Church Teaching Solidarity is found in a commitment to the good of one’s neighbour. The good of one is the good of all, and the other is as important as the self. Injustice done to another is an injustice that affects everyone. – 193, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Support for the Marginalized and the Vulnerable
Some people are born into economically stable families, receive a fine education, grow up well nourished, or naturally possess great talent. They will certainly not need a proactive state; they need only claim their freedom. Yet the same rule clearly does not apply to a disabled person, to someone born in dire poverty, to those lacking a good education and with little access to adequate health care. If a society is governed primarily by the criteria of market freedom and efficiency, there is no place for such persons, and fraternity will remain just another vague ideal. Pope Francis – Fratelli tutti, 109
So many needy brothers and sisters are waiting for help, so many who are oppressed are waiting for justice, so many who are unemployed are waiting for a job, so many peoples are waiting for respect. How can it be that even today there are still people dying of hunger? Condemned to illiteracy? Lacking the most basic medical care? Without a roof over their head? The scenario of poverty can extend indefinitely, if in addition to its traditional forms we think of its newer patterns. These new patterns often affect financially affluent sectors and groups which are nevertheless threatened by despair at the lack of meaning in their lives, by drug addiction, by fear of abandonment in old age or sickness, by marginalization or social discrimination… –5 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Disabilities, Mental Health & Addictions
Persons with disabilities are fully human subjects, with rights and duties: “in spite of the limitations and sufferings affecting their bodies and faculties, they point up more clearly the dignity and greatness of man.” Persons with disabilities are to be helped to participate in every dimension of family and social life at every level accessible to them and according to their possibilities… They too need to love and to be loved, they need tenderness, closeness and intimacy according to their capacities. – 148, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Indigenous Peoples & Reconciliation
The relationship of Indigenous peoples to their lands and resources deserves particular attention, since it is a fundamental expression of their identity. These peoples offer an example of a life lived in harmony with the environment that they have come to know well and to preserve. Their extraordinary experience, which is an irreplaceable resource for all humanity, runs the risk of being lost together with the environment from which they originate. – 471, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
The Canadian Catholic Church supports the work of the Truth and Reconciliation commission. We are called to support thriving Indigenous communities in Canada, rooted in their unique cultures and traditions.
Northern & Rural Communities
Looking after the common good means making use of the new opportunities for the redistribution of wealth to the benefit of the underprivileged that until now have been excluded or cast to the sidelines of social and economic progress. Too often, social services and infrastructure development suffer from neglect in rural areas. – 299, 300, 363, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Agricultural labour merits special attention… considering the many problems that need to be met in the context of an ever more globalized economy as well as its growing significance in safeguarding the natural environment. Radical and urgent changes are therefore needed in order to restore to agriculture — and to rural people — their just value as the basis for a healthy economy… – 363, 299 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Refugees, Immigrants & Newcomers
Ideally, unnecessary migration ought to be avoided; this entails creating in countries of origin the conditions needed for a dignified life and integral development. Yet until substantial progress is made in achieving this goal, we are obliged to respect the right of all individuals to find a place that meets their basic needs and those of their families, and where they can find personal fulfilment. Our response to the arrival of migrating persons can be summarized by four words: welcome, protect, promote and integrate. – Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti, 129
In the modern world, where there are still grave inequalities between rich countries and poor countries, and where advances in communications quickly reduce distances, the immigration of people looking for a better life is on the increase. These people come from less privileged areas of the earth and their arrival in developed countries is often perceived as a threat to the high levels of well-being achieved thanks to decades of economic growth. In most cases, however, immigrants fill a labour need which would otherwise remain unfilled… Institutions in host countries must keep careful watch to prevent the spread of the temptation to exploit foreign labourers, denying them the same rights enjoyed by nationals, rights that are to be guaranteed to all without discrimination. – 297, 298, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
We are called to welcome immigrants and refugees with generosity and good will, as if they were Jesus Christ himself. Matthew, Chapter 25
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” 23 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Lev. 19:33-34)
Green Party of Manitoba The party states, as matters of principle, that:
– it seeks to promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence and peace. It encourages and support mutual understanding, solidarity and cooperation among all peoples and within and among nations
– equality and fairness need to replace domination and control. Full andequal participation by all Manitobans is needed in the decision making processes of society. Individuals, families and communities have access to the resources of the society
– all have the right to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health and spiritual well-being
Supporting the Marginalized
The party advocates:
– increased services for individuals with disabilities and their families, including (i) reduced wait times for residential services for families with adult children with intellectual disabilities; (ii) increased availability of support services for children living with disabilities; and (iii) estblishment and implementation of an updated FASD strategy with a focus on enhancing prevention and intervention services for people with FASD
– increased support for mental health services, including (i) commitment of 10% of health funding to mental health supports and services; (ii) promoting easy access to effective mental health supports and services across Manitoba, including enhancing integration with primary care and other health care providers, increased technological approaches, and additional collaborative approaches; (iii) initiatives to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health; (iv) expanded mental health prevention and promotion initiatives with a focus on healthy childhood development and early intervention; and (v) ensuring that LGBTQ2S+ individuals have access to appropriate and informed mental health services
– increased support services for substance abuse and addictions, including (i) increased residential addictions treatment beds, which will make it easier for people to get immediate treatment at their points of readiness; (ii) implementation of an evidence-based meth response program that puts people’s well-being first, including promoting harm reduction by establishing safe use sites, establishing protective care sites, hiring additional addictions counsellors, and creating additional treatment spots; (iii) enhancing effective, holistic, community-based initiatives to support people experiencing substance abuse and addictions problems, with a focus on mental well-being as well as spiritual and physical well-being; (iv) initiatives to reduce the stigma surrounding substance abuse and addictions; and (v) expanded awareness and prevention services related to substanceabuse and addictions
Indigenous Peoples
The party states that:
– the historic and ongoing repression of Indigenous Nations are reprehensible breaches of Indigenous rights and human dignity. The Green Party of Manitoba believes we have a duty to ensure that the health and wellness, human security, justice, culture and equality of Indigenous Peoples is recognized, upheld and protected, as rights, on an equitable basis
– these injustices also rob Canadian settler society from a prosperity thatcan only be achieved through a vision of mutual benefit, where different peoples can share lands and resources, while respecting and sustaining their differences. To get there, we must recognize Indigenous Nations as the original occupants of this land, with rights to sovereignty and self-determination, and as true and equal partners, have a central role in moving Manitoba to its best possible future
To work towards reconciliation, the party advocates:
– recognizing Indigenous Nations as Nations, and endeavoring to reform government practice to behave in accordance with this recognition, by: (i) recognizing the right of Indigenous Nations to sovereignty and self-determination; and (ii) recognizing and respecting Indigenous constitutional rights as the original occupants of this land
– taking direction from Indigenous Calls to Action, including: (i) implementing the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that are within provincial jurisdiction; and (ii) pushing for implementation of the National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice
– engaging in meaningful consultation andcollaboration with Indigenous Nations, including: (i) working with Indigenous Nations to understand how colonialism shapes our structures, institutions, legislation and policies, and meaningfully moving towards indigenization of our institutions; (ii) working with Indigenous Nations to ensure that culturally appropriate services are offered across all sectors, including healthcare, education, and justice; and (iii) pursuing participant driven processes as a means of meaningfulconsultation with Indigenous Nations on all provincialinfrastructure projects
– reforming Child and Family Services, by: (i) hiring additional child welfare workers in order to decrease caseloads to a maximum of 20 per worker; (ii) providing enhanced training for child welfare workers, including training on best-practice risk assessment procedures, culturally appropriate supports, and the legacy of residential schools; and (iii) ensuring that supports are available to youth in care until the age of 25
– providing support to keep children and youth in their communities and with their extended families, by: (i) providing adequate resources to enable Indigenous communities and child-welfare organizations to keep families together where it is safe to do so; (ii) reducing the number of children in care by shifting resources to the support of families and extended families; (iii) increasing the annual fund available to families to purchase support services; (iv) implementing changes to the Adoption Act that would permit subsidized legal guardianship; instituting custom adoption practices to allow the child to be raised by a relative according to the customs of the community; and (v) helping families of children who are taken into care to regain custody when possible
– increased investment in restorative justice and alternative courts, including: (i) development and funding a restorative justice program, as an alternative to the traditional justice system; (ii) supporting the development of a court system designed specifically for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
– supporting the promotion of Indigenous language and culture, by (i) supporting Indigenous-led organizations to provide safe, no-barrier, permanent, and meaningful access to Indigenous cultures and languages; and (ii) supporting quality youth programming that promotes Indigenous culture, language, and the transfer of intergenerational knowledge
Northern & Rural Communities
The party states that:
– it envisions strong, vibrant communities that are able to provide the services their residents need and value, including health care, education, services for seniors, support for small businesses, and ecologically sustainable agriculture
– such communities will be most possible when people in them have meaningful opportunities to participate directly in the local decision making that affects their lives
To support the development of vibrant rural and northern communities, the party advocates:
– increasing the level of input and autonomy of rural and northern communities, by (i) in partnership with communities, undertake a thorough review of the Municipal Act to ensure that it appropriately supports local decision making; and (ii) undertaking meaningful consultation with communities regarding government initiatives that will significantly affect them
– maintaining and strengthening existing rural and northern services, by (i) making every effort to maintain existing services in rural and northern communities, and working to enhance services where possible; and (ii) supporting the efforts of communities to provide accessible and affordable sporting and other recreational opportunities to their children and youth
– improving transportation services to and from rural and northern communities, by (i) restoring bus service to rural and northern communities by working with communities to develop an appropriate model; and (ii) establishing a transportation commission (using Saskatchewan as a model) to ensure that all options are explored
– increasing the availability and affordability of telecommunication services, by ensuring that rural and Northern broadband includes local service providers, to increase competition — and therefore the quality and affordability — of phone and internet service for rural and Northern Manitobans
– supporting the development of small businesses in rural and northern communities
– supporting rural and northern communities in transitioning to a green economy
The party has provided no official statement regarding its policies or positions regarding:
– immigration & newcomers
Manitoba Liberal Party Indigenous Peoples & Relations
The party advocates:
– as a meaningful step in reconciliation, returning the $338-million in federal child benefits to First Nations children in CFS that was taken away by two preceeding provinial governments
– negotiating further restitution for the damage caused by the 2000s scoop
Immigrants & Newcomers
The party advocates:
– being more welcoming to new Canadians and Manitobans by ensuring that their education and credentials are recognized so they can get to work earning more
The party has provided no official statement regarding its policies or positions regarding:
– support for the disabled
– rural communities
Manitoba New Democratic Party Indigenous Peoples & Relations
In order to promote good jobs and sustainable growth, the party advocates:
– working with Indigenous communities to seek consensus before major projects (including Manitoba Hydro projects) begin, and creating job opportunities for Indigenous peoples by putting Resource Revenue Sharing into a Jobs Fund for Indigenous communities, starting by negotiating a fair deal on a gaming fund
– supporting the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, starting by reforming the child welfare system to recognize the right of Indigenous children to grow up in Indigenous households
– establishing a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Committee of Cabinet led by Indigenous women, who will work with families to implement recommendations coming out of the National Inquiry
Northern & Rural Communities
The party advocates:
– improving health care for northern Manitobans health care by reinstating the obstetrics program in Flin Flon and Lifeflight, hiring more midwives in northern communities, and partnering with the Federal government on new hospital-level health centres in northern First Nations communities
– restoring the ACCESS bursary for rural, northern and Indigenous students
– improving investments in provincial roads, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure, and working with industry to create a Centre of Excellence for Infrastructure Innovation
– supporting mining jobs in northern Manitoba by granting multi-year mining permits
Immigration & Newcomers
The party states that:
– partnering with the Federal Government to enhance English-language services for newcomers while phasing out the $500 application fee for the Provincial Nominee Program
The party has provided no official statement regarding its policies or positions regarding:
– support for the marginalized
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba The party states that, as a matter of principle,
– it is committed to building a province where compassionate care for those in need and meaningful support for those who are unable to support themselves are available to all
Support for the Vulnerable
Disabled People
The party advocates:
– transitioning Manitobans with disabilities currently receiving EIA benefits to a new alternative income program better suited to their actual needs
– supporting an employment-first approach where employment is the primary goal for working age adults with an intellectual disability
– creating a new Advisory group of employers and advocates to develop the employment potential of persons with disabilities
– committing to complete implementation of all five Accessibility for Manitobans Act standards implemented by the end of 2020
– continuing to improve funding models for respite, day services, home share, supported independent living and other services to ensure Manitoba’s frontline workers are compensated for their service
– focusing on a client-first approach to improve care and prioritize individuals with the highest need so long waits do not add to their hardship
– defining transparent performance standards and develop a means of tracking and reporting on the wait times on an annual basis
Victims of Abuse
To better support victims of domestic and sexual abuse, the party advocates:
– implementing legislation similar to “Clare’s Law” to ensure women can access information about their partner’s past history of domestic violence
– extending eligibility under the Employment Standards Code for leave to all victims of sexual violence
– enhancing shelters for victims of domestic abuse, including better crisis lines and integrated tracking
Northern & Rural Communities
The party advocates:
– to enhance connectivity across the province, (i) developing an innovative broadband strategy, in partnership with municipal and federal partners, to expand connectivity, support job creation, and encourage Manitobans with state-of-the art broadband and digital technologies to provide excellence in health care and educational services; (ii) leveraging Manitoba Hydro Telecom’s ‘dark fibre’ to enhance connectivity across Manitoba; and (iii) exploring substantial cost reductions per metre of fibre by streamlining broadband access, as part of our permitting and approval processes, via existing conduits
Indigenous Peoples and relations
The party advocates:
– establishing a $20 million Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF) to encourage mineral exploration and economic development
– engaging a minimum of eight First Nations in a new provincial mineral development protocol process, with a goal to have protocols formalized by the end of 2024
– continuing to work with the federal government on a proposal to supportIndigenous capacity building and participation in the mining sector
– continuing to support collaborative approaches that will increase Indigenous participation in all sectors, including resource-based partnerships such as the Nisokapawino Forestry Management Corporation and the consortium of four First Nations on the east side of Lake Winnipeg
– ensuring representation from Indigenous communities on both the Community Economic Development Fund and the soon to be launched Rural Economic Development Agency
– continuing to make the transfer of Treaty Land Entitlement lands a priority. Since May 2016, 85,785 acres of land have been transferred to Canada for reserve creation, accounting for approximately 6% of entitlement acres
Immigrants & Newcomers
The party states that:
– new Manitobans are waiting far too long for recognition of their credentials, meaning that means newcomers who are doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers, midwives and 25 other self-regulated professions can’t practice their chosen profession
– between 2015-2017, more than 3,000 internationally educated New Manitobans applied to practice in their chosen profession, but only 470 were successful in registering
The party advocates raising timliness of foreign credential recognition with the Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM) by:
– accelerating the one year standard for credential recognition to require an interim assessment within six months
– amending Manitoba’s Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act to include provisions that ensure respect for the New West Partnership and other domestic trade agreements Manitoba is a party to in respect of credential recognition decisions
Points to Ponder Solidarity
Consider asking your local candidates, elected representatives, and the parties the following questions, and discussing their answers with your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow parishioners:
“It is always important,” as Archbishop Donald Bolen of Regina has said, “to listen to the voices of the suffering, to be guided by them in how we respond and to be ready to engage with them in moving forward.” (Catholic Register 18 July 2021)
– What does it mean to listen to, and to be guided by, the voice of someone who is suffering?
– Who, in Manitoba and around the world, is suffering now?
– How can such voices be gently and respectfully heard, and interpreted within the context of the moral framework of the listener, so that a healthy, positive, and loving response can be determined?
Indigenous Rights & Reconciliation
– How can all the levels of Manitoba government and the Church work together to facilitate reconciliation of every level of Manitoba society with Indigenous peoples, so that all Canadians can benefit from re-establishing right-relationship and growing wealthier as a society?
Mental Health & Addictions
At a national level, several parties have proposed decriminalization of drug sales and drug possession, in order to focus on the treatment of addiction as a health care issue.
– Is it possible, by decriminalizing drug sales and drug possession, to both relieve an overburdened criminal justice system and help more individuals heal and recover from addictions? If so, what might a helpful approach look like?
– Is it possible, through review of criminal legislation, education, and focused health care initiatives, to give individuals further freedom to “develop their potentialities, become aware of their dignity and prepare to face their unique and individual destiny?” (quoting St. John Paul II, On the Hundredth Year (Centesimus Annus) #39
– Is there any way to ensure that such measures are accompanied by effective mechanisms to address the root causes of and eliminate drug abuse, for example through educational initiatives at all levels of society?
Refugees & Newcomers
– What is being done, and what, if anything, should further be done to ensure that refugees and newcomers are safe, healthy, and enabled to flourish in Manitoba?
– To what extent should immigration policies be driven by economic, as opposed to humanitarian, priorities?
Northern & Rural Communities
– What is being done, and what, if anything, should further be done to ensure vibrant, healthy rural life in Manitoba? Of those measures, what should be done at the federal level? By the Manitoba and other provinces? By businesses, residents, and civil associations in rural areas?
– Northern areas are also of concern. What special circumstances are faced by those living in the North, and how should their needs best be assessed?