On September 9, 2026, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew publicly criticized the private laboratory firm Dynacare after a one‑day walkout by 350 Dynacare lab technicians and technologists ended when the provincial NDP government ordered the striking workers back to work. The intervention restored laboratory services across the province.
Kinew said the incident underscored concerns about the province’s reliance on private providers for essential medical testing. He indicated that the government would consider de‑privatizing lab testing, suggesting that bringing testing under public control could prevent similar disruptions in the future.
The strike involved the full complement of 350 Dynacare laboratory staff who had been on strike for a single day. The government’s order for workers to return to their duties effectively ended the stoppage and resumed normal operations in Manitoba’s medical labs.
Dynacare, the private company employing the striking technicians and technologists, was the focus of the Premier’s criticism. No additional statements from the company are included in the available facts.
The NDP government’s decision to intervene reflects its authority to maintain continuity of health services. Premier Kinew’s remarks signal a possible shift toward greater public oversight of laboratory testing within the province.
No further actions have been announced, and officials are monitoring the situation as the government evaluates options for the province’s lab testing framework.