How Manitobans Are Fighting Back Against Cuts to Public Services and Democracy
A personal journey through grassroots activism and community organizing in Manitoba 🏒
When You Live in Manitoba and Your World Gets Smaller
So listen-I've been living in Manitoba since, like, 2017, and man, stuff's been wild lately. Wanna know what it's like when the province goes and just slices up the public services you rely on? I do, too. But here's the thing: I'm not just watching it on the news. I've been right in the middle of it. This article is my honest take on what's going on and why I think you should care-whether you're here in Winnipeg, Brandon, or even Flin Flon.
Most of what I'm writing about? Happened throughout 2023-2025 (the "good" ol' post-pandemic years…), when a bunch of us started to realize we weren't alone in being angry or scared.
Austerity Sucks: Real-life Fallout in Manitoba's Health & Education
It always starts with a budget. In 2025, the Manitoba government rolled out cuts to health care and education, calling it "fiscal responsibility." Budgets slashed. Nurses fired. ER wait times in Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre? I waited over seven hours for my partner last year. Insane.
My nephew's school south of Steinbach? Lost their education assistant. The, uh, anti-austerity movement in the province kicked up right as families like mine felt the hit. Suddenly, talking about public services advocacy wasn't some "urban" thing. It touched everyone-big city, farm, north and south.
Folks got fired up. The Manitoba Health Coalition, CUPE Manitoba, and even little grassroots organizing squads I joined started buzzing. Was I the best activist? Not really-but I showed up and learned fast.
Letter-writing campaigns were huge. My living room filled up with Sharpies, coffee cups, and little piles of "Dear Minister" drafts. Weird how empowering it felt, even if my writing was a mess by midnight.
It's not perfect. Sometimes you can't even keep up with the next rally or coalition planning meeting. People have jobs, kids, bad days. We lean on each other, though. It gets emotional. I've laughed and straight-up cried with people I only just met at those meetings.
Grassroots Grit: From Social Media to City Hall
There's this weird myth that all activism is angry crowds and megaphones. Real talk? I've seen it's mostly group chats, dog-walking meetups, and sharing soup. 👍
Our group set up Facebook events for every town-not gonna lie, only eleven showed up to the first one in Brandon. But online, our coalition-building got real traction. Manitoba Education Alliance, Fair Futures Manitoba, whatever-people care if you make it personal.
We did poster campaigns outside St. Boniface Hospital. Seniors handed out flyers in Osborne Village about healthcare cuts. My friend Ash started canvassing door-to-door for volunteers, just banking on the fact that folks hated what was happening.
Sometimes, politicians pretend not to listen. You keep going anyway. It sounds cliche, but it's true: if nobody says anything, it gets worse. One coalition planning meeting in February 2025 ended with us all deciding we'd just flood the next public budget consultation. Show up, ask questions, and document the stonewalling for social media. Not glamorous. It matters, though.
What I Learned (Usually the Hard Way…)
Here's some stuff I figured out, mostly through screwing up:
- Community organizing is slow-if you burn out, your team feels it.
- Letter-writing campaigns work best if you target the decision-makers, not random MPs.
- Volunteer mobilization? Feed people. Donuts go a long way.
- Don't go alone. Buddy system for protests, always (especially in the rain).
- Listen to older activists. They know their history.
- Use real stories when critiquing the provincial budget. Stats are fine, emotions hit harder.
- If you mess up, own it. People trust honesty.
Who Does It Best? Groups Fighting Cuts in Manitoba
| Organization | Focus | Community Involvement | Impact (my take) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba Health Coalition | Healthcare cuts | Very high | Effective, everywhere |
| CUPE Manitoba | Public sector jobs/services | Broad, strong unions | Loud, relentless |
| Fair Futures Manitoba | Education reform opposition | Student-led, fresh | Good at social media buzz |
| Healthcare for All | Social justice, access | Clinics, north MB | Quiet, solid support |
What the Experts Say
According to a 2025 Winnipeg Free Press analysis, "Anti-austerity campaigns have shifted public opinion enough that even centrist parties now reference 'protecting public services'-something rare a decade ago." (Winnipeg Free Press, Apr 2025)
And the Manitoba Health Coalition put out a report in early 2025 saying: "Years of health-care cuts have created critical shortages and patient backlogs that will take a generation to fix." (MHC Annual Report 2025)
Good Questions You Probably Have (FAQ)
What is the anti-austerity movement, really?
Honestly? It's just a bunch of us mad about budget cuts to health, education, and services-organizing for better funding. Changes every year, but the vibe in 2025 is, like, "enough's enough."
Do letter-writing campaigns do anything in Manitoba?
Sometimes they hit. Sometimes they flop. I've seen MLAs mention our stuff at budget meetings. But yeah, mixed bag (as of 2025).
Is public services advocacy just for unions?
No way. I'm not even a member of one. We've got teachers, parents, even retired farmers showing up now.
How do you join a grassroots activism group?
Look up local groups on Facebook, Twitter, or CUPE's Manitoba page. Or, heck, just go to a town hall and ask. 2025 is all about showing up. 🎉
What if I'm scared of public speaking?
Me too. You can stuff envelopes or bake cookies. Not even joking.
My Two Cents: Sometimes It's Messy, But I Don't Feel Alone Anymore
Look-before all this, I just voted and hoped for the best. Now, after two rough years in this fight for social justice in Manitoba, I feel way more connected. Maybe I'm a bit jaded, yeah. But I've met epic people-some cranky, some hilarious, all stubborn as hell.
For me, showing up to those coalition planning meetings, writing (bad) letters, and arguing about the provincial budget was worth it. Even when it was freezing out and the news felt grim. Maybe you'll join in. Maybe you won't. That's cool. But I swear-doing something beats shouting at the TV.