Please share with managers and nursing staff within your portfolios

The Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Committee is a key commitment from the 2024-2028 Collective Agreement with the responsibility to recommend a made-in Manitoba framework to establish nurse-to-patient ratios for Manitoba’s nurses. This is important work to help inform how care should be delivered for Manitobans. A final report will be presented to the Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care no later than March 1, 2026.

The committee is a tri-partite committee comprised of the following representatives:

Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU)

• Darlene Jackson, President MNU –
• Leona Barret, Manager Labour Relations, MNU – Darlene Jackson, President MNU –
• Katie Stark, MNU Board Representative – Darlene Jackson, President MNU –
• Nicolle Orsulak, President Seven Oaks Worksite, MNU – Darlene Jackson, President MNU –
• Michelle Lark, Researcher, MNU – Darlene Jackson, President MNU –

Employer

• Monika Warren, Vice President, Provincial Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer (Shared Health) –
• Mary Anne Lynch, Regional Lead Health Services and Chief Nursing Officer (WRHA) –
• Chad Munro, Vice President Health Services Acute Care and Chief Nursing Officer (NRHA) –
• Lorraine Cassan, Regional Lead, Acute Care and Chief Nursing Officer (SH-SS) –
• Conne Newman, Vice President, Health Workforce (Shared Health) –

Government

• M.L.A. Carla Compton – Chair (Premier’s Advisor on Nursing Culture and Safety) –
• Treena Slate, Chief Executive Officer, PMH –
• Mikaela Brooks, Director of Compensation and Medical Remuneration Strategies, Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care –

Ex-Officio Members

• Mike Sutherland, Executive Director, MNU –
• Wanda Reader, Interim Executive Director, Provincial Health Labour Relations Services –

The Committee started meeting in late 2024 with a focus on gathering current state information across our system, conducting a comprehensive jurisdictional scan and engaging with other jurisdictions to learn from their best practices. An engagement strategy is being developed to ensure the voices of the front-line nurses’ help inform this work.

In the coming months, a survey will be distributed to nurses across the province and focus group sessions will be held to gather in-depth insights. The focus is on acute care, with engagement from nurses working in these settings with additional input from nurses working in long-term care and community settings. Stay tuned for more details as we continue this important work!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the committee members.

Submitted by: L Cassan, Regional Lead – Acute Care & Chief Nursing Officer