Manitoba Union Optimistic About Nursing Agency Cuts

Provincial cuts to private nursing agencies in Manitoba are expected to enhance the public health system, according to the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU). The union, represented by President Darlene Jackson, believes these changes will not contribute to a nursing shortage in the Prairie Mountain Health region.

As of January 15, 2024, the Manitoba government will limit the number of private agencies allowed to fill vacant nursing shifts in public health facilities to four. This decision follows an initiative announced in December 2024 aimed at reducing reliance on for-profit nursing agencies. The four selected agencies are Elite Intellicare Staffing, Integra Health, Bayshore HealthCare, and Augury Healthcare, which will operate under a competitive bidding process.

Jackson expressed optimism, stating that the cuts could encourage private agency nurses to transition into public sector roles or join the provincial travel nurse team. “I’m fairly confident that this is going to be a great thing for our health-care system,” she noted in an interview.

The new structure will see each regional health authority contract with a primary, secondary, and tertiary agency, allowing for a structured approach to filling nursing shifts. The health authority will prioritize agencies in order when staffing needs arise, with Augury Healthcare designated as the primary agency for Prairie Mountain Health.

The recent cuts mark a significant shift, ending partnerships with over 70 private nursing agencies. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara stated that this change is vital for ensuring consistent, high-quality care in the public system. He asserted, “The public system delivers the most consistent and highest quality care, and our government is strengthening the public workforce to support hospitals and personal care homes instead of relying on short-term, patchwork agency coverage.”

In a move to manage costs, the province mandated Prairie Mountain Health to reduce spending on private agencies by 15 percent before March 2026. Asagwara reported that the region has successfully cut agency costs by 14 percent to date. Over the past five years, Manitoba has spent a total of $287.8 million on private nursing agencies, with expenditures rising dramatically from $26.9 million in 2020-21 to $80 million projected for 2024-25.

Prairie Mountain Health itself saw its spending on private nursing agencies increase from $8.1 million in 2020-21 to $35 million in 2024-25. Jackson emphasized the need for these changes to be fiscally responsible while supporting public health-care staffing. She noted that concerns from the government, employers, and unions about the financial drain from public healthcare into private for-profit agencies prompted these necessary reforms.

As of December 31, 555 nurses were employed in the provincial float pool, with 55 percent of them previously working for agencies. Recruitment efforts continue as Jackson anticipates potential challenges in implementing a new scheduling system.

Critics, including Progressive Conservative health critic Kathleen Cook, acknowledge the importance of reducing spending on private agencies but caution against compromising patient care. Cook pointed to the high vacancy rate in Prairie Mountain Health and voiced concerns that the current government has not adequately addressed the underlying issues causing nurses to leave the public sector. She referenced the problematic launch of a centralized scheduling system for home care services in Winnipeg, which resulted in cancelled appointments, as a concerning precedent.

Jackson remains hopeful that the combination of the travel nurse program and limited agency use will strengthen the public health-care workforce. The union is committed to ensuring that this transition enhances the quality of care for patients while maintaining the necessary staffing levels across the region.