Missed the BGM? Watch the livestream of the meeting or check out the highlights in our blog below.
Message from the President
On behalf of MAHCP Council and staff, thank you to everyone who attended our inaugural Biennial Annual General Meeting. For those who couldn’t join us, here’s a brief overview of the key themes and updates shared during the meeting.
Over the past four years, MAHCP members have secured two Central Table agreements that raised wages by an average of 40 per cent, excluding rural and Northern differentials. These were overdue gains, won through solidarity under two different governments. This year also brought progress at Local Tables, including Jocelyn House’s first retirement benefit and maternity leave top-up, and we welcomed new members at Assiniboine Dental Group, St.Amant, and Simkin Centre.
Not every member has shared in the gains we’ve made. Some have fallen further behind, while serious staffing shortages persist across allied health. Our priority is to defend the progress we have made and secure fair compensation and working conditions at every bargaining table.
As governments look to rein in spending, MAHCP is strengthening its ability to fight for members. We have expanded our staff expertise, invested in research and communications, and more than doubled our defence fund and reserves since 2023. Executive Council’s first concurrent two-year term will provide continuity as we renew our strategic plan and prepare for the next round of Central Table negotiations. These investments matter, but members remain the force behind every gain. Your workplace knowledge, participation and solidarity will shape the next contract and the future of allied health in Manitoba.
Government Relations
MAHCP’s growing public profile is getting government’s attention, with our union and members appearing in nearly 1,000 news stories this past year. But recognition must translate into investment that reaches allied health. We are strengthening our in-house research capacity and developing our own workforce projections to help shape decisions about the allied health professionals that Manitoba’s health system relies on.
That work also means protecting members’ professional authority as artificial intelligence enters health care. Qualified professionals must remain accountable for decisions and have the authority to overrule AI. MAHCP’s position is clear: those protections belong in regulation and collective agreements.
Safety & Health
Employers continue to fall short of their safety obligations. MAHCP escalated its response to unsafe workplaces through grievances, reports to provincial regulators, and court proceedings challenging government’s failure to enforce safety legislation. We are pressing for functioning workplace safety committees, stronger violence prevention, and adequate emergency planning. Central Table’s 96-hour incident-reporting requirements are now helping us reach affected members and support their claims, while work continues on psychological safety.
Dynacare
Nearly 350 Dynacare laboratory professionals continue to fight for fair wages for publicly funded work. They earn 20 to 50 per cent less than colleagues doing comparable work at Shared Health. After members went on strike September 8, the Manitoba government asked the Labour Board to intervene, and workers were ordered back after just one day. The essential services ruling that followed has not resolved the wage dispute, and it took away these members’ Charted-protected right to strike.
This fight has consequences for every MAHCP member and unionized worker across Manitoba. Government interference stripped Dynacare workers of their strongest bargaining tool, and gave even greater powers to employers like the Manitoba government itself. MAHCP will defend the right to strike and hold every government to the same standard, regardless of party. Our members remain united in demanding equal wages and a government that honours its commitments to healthcare workers.
Thank you to our members, Member Advocates, Executive Council, and staff for the work and solidarity that continue to strengthen our union.
Keep reading below for some special BGM highlights, including our 2026 Honour Roll recipients, a video highlighting MAHCP members, long-service staff recognitions, and an acknowledgement of service for our departing council member.
In solidarity,
Jason Linklater
President
“MAHCP’s capacity to fight is growing, and it starts with frontline professionals —the most credible voices on health care resourcing,
compensation, and governance.”
Resolutions
All six constitutional changes, and one general resolution, were passed during this year’s BGM.
The constitutional changes were related to:
- Resolution #1: Codifying the rate of membership dues at 1.25%
- Resolution #2: Defining new membership categories
- Resolution #3: Clarifying Executive Council roles
- Resolution #4: Giving Executive Council the ability to create one or more equity seats on Council
- Resolution #5: Creating a new requirement for majority vote for elected positions
- Resolution #6: Creating a new requirement for Executive Council directors to serve as Member Advocates
A general resolution was also debated and passed that directs MAHCP to explore alternatives to HEB participation, reporting back to the board.
Honour Roll Recipients
At this year’s BGM, we were proud to recognize two Honour Roll recipients for outstanding contributions to the union. Read about MAHCP members Wayne Chacun and Derek Myhre.
Wayne Chacun
- Intermediate Care Paramedic (Virden EMS)
- Treasurer, MAHCP Executive Council
- Bargaining Chair – Central Table (last two rounds)
- Member Advocate
Read more about Wayne
Wayne has dedicated much of his life to ensuring that the voices of healthcare workers are heard and respected. He understands that unions are built not only through collective agreements and negotiations, but through the commitment of individuals willing to stand up, speak out, and fight for what is right. Wayne is one of those individuals.
Throughout his years of service, Wayne championed the interests of allied health professionals, advocating for recognition, fair compensation, safe working conditions, and respect for the invaluable role these professionals play within our healthcare system. He understood that behind every service provided and every patient cared for, there are dedicated healthcare workers deserving of support and a strong collective voice.
The impact of Wayne’s advocacy extends far beyond any single campaign, meeting, or bargaining table. His efforts have helped improve workplaces, elevate the profile of allied health professionals, and strengthen the foundation upon which future generations of union activists will build.
Derek Myhre
- EMS Primary Care Paramedic (Beausejour EMS)
- Member Advocate
Read more about Derek
Since becoming a member of MAHCP, Derek has served as a vital bridge between paramedics and the union, consistently demonstrating exceptional dedication to member advocacy. He is widely recognized as a trusted point of contact within the region, valued for his integrity and commitment to fostering open communication.
His proactive approach to internal engagement is evident in his efforts to maintain a dedicated union information board at his station in Beausejour, ensuring colleagues remain informed about critical updates and events. He possesses a keen ability to interpret complex documentation or key contract wording, regularly clarifying policy wording and identifying potential issues before they escalate. His professional reputation is built upon his balanced and respected working relationship with the EMS community, management, and union leadership.
Beyond his advocacy work, Derek maintains strong professional relationships with his colleagues. His approachable demeanor and proven reliability have earned him the profound trust of his peers, who frequently turn to him for support and guidance regarding sensitive personal and professional matters.
Recently, Derek has been an effective representative and advocate for ERS through his engagement with MAHCP and various governmental bodies. Most notably, he recently represented paramedic interests before the Minister of Health Uzoma Asagwara regarding the implementation of ACP positions in rural Manitoba. He has never shied away from walking up the legislature stairs to support ERS through MAHCP and paramedicine growth in Manitoba.
MAHCP Member Highlight
Our focus is you.
Meet some of the members who make up MAHCP! We’re proud to represent nearly 7,700 members, which is almost 90% of all allied health professionals in Manitoba. They work across 50+ distinct professions and 200+ classifications, and we love to tell their stories.
Staff Recognition
The MAHCP staff fights hard for our members as allied health advocates.
This year marked an important milestone for three MAHCP staff, who each reached five years of service. Thank you, Teresa Bowerman (Executive Liaison – pictured left), Roger Quenelle (Labour Relations Officer – pictured centre), and Poonam Randhawa (Senior Labour Relations Officer – pictured right) for your commitment to our organization over the last five years.
Executive Council
MAHCP’s Executive Council effectively represents the diversity of our professional occupations – the knowledge they bring as leaders provides thoughtful governance to our organization.
We express our sincere appreciation to Lyle Sasek, outgoing Executive Council Director, District 16. We are grateful for your advocacy on behalf of allied health professionals across the province.
Lyle Sasek
District 16
Winnipeg Central 4
Prize Draw
Congratulations to all our door prize draw winners! You will receive your electronic gift card to the email address you used to register for the BGM (along with instructions for how to redeem). Please note: It may take up to five business days for the email come through.
$250 Everything Gift Cards:
- Maria Acenas
- Cecilia Bellingham
$100 Everything Gift cards:
- Clariza Pelayo
- Shauna Doerksen
- Arabelle Guevarra-Thompson
- Arlene Boychuk
- Sohail Anjum
- Leza Evenson
- Sherry Treichel
- Jean Nemeth
- Oda Batongbakal
- Emma Mercer
- Erin Helgason
- Keeli Rathbone
- Raquel Vicente
- Deborah Willits
- Sandra Slonosky