Healthy Communities: A Role for Everyone

2022 Health Status of Manitobans Report

Executive Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the release of this report by almost two years. During this time, we had an opportunity to see, first-hand, the impact of health inequities in our province. When SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was first identified in humans we were all equally susceptible, but not all groups were affected to the same degree. This report will outline how this pattern can be seen in many other health outcomes.

It is important to reflect upon the idea that health disparities are not due to chance, poor life choices, genetics or some other inherent predisposition to poor health outcomes. One of the goals of this report is to emphasize the role that the social determinants of health (such as income, racism and colonialism) have on the health of Manitobans.

"It is important to reflect upon the idea that health disparities are not due to chance, poor life choices, genetics or some other inherent predisposition to poor health outcomes."


Measuring the gaps in health status in our province is necessary to guide actions to improve the health of all Manitobans. Having a more equitable society and improving access to education, justice, employment, housing, wealth and other social and structural determinants of health benefits us all.

When it comes to improving the health of our population, every Manitoban has a role a play. However, those with the power and privilege to make decisions and set policy direction have a particular responsibility to disrupt and transform public policy, institutional practices and cultural views that further entrench these disparities. As public health practitioners, we recognize that to advance health equity, we need to continue to measure and expand our understanding of health disparities, set measurable and achievable targets and collaborate with community leadership. We must also incorporate evidence-informed remedies, such as cultural safety, decolonization and anti-racism into our work.

After providing a general health status update, this report provides a description of COVID-19 in Manitoba between March 2020 and March 2022, and concludes with a closer look at the inequitable impact by race, ethnicity and Indigeneity.

For questions or comments about the report, please contact us by e-mail.