UMSU led a rally at the Manitoba Legislative Assembly on Oct. 1, urging the provincial government to fulfill its campaign promise to reinstate healthcare coverage for international students. The rally coincided with the first day of the legislative session, a deliberate choice meant to capture the attention of lawmakers as they returned to work.
Prabhnoor Singh, president of UMSU, said, “we wanted to make our message loud and clear.” He added, “we’ve been lobbying the government for years on this issue, but we have yet to receive any concrete timeline for when healthcare coverage will be restored.”
The rally was directed at all members of the provincial legislature, reinforcing the union’s firm stance that healthcare is a fundamental human right. Singh emphasized that this right must extend to the international student community, who currently face significant financial and coverage barriers under the existing private plan.
“While the current provincial government made a campaign promise to reinstate healthcare for international students, no action has been taken so far,” Singh said.
Throwing light on the current health coverage for international students, Singh explained, “currently, international students in Manitoba are covered under the Manitoba International Student Health Plan (MISHP),” a private insurance plan. UMSU argued that this system is insufficient, and that it often burdens students with “high premiums, limited coverage and out-of-pocket expenses.”
When asked why the Legislative Assembly was chosen as the venue, Singh emphasized the jurisdictional responsibility. “Healthcare falls under provincial jurisdiction, which is why the Manitoba Legislative Assembly was chosen as the site of the rally,” he explained.
Despite the public demonstration, according to Singh, UMSU has not received any formal assurances from the governing party.
However, he added, “Independent Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux did come out to show her support and took the time to speak with us.”
The event saw strong participation not only from UMSU’s own community representatives but also from allied student associations, including the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association and Providence College.
In the face of government silence, UMSU is preparing for a sustained advocacy campaign. The student union plans to maintain pressure on elected officials through multiple channels.
“We will continue to lobby and rally at the Legislature, attend Question Periods, and organize students to keep the pressure on the government,” Singh stated. “Our goal remains clear: to ensure that ALL students have access to publicly funded healthcare.”
Concluding with a message of solidarity, Singh directly addressed the university community. He affirmed UMSU’s support for international students, whose contributions are vital to the province’s academic and cultural landscape.
“To all international students and the broader university community, we want you to know that your health and well-being matter deeply to us,” Singh said. “Access to affordable, publicly funded healthcare is a basic human right.”
He encouraged students to stay engaged and join future advocacy efforts, asserting that collective action is the key to driving meaningful change and ensuring healthcare is accessible to everyone in Manitoba.
The preliminary fall enrolment report shows international student numbers have declined by 5.4 per cent compared to fall term 2024, marking the second consecutive year of decline at U of M.
