Pallister Says Lots Of Interest Already In Incentives

Our province has announced several incentives in recent days in an effort to encourage more Manitobans to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Tuesday, Premier Brian Pallister announced that fully immunized Manitobans will be able to travel domestically without having to self-isolate for two weeks upon return. This is the result of a secure immunization card. Pallister says the same applies to Canadians from other provinces who enter Manitoba.

Pallister says not only is this helpful for individuals who may have families wanting to visit from another province, but it should also help the small business community.

When the idea was first unveiled, Pallister said this could involve soccer leagues calling parents, neighbourhood organizations knocking on doors or ethnocultural groups holding a vaccine clinic with food and music.

"We're looking at having community organizations draft up their plans and then we'll help encourage them as best we can because this is a province that's very community-minded," he explains. "I think that reaching out to people you know and who trust you is the way to do it, rather than the government telling you."

Grants will be worth up to $20,000 and Pallister says they have a pool of more than $1 million to dish out.

Another incentive announced this week is a province-wide lottery. Nearly $2 million will be awarded in cash and scholarships this summer. Manitoba will hold two lottery draws. All Manitobans aged 12 and up who have received at least one dose of vaccine on or before August 2nd will be eligible for the first draw. All Manitobans aged 12 and up who have received two doses on or before September 6th will be eligible for the second draw. Each lottery draw will award three prizes for $100,000 each in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and a $100,000 prize in each of the remaining RHA's. There will also be ten draws for $25,000 scholarships for young people aged 12 to 17 across the province.