The Manitoba government is strengthening its commitment to health-care staffing and bilingual health-care delivery by creating 30 additional seats, bringing the total to 75 seats in the French-language bachelor of nursing program at the Université de Saint-Boniface (USB), Advanced Education and Training Minister Renée Cable and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced on May 13.
"Expanding French-language nursing education is a direct investment in the future of our health-care system," said Cable. "There is strong and growing interest in USB's bachelor of nursing program, and by increasing capacity, we are meeting that demand while supporting students who want to learn and work in French. This expansion reflects our government's commitment to building a truly bilingual Manitoba."
The Manitoba government will invest $219,691 over four years to support the new seats, ensuring more French-speaking nurses are trained to serve designated francophone and bilingual health-care institutions across Manitoba.
"These new seats will help ensure that francophone and bilingual health-care facilities across the province have the skilled nurses they need," said Asagwara. "We've heard clearly from communities, educators and health-care leaders about the need to strengthen French-language care in Manitoba. Increasing the number of French-speaking nurses strengthens our workforce and helps ensure patients can receive care in the language they understand and feel most comfortable speaking."
"As a partner that bridges the gap between the health-care needs of the francophone community of Manitoba and the health-care system, we welcome this news, which is part of a long-term strategy to develop a bilingual health-care workforce," said Diane Poiron-Toupin, chairperson, Santé en français.
The Université de Saint-Boniface has seen a significant rise in applications to its nursing program in recent years, demonstrating both the need and the enthusiasm for French-language health-care training, the minister noted.
"As the only institution in Western Canada offering a bachelor of nursing entirely in French, Université de Saint-Boniface is proud to train highly qualified, bilingual health-care professionals through a program recognized nationally for its excellence," said Sophie Bouffard, president, Université de Saint-Boniface. "Given the pressing need for access to health care, and even more so for health-care services in French, Université de Saint-Boniface is delighted the Manitoba government has supported the proposal to increase the number of seats for the bachelor of nursing cohort beginning in September 2026."
The expanded cohort will begin in the 2026-27 academic year.
"The addition of new nursing seats at the Université de Saint-Boniface represents a major step forward for the future of Manitoba's bilingual municipalities," said Ivan Normandeau, president, Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities. "This investment will significantly strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality care in both official languages, particularly in essential facilities like the Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital, which is moving toward regional designation. Training more bilingual health professionals means meeting the real needs of our communities, reinforcing our health-care system, and directly supporting the vitality and sustainable growth of our regions."
The Manitoba government continues to prioritize health-care recruitment, retention and training initiatives to rebuild the system and ensure high-quality care for communities across the province, Asagwara noted.
