Local candidates have their say on med school

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This article was published 20/09/2011 (5145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s provincial election candidates weighed in on whether Brandon University should have a medical school after that issue was raised in a radio-broadcasted leaders debate Monday in Winnipeg.

New Democratic Party candidates Drew Caldwell (Brandon East) and Jim Murray (Brandon West) soundly criticized Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen’s statement that he was advised establishing a Brandon University medical school was “not practical.”.

“Is (McFadyen) getting his advice from a ouija board?” Caldwell said. “There is a feasibility study underway, chaired by Dr. Deborah Poff of Brandon University and the recommendations are expected sometime in 2012. It’s highly irresponsible for Mr. McFadyen to close the door on a medical school for western Manitoba before that feasibility study is completed.”

Murray said the work being done on the study, “has to be respected.”

“Our minds are open,” Murray said. “That’s why the study is being done so we can find out what the viability is. I think it’s disrespectful to the whole process to come out in advance of the study and say it’s not practical.”

Progressive Conservative candidate Reg Helwer (Brandon West) said McFadyen’s words were taken out of context because of the nature of the questions asked.

“I don’t think that’s what (McFadyen) answered because I think there were two separate questions asked,” Helwer said.

“Mr. Selinger was asked whether there would be a medical school in Brandon, and then he changes the question for Hugh and asked if we agreed that we should have a separate medical school in Brandon.”

Selinger’s response was that there would be a program of some kind in Brandon, but “whether there will be a separate medical school, that’s not determined yet.”

Helwer said he’s aware of the feasibility study being done on the medical school concept.

“It makes sense that we wait for those results,” Helwer said. “We have not ruled anything out yet. I guess we are also not making any promises we can’t keep. We have a total commitment to health care in Brandon and I’m sure you’re aware part of our plan is to put a medical helicopter in Brandon to service the Westman area.”

Brandon East Progressive Conservative candidate Mike Waddell said he didn’t want to prejudge the study’s finding either.

“We’ve asked for that study for three years and it will determine whether it’s feasible or not,” Waddell said.

“I heard twice on the doorsteps that two women didn’t have a family doctor. At this point, I don’t think our leader has ruled anything out. I know Hugh’s later response to the question was that the location was one where we’d have to look at it carefully.

“If (a medical school) is shown that it will bring doctors to Brandon, absolutely, I would back it.”

Brandon West Liberal candidate George Buri said a medical school at Brandon University would be a good idea.

“I think you need to make sure you have the academic offerings currently that will lead to the establishment of that school,” Buri said.

“One of my platforms is to enhance academic programming in universities, certainly in the sciences, but also in arts. We need to establish Brandon University as a school that offers more than four-year arts and science degrees but masters degrees as well. It’s a complex issue, but it’s something we need to work towards.”

Brandon East Liberal candidate Shaun Cameron said Manitoba Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard’s approach favouring distance education was the most cost-effective.

“I think it can be best addressed by the use of broadband classrooms and open classrooms rather than a direct classroom in any one school,” Cameron said.

“At this point, my stance would be in favour of a distance education model and if it can grow into making it feasible in Brandon, that’s what we should look at.”

Reached after the debate, NDP Leader Greg Selinger said McFadyen’s comment, “made it clear he’s not interested in any kind of arrangement with Brandon University for a medical school.”

Calls seeking comment from McFadyen were not returned.

» kborkowsky@brandonsun.com