On Friday, it was announced that Manitoba would soon release its reopening strategy, something other Canadian provinces did this week. Premier Brian Pallister says they are not ruling out the idea of taking a regional approach to reopening within Manitoba.

"We take our guidance from the health leadership and the health leadership team has been looking at various options," he says. "That's one that's been kicked around and I don't think totally dismissed at this point."

Having said that, the Premier says Manitobans are mobile, with many people travelling from one region to another for work or shopping.

"So it's a tricky issue, it's a tough issue, because it's not the old days where the roads were so bad we all shopped within five minutes or we stayed close to home all the time," he says.

Pallister says right now the biggest thing is to get vaccines into the arms of Manitobans, which is why they have opened up so many clinics around the province. According to the Premier, there are currently 160 different locations for where to get a vaccine in Manitoba. This includes everything from super sites and pop-up clinics to pharmacies.

Pallister says at their First Ministers meeting on Thursday, there was consensus among the premiers to encourage the Prime Minister to get in touch with President Biden about getting surplus vaccines from the United States up to Canada.

According to Pallister, only about six per cent of Canada's vaccines come from the United States, which he says is very low, considering the strong relationship between the two countries. Earlier this spring, a plan was announced jointly between Manitoba and North Dakota, allowing Manitoba truck drivers to get vaccinated in the United States. Pallister says so far about 1,400 truckers have taken advantage of that offering. However, he says rather than have Canadians go down to the Unites States for their vaccine, the best solution is to ship those vaccines north of the border.

On a personal note, Pallister says the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike any challenge our province has faced this century. He notes decisions are being made on short notice without much previous data or the ability to know for sure that you are making the right decision.

Pallister says he lost his only sister during the pandemic, which was a very low time. But, he says it has been beautiful to see the thoughtfulness and consideration that Manitobans have demonstrated to him and others in leadership.

"The prayers and the letters and the emails from Manitobans that have come to our team here, our cabinet ministers, myself, means a lot too," says Pallister. "Everybody is under stress, including your political leaders as well. So it's much appreciated."