Wab Kinew

Wab Kinew's election as Manitoba's Premier marked a genuine milestone in Canadian history — the first First Nations Premier of a province. But what is more impressive than the symbolism is the man behind it. Kinew has been openly honest about a difficult personal past, choosing transparency over concealment at a time when many politicians would have buried it. That kind of honesty takes courage, and it says something meaningful about his character. Reconciliation, in his case, is not just a policy platform; it is something he has lived. His government is still relatively early in its mandate, which means a full accounting of policy outcomes is not yet possible. But the direction is encouraging: a focus on healthcare, cost of living, and Indigenous reconciliation that reflects genuine priorities rather than political positioning. Manitoba deserves steady, principled leadership after years of uncertainty. Kinew brings authenticity that is rare in politics, and a personal story that connects him to the struggles ordinary Canadians face. The early signs are promising, the work now is to deliver on that promise.

Wab Kinew became Manitoba Premier in 2023 after years of PC government. He came in with different priorities — healthcare reinvestment, addressing housing especially for Indigenous Manitobans, taking poverty seriously. It's early but he's been more visible and more willing to talk about the right things than his predecessors. Grocery prices in Winnipeg are the same brutal reality as the rest of Canada — that's not his fault. What is his responsibility is making sure the province spends on things that actually help people get through it. I'm cautiously hopeful. We'll see whether the follow-through matches the messaging.

Wab Kinew making history as the first Indigenous premier in Canada is genuinely significant. He brings a perspective to the office that Manitoba has never had before. But families across Manitoba — Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike — are feeling real economic pressure. Groceries, heating costs in winter, rural healthcare access — these are urgent daily realities. I'm hopeful but watching. The mandate is strong and the goodwill is real. The question now is whether this government can translate that into measurable improvements in people's actual lives.

Wab Kinew made history on October 18, 2023, becoming the first First Nations premier of a Canadian province when he led the Manitoba NDP to victory. That fact alone carries weight — not as a reason to exempt his government from scrutiny, but as context for understanding what his election represented for Indigenous Canadians and for Manitoba's political culture. In his first two years, Kinew has maintained notably high approval ratings — unusual for any premier, and particularly striking given the difficulty of the files he inherited. His government implemented a provincial fuel tax holiday, added over 870 net new health care professionals, opened new neighbourhood health clinics, and expanded pharmacare coverage to include prescription birth control and menopause medications. Perhaps the most consequential act of his first year was authorizing the search of Prairie Green Landfill, where the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran — two of the victims of a 2022 serial killing — were found in February 2025. That decision, which his predecessor had refused, was both a matter of justice and a statement about whose lives his government would fight for. The challenges are real. Manitoba's deficit has ballooned to $1.6 billion — more than double the original budget projection. Healthcare wait times remain elevated. Chronic homelessness persists. Kinew has said these things take time, and that is true. But the clock is running. Reviewed as a citizen who believes this government has earned cautious optimism — and who will measure its success by whether the communities that have waited the longest for change are the ones who see it first.