June 5, 2019
Updated Portal Welcomes Military Families to Manitoba
– – –Portal Aims to Make It Easier to Find Supports, Services: Reyes
The province is making it easier for military families to find supports and services through an updated military portal on the Manitoba government’s website, Jon Reyes, special envoy for military affairs, announced today.
“Our government recognizes that members of our military and their families make many personal sacrifices for our country, and we owe it to them to make it as easy as possible to find all the great things Manitoba has to offer,” Reyes said. “We are so proud that Manitoba is home to a large military community, and we want to make sure everyone feels welcome and supported. Our new portal aims to make it easier to find information about our great province.”
The updated residents’ portal on the Manitoba government home page has links to a number of supports including finding work for family members, connecting with a new family doctor, registering for a Manitoba Health card and other items like recreational opportunities and animal licencing, along with a wide variety of historical and geographic information about Manitoba. It also contains links to specific military programs offered by the federal government.
“This updated portal will provide our military families with a wealth of helpful information,” said Reyes. “Whether it’s finding out how to register children in a new school, or just learning about our great province, our website is a one-stop hub for information that can make the move to Manitoba go more smoothly.”
During the development of the portal, the Office of the Special Envoy for Military Affairs consulted with various branches of the Canadian Armed Forces as well as the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) to ensure the website contains links to information that families might be seeking.
“The Winnipeg MFRC is very excited about the launch of the military portal website,” said Dana Glover, the centre’s acting executive director. “We appreciate our partnership with the Manitoba government, particularly the Office of the Special Envoy for Military Affairs, and we look forward to continuing to work together.”
While the federal government provides specific support to military families, members of the military also have access to the same services as civilian Manitobans. The updated portal will make it easier for them to navigate the website and access services.
“The government of Manitoba’s new portal will be a huge benefit for Canadian Armed Forces members and their families relocating to Manitoba,” said Katy Wedgwood, member, Winnipeg Military Family Resource board of directors and military spouse. “Creating one central location for members and spouses to find information on not only the practical aspects of relocating to a new province such as health cards, drivers licences, etc., but also the wide range of recreation opportunities available in Manitoba will help facilitate the transition to their new home.”
The residents’ portal can be found at https://residents.gov.mb.ca/moving/military/index.html.
This announcement coincides with the mandate letter received this week by the special envoy for military affairs, which formalizes the Manitoba government’s commitments for the role. In addition to representing the provincial government at military events, the special envoy will serve as the official point of contact for military members and their families. The special envoy will also work with colleagues to enhance provincially delivered services to deliver better outcomes for military members, their families and veterans.
The full mandate letter can be found at https://residents.gov.mb.ca/moving/military/sema.html.
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