transportation corridors people rely on throughout the year.

The Manitoba government is also investing in Selkirk’s safety and local amenities, including:

• $200,000 for safety initiatives and to enhance security at municipal buildings,
• $600,000 for the Gaynor Family Regional Library expansion, and
• $100,000 for upgrades to the Gordon Howard Seniors Centre.

These investments are part of Budget 2026, which increases municipal funding for the third consecutive year, bringing total base support to $198 million, and focuses on strengthening rural communities through infrastructure, safety and access to services.

– 30 –

For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

IHT5