UMSU demands healthcare for international students
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
Roy Albright Obah, staff
U
MSU 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 empha-
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sized that this right must coverage and out-of-pocket us.” extend to the international expenses.” The event saw strong parWhen asked why the Legis- ticipation not only from student community, who currently face significant finan- lative Assembly was chosen as UMSU’s own community repcial and coverage barriers the venue, Singh emphasized resentatives but also from under the existing private the jurisdictional responsib- allied student associations, plan. ility. “Healthcare falls under including the University of “While the current provin- provincial jurisdiction, which Winnipeg Students’ Associcial government made a cam- is why the Manitoba Legis- ation and Providence College. paign promise to reinstate lative Assembly was chosen In the face of government healthcare for international as the site of the rally,” he silence, UMSU is preparstudents, no action has been explained. ing for a sustained advocacy Despite the public demon- campaign. The student union taken so far,” Singh said. T h r o w plans to maining light on tain pressure “Access to affordable, publicly funded the current on elected offihealth covercials through age for intermultiple chanhealthcare is a basic human right” national stunels. dents, Singh “We will — Prabhnoor Singh, UMSU president explained, continue to “c u r r e n t l y, lobby and international students stration, according to Singh, rally at the Legislature, attend in Manitoba are covered UMSU has not received any Question Periods, and organunder the Manitoba Inter- formal assurances from the ize students to keep the presnational Student Health Plan governing party. sure on the government,” (MISHP),” a private insurance However, he added, Singh stated. “Our goal plan. UMSU argued that this “Independent Liberal MLA remains clear: to ensure that system is insufficient, and Cindy Lamoureux did come ALL students have access to that it often burdens students out to show her support and publicly funded healthcare.” with “high premiums, limited took the time to speak with Concluding with a message
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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.
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October 08, 2025
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