Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew expands cabinet for accessibility and first responders

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has expanded his provincial cabinet to include two new ministerial roles focused on accessibility and first responders. The new appointments were sworn in at the Manitoba legislature on Monday.

Carla Compton, the MLA for Tuxedo and a registered nurse, has been appointed as the minister responsible for accessibility. This role, which was previously part of the Families Minister’s portfolio, was created following a June report calling for a dedicated minister to support caregivers and individuals living with disabilities.

David Pankratz, the MLA for Waverley and a former firefighter, will lead the new portfolio for first responder initiatives. His responsibilities include managing staffing levels for police and first responders across the province and ensuring they have access to necessary supports, such as counseling. Kinew stated the government aims to provide Manitoba with the best presumptive workers' compensation coverage for first responders in the country.