Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew speaks during an announcement at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
Premier Wab Kinew has expanded cabinet with two new ministerial responsibilities focused on accessibility and first responders.
Carla Compton, MLA for Tuxedo and a registered nurse, will serve as minister responsible for accessibility. Her mandate includes improving service co-ordination and working with Manitobans with lived experience to shape a more accessible system.
“Manitobans of all ages who are living with a disability deserve the support they need to achieve their goals,” Kinew said on Monday.
David Pankratz, MLA for Waverley and a former firefighter, will serve as minister responsible for first responder initiatives, focusing on firefighters, paramedics, police officers, mental health workers and others on the front lines. His mandate includes strengthening mental health and workplace supports, improving presumptive coverage, and involving first responders more directly in addressing the toxic drug crisis.
Robert Loiselle, MLA for St. Boniface, will take over as special envoy for military affairs, a role previously held by Pankratz.
The fall sitting of the Manitoba legislature begins on Tuesday following the summer break.
