Practice Expectations and Jurisdiction Considerations for RNs in Manitoba When Individuals are Displaced due to Evacuation

The unprecedented 2025 wildfires disproportionately impacted northern Manitoba, forcing 17 First Nations communities to evacuate. As of August 17, 2025, 21 fires are out of control, with over half of these fires in northern Manitoba. Currently, 3 First Nation communities remain evacuated, with most people displaced to southern Manitoba and the Niagara region of Ontario. Where the evacuation orders are lifted, not everyone has made it back to their home community.

For First Nations peoples, the trauma of displacement is compounded by entrenched structural and systemic inequities, such as fragmented healthcare systems, which worsen health and social outcomes. Given this reality, we have a responsibility to advocate for and implement policies that address these inequities, focusing on continuity of care. In the context of northern Manitoba First Nations, continuity of care means that the healthcare providers serving these communities remain consistently involved in their care, regardless of where individuals are relocated during evacuations.

Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc.

Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc. (KIM) supports the health and wellness priorities of 23 northern Manitoba First Nations. KIM is committed to working collaboratively with health system partners and organizations to implement solutions that mitigate structural and systemic inequity, including identifying processes to act quickly and with attention to when immediate solutions are needed.

Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc., in partnership with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) and the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), has taken a leadership role to clarify geographical practice expectations for Manitoba RNs and NPs who provide care to northern First Nation communities.

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)

CNO’s position is that a nurse does not need to be registered with CNO if they’re providing care to a non-Ontario resident who is in Ontario temporarily (e.g., if the client is here temporarily due to displacement). In these cases, the out-of-province nurse remains accountable to the regulatory body in their home jurisdiction (e.g., College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba, College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba), not CNO.

If the client decides to become a permanent Ontario resident, that nurse would need to register with CNO to continue provide their care.

Manitoba’s Nursing Colleges

College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM)
College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM)
College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM)

A nurse (LPN, RN, NP or RPN*) registered with one of Manitoba’s nursing colleges may provide care to a Manitoba resident, whether that client is displaced to anywhere in Manitoba or Ontario.

It is expected that the nurse has the knowledge, skills, and judgment to provide the necessary care. If not, it is expected that they then consult/collaborate with another health care provider who can assist. A nurse’s professional accountability is tied to their certificate of practice (license) – not their role in an employment setting. Nurses are accountable to the entry-level competencies, the Code of Ethical Conduct (Code of Ethics) and all practice expectations and practice directions which are based on the law and regulations.

If an employer has restricted the scope of practice due to a client’s displacement, it is important to inquire about the rationale for such limitations. This inquiry should be part of a broader effort to reduce inequitable health outcomes caused by unnecessary constraints on practice based on location. As part of all healthcare systems’ commitment to reconciliation in Canada, it is essential to address and dismantle systemic barriers that disproportionately impact First Nations and displaced communities, ensuring equitable access to quality care and professional autonomy.

Liability protection (CNPS) applies to all nursing roles and CLPNM, CRNM and CRPNM do not require additional liability protection.

*LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse; RN: Registered Nurse; NP: Nurse Practitioner; RPN: Registered Psychiatric Nurse

The Bottom Line

If you are a nurse who is registered with CLPNM, CRNM or CRPNM, you are expected to provide quality care to people from Manitoba who are evacuated to another location.

If you are a nurse or an employer and have questions, please contact:
CRNM: [email protected], ph. 204-774-3477 ext. 301, or toll-free 1-800-665-2027
CLPNM: [email protected], ph. 204-663-1212 or toll-free 1-877-663-1212
CRPNM: [email protected] or ph. 204-410-0984