Manitoba’s auditor general, Tyson Shtykalo, reveals in a 55-page review that only 25 of 57 recommendations from 2021 and 2023 audits have been fully implemented, with 31 still classified as works in progress by the audited entities.

Addictions Services Face Ongoing Challenges

Twelve out of 15 recommendations from a 2023 audit on addiction treatment capacity remain works in progress, according to the Department of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness and Shared Health. Key pending actions include establishing wait-time targets for addiction and treatment 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. Data from the chief medical examiner shows 1,556 suspected substance-related deaths in the following three years. Preliminary 2025 figures indicate 292 suspected deaths from January to September, a decline from the same period in prior years.

Three recommendations from the addictions report are now resolved: collecting data on service demand, centralizing data collection processes, and coordinating learning opportunities between Shared Health and government-funded treatment organizations.

Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith stated that the government takes these recommendations seriously, citing funding for new treatment spaces and other initiatives.

Court Backlogs Persist Amid Staff Shortages

Six of seven recommendations from a 2023 audit on provincial court delays due to staff shortages and outdated technology remain works in progress. The Justice Department has fully implemented only the creation of a timeline and accountability checkpoints for its electronic filing system, though the project itself is incomplete.

Outstanding items include strategies to address staffing gaps, IT improvements, and increased resources to protect judicial independence.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe noted significant steps to modernize courts, including adding Crown attorneys and support staff to ease caseloads.

Vaccines and Other Reforms Show Mixed Results

One of three recommendations on improving 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 animal disease emergency preparedness, government vehicle efficiency tracking, and a compensation program for Shellmouth Dam flooding victims.