Manitoba’s auditor general reports that most recommendations to improve access to addiction services and reduce court backlogs remain unimplemented. In a 55-page review released Thursday, Tyson Shtykalo notes that only 25 of 57 recommendations from 2021 and 2023 audits have been fully addressed, while 31 are still in progress according to the audited entities.
Addictions Services Capacity Issues Persist
Twelve of 15 recommendations from a 2023 audit on addiction treatment shortages are classified as works in progress by the Department of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness and Shared Health. Key pending actions include establishing wait-time targets for services, implementing an electronic records system, and identifying facilities that fail to meet client needs.
The original audit highlighted 750 confirmed substance-related deaths in Manitoba from 2019 to 2021, peaking at 400 in 2021. Suspected deaths in the following three years reached 1,556, per the chief medical examiner’s data. Preliminary 2025 figures show 292 suspected deaths from January to September, a decline from the same period in prior years.
Three recommendations are now resolved: collecting data on service demand, creating a centralized data process, and having Shared Health coordinate training with government-funded treatment providers.
Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith stated that the NDP government takes these recommendations seriously, citing funding for new treatment spaces and other initiatives.
Court System Delays Continue Amid Shortages
Six of seven recommendations from a 2023 report on provincial court delays due to staff shortages and outdated technology remain works in progress. The Justice Department has fully implemented only a plan to set timelines and accountability for its electronic filing system, though the project itself is incomplete.
Outstanding items include strategies to tackle staffing gaps, upgrade IT services, and allocate resources to protect judicial independence.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe stated that the government has modernized the court system, adding Crown attorneys and support staff to ease caseloads.
Other Audit Updates
One of three recommendations to enhance post-COVID vaccine rollouts has been implemented two years after issuance. The review provides limited assurance, verifying only completed recommendations without evaluating progress on others.
Twenty resolved recommendations from 2021 cover areas like preparing for animal disease emergencies, tracking government vehicle efficiency, and compensating residents affected by artificial flooding at the Shellmouth Dam in western Manitoba.
