October 16, 2026

TOP STORIES

01

Pressing for Cross-Canada Government Support 

What’s happening: Health ministers from across the country are in Winnipeg to meet this week, and Doctors Manitoba and CMA leaders are there to advocate on behalf of physicians.  

• A top priority is avoiding reductions to federal health transfers as provinces face a health funding “fiscal cliff.” 

• We’re advocating for better-connected digital health records through Bill S-5 and stronger protections for children and youth through Bill C-34. 

Learn more about how federal funding affects Manitoba’s health system.

Doctors Manitoba Board Chair Dr. Nichelle Desilets, President Dr. Alon Altman and President-Elect Dr. Erin Olivier spoke with Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara at a reception ahead of the Health Ministers’ Meeting in Winnipeg.

02

Federal Funds for IMG PRA Program 

The federal government is set to provide up to $6 million in funding over three years to expand family medicine Practice-Ready Assessment opportunities for international medical graduates (IMGs) in Manitoba. The provincial government hopes it will bring more family doctors into both emergency departments and clinics across rural and northern Manitoba. 

What’s happening: The project is expected to result in up to 90 new family physicians ready to work in Manitoba by 2028-2029. 

Yes, but: While we appreciate this coordinated effort to attract more physicians to Manitoba and narrow the gap on our significant physician shortage, we expect to see the new funding support the Manitoba physicians who will provide supervision and support to PRA participants. 

• Manitoba has had a limited capacity for the PRA process due to inadequate support and resources for physician supervisors who spend considerable time on top of their clinical practice.  

• The funding does nothing to help recruit other specialists where we see our biggest shortages, including medical, surgical and diagnostic specialties.  

What do you think? We want to hear from you! Email us, in confidence, at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca. 

03

Nominate a Colleague for a Medal of Excellence! 

Each year, the Doctors Manitoba Awards celebrate the very best in our medical community. Now that 2027 nominations are open, we’re focusing on one award category each week to help inform your choices!  

🎖️ The Medals of Excellence recognize individuals who exemplify excellence in medicine and inspire others through their leadership, achievements, and contributions to the profession.  

🩺 Previous winners: Dr. Mandy Buss, Dr. Natalie Casaclang and Dr. Shayne Taback were each honoured with one at last year’s awards gala. 

🎉 Spotlight: This year’s focus for all award categories is on doctors who go to extraordinary lengths to improve access to care while supporting the physician-patient relationship. 

Nominations are open until December 13, 2026.  

Awards are presented at our Annual Awards Gala, planned for Saturday, May 8, 2026. 

Learn more about nominating a colleague today! 

04

eConsult and iScheduler Outage & Upgrade

Manitoba's eConsult and iScheduler systems are moving to upgraded cloud-based platforms on October 22, with a promise from Shared Health of improved reliability, security and future integration capabilities. 

⚠️ Upcoming Planned Service Disruption: Current systems will be unavailable starting on Monday, October 19. 

Both iScheduler and eConsultCX will launch at 8 a.m. on Thursday, October 22. 

We’re keeping track of important upcoming deadlines for you. 

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

Reminder: Claims Held by Manitoba Health 

We’ve noticed a sharp increase in the number of physicians reporting large volumes of claims being held by Manitoba Health for extended periods. For most physicians, only a very limited number of isolated claims were held for review and often simply to obtain more information to substantiate the claim.  

⚠️ Why it matters: Doctors Manitoba is concerned about this trend of more claims being held for review. Plus, there is no clear process to resolve these while they remain held, effectively in limbo.  

• We’ve raised this with Manitoba Health officials and have further escalated this for greater clarity and fairness.  

• If your claims are held: Don’t ignore a request for information. Review the applicable tariff and your documentation, respond by the deadline and contact us if the hold seems unusual or involves a large volume of claims.  

Read our new Claims Held for Review resource. 

e-Scooter Restrictions Set for 2027 

To help keep Manitobans safe when sharing roads, paths, and other public spaces, the province is rolling out new limits on e-scooters and other Personal Electric Vehicles (PEVs) for 2027. 

What’s new: Manitoba's new rules will fall under the Highway Traffic Act. 

• All riders and passengers must be at least 16 years old. 
• Properly fitting helmets must be worn at all times.  
• PEVs are not allowed on sidewalks, unless signs specifically permit PEV use. 
• Vehicles must follow a maximum 25 km/h speed limit. 

In the news: Doctors Manitoba spoke to the Free Press, saying while we had not had the chance to consult physicians on the change just yet, “there is clearly a need for regulations to help avoid injuries related to e-scooter use, as we already have in place for other vehicles.” 

What do you think about e-scooters? Send us your thoughts at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca. 

Reminder for your patients: Our public health initiative, GettingHealthy.ca, offers guides and resources for patients. Share this article on injury prevention. 

Read the new provincial guidelines. 

Alberta Physicians Vote to Ratify New Deal  

Alberta Medical Association members have ratified a three-year agreement effective April 1, 2026 with the provincial government, something we are monitoring very closely as we prepare to negotiate.  

What we know:  

• The first year offers a 3% increase in year one, 2.5% in year two, and the third year’s increase will be determined through mediation or arbitration.  

• Macro-allocation increases vary between specialty blocs.  

• The agreement also included improvements to CPD, Mat/Par and Rural Retention benefits. 

Further details are expected to be released once the Agreement and micro-allocations are finalized. 

What we’re watching: Doctors Manitoba pays close attention to ongoing negotiations in other provinces. This is so we can come to the table with our own government well-informed and able to maximize the opportunity for the best deal possible for physicians in Manitoba. 

🗞️ Read the full coverage from CBC. 

If you hear anything of note about the new agreement from your Alberta colleagues, let us know by emailing practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.  

WORTH NOTING

Connection & Peer Support: Women Physicians Navigating Cancer 

What’s happening: Doctors Manitoba is hosting a confidential evening of connection and peer support for practicing female physicians navigating a cancer diagnosis. 

Why it matters: Whether your diagnosis is recent or part of a longer journey, this physician-facilitated gathering offers a supportive space to connect with colleagues who understand the unique challenges of balancing cancer care, life, and medical practice. 

📅 November 3 at 7 p.m. In person and virtual option. 

Learn more and register here. 

Fall Book Club: The Road Between Us 

The Winnipeg Free Press describes The Road Between Us as a “beautifully written, poetic, episodic page-turner that keeps you guessing to the very end.”  

The novel is the selection for the Doctors Manitoba Fall Book Club. The author, pediatrician Dr. Bindu Suresh will join us for the meeting via Zoom.  

📚 November 19 at 6 p.m. (Virtual) 

Register here. 

Build Your Leadership and Communication Skills 

Whether you’re leading patients or leading care teams in an official capacity, all physicians lead by example. Doctors Manitoba is pleased to offer a new suite of Physician Leadership Institute (PLI) courses in conjunction with the CMA.  

• Registration closing soon: Crucial Conversations for Accountability, October 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Virtual. 

• Leading High-Performance Culture, November 20 and 21, 8-4 each day. In Person.  

• Effective Leadership in a Complex System, January 21 and 22, 8-4 each day. Virtual. 

Find out more and reserve your spot now! 

PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES

Doctors Manitoba’s job board has 3 new practice opportunities for physicians at Life and Care Clinic, Midcity Medical Center and St. Anne’s Medical & Walk-in Clinic along with dozens more opportunities previously listed. Check it out!  

Placing a job ad on our site is free – add one here. 

ICYMI

Here are the most-read and important recent stories, in case you missed them: 


• CMPA Changes: Because of a CMPA fee increase for 2027, most specialties will now qualify for the Doctors Manitoba CMPA rebate. Newly eligible physicians can claim their rebate the following year. Read our full coverage. 

• Billing Refresher, Virtual Care: Manitoba Health is increasing its scrutiny on claims, so make sure your virtual visits meet both CPSM standards and tariff requirements. Review our updated billing advice. 

• Next Steps for MAiD: The federal government plans to introduce legislation this fall that would indefinitely extend the ban on MAiD where mental illness is the sole underlying condition. Find out what it means for Manitoba physicians. 

EVENTS AND CPD

We feature events planned by Doctors Manitoba, as well as other events submitted by the medical community to share and connect with their peers. 

CancerCare Manitoba’s 5th Annual Patient and Family Conference, October 20-22. Virtual. Patients and families facing cancer often have many important decisions to make and may find it challenging to navigate the healthcare system. Having reliable, up-to-date information can make a big difference in understanding cancer, exploring treatment options, and making informed choices. Learn more and register today! 

Beyond the Waiting Room: The Future of Unscheduled Healthcare, October 21. Winnipeg. The Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Winnipeg invites you to attend the 2026 Laird Lecture Series, followed by a lunch and networking opportunity. This 2026 Laird Lecture will explore what the future of unscheduled healthcare could look like — and why it may be dramatically different from the system we know today. Learn more and register.


30th Annual Bug Day 2026, October 22, 7:55 a.m. - 4 p.m. Virtual. Join the 30th Annual Bug Day, a free, virtual, fully accredited continuing professional development event hosted by Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg in collaboration with the University of Manitoba CPD Medicine Program. Hear from leading experts on infectious diseases, public health, and communicable disease prevention. Important: To receive continuing professional credits for attending the daylong program. Learn more and view the agenda.  

Cardiology Day 2026, October 30, 2026, 7:30 – 3:30 p.m. UM Bannatyne Campus Basic Medical Sciences Building. Cardiology Day 2026 is a comprehensive one-day educational program designed for family physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, residents, and other healthcare professionals involved in cardiovascular care. Learn more and register. 

World Aids Day Cabaret 2026, November 27, 2026, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. WAG-Qaumajuq. An unforgettable evening of storytelling, imagination, and magic. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Nine Circles Community Health Centre. Learn more and get tickets.

We are here to support the whole physician.

Every step of the way.

Your health & well-being are important to us.

Visit DRMB.ca/HELP to connect to support services or call 1.844.433.3762

For all other support, including benefits and insurance support,

career resources or practice advice please

email general@doctorsmanitoba.ca or call 204.985.5888

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