Position paper submitted as part of the consultations Manitoba: a truly bilingual province
October, 31st 2025
View the full position paper: A shared vision for the health and social services sector.
Executive summary
Santé en français, as the official voice of Manitobaʼs Francophone community relating to healthcare and social services, welcomes the Government of Manitobaʼs initiative to develop a strategy for a truly bilingual province – an historic opportunity for Manitobaʼs economic and social prosperity.
This position paper is the result of five group consultations and three individual interviews, gathering perspectives from a total of 47 participants across the health and social services system, excluding the consultation team. This also includes representatives from 21 institutions with various areas of expertise in the field of health and social services.
Firmly grounded in principles like equity and an inclusive vision of Manitobaʼs Francophone community, and supported by Santé en françaisʼ role as a catalyst for coordination and consensus-building, the paper advocates for equitable, safe and quality access to healthcare and social services in French. It identifies vital steps that could be taken to support the long-term goal of a truly bilingual province.
The position paper is structured along four main priority issues:
- Strengthening community engagement
- Human resources as the cornerstone of a bilingual Manitoba
- Offering French speakers a range of services that meet their diverse needs
- Supporting vulnerable populations through social and mental health services
It also identifies the 41 recommendations that together help support the governmentʼs vision.
Santé en français and its partners wish to thank Premier Kinew and Minister Simard for their ongoing commitment to supporting Manitobaʼs Francophones, and remain available to answer any questions they may have.
