MAHCP throws support to NDP

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This article was published 26/09/2023 (982 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Recruiting more paramedics and health professionals to rural Manitoba would benefit Westman said Jason Linklater, the president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP), which has thrown its support behind the provincial NDP.

Linklater represents more than 7,000 allied health staff across Manitoba, including rural paramedics, lab and X-ray technicians, as well as emergency call dispatchers.

He was alongside NDP Leader Wab Kinew during a campaign announcement news conference in Winnipeg on Monday.

The staffing crisis is driving up wait times for everything from MRIs, ambulances, to emergency rooms and home care, said Linklater. “It’s time for a change.”

“For Westman, I think the biggest part for rural areas, is the recruitment and specifically the recruitment and training for paramedics, and to get lab technologists and diagnostic imaging into those areas,” Linklater said as he responded to a question from the Sun.

Allied Health has the ability to offer solutions, Linklater added. “And we have not had the opportunity to address those solutions with the current government. That is the biggest difference [with the NDP]”, Linklater said during the news conference.

In August, Kinew announced a $500-million health care plan if elected, which is geared toward recruiting more workers to the system, like nurses, physicians and 200 paramedics for rural Manitoba.

Monday’s campaign pledge included hiring additional diagnostic imaging professionals and lab technologists to help relieve the pressure on the emergency departments as well as physiotherapists, audiologists, and occupational therapists.

Kinew said the specific focus is staffing up rural areas.

“Unfortunately, many of the emergency room closures that we’ve seen in rural Manitoba have been because we didn’t have the allied health care professionals like an X-ray or lab technician on staff to keep those facilities open,” Kinew said while responding to a question from the Sun.

While in Brandon on Monday, Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson promised to fight for safer streets in the Wheat City.

Stefanson announced a $2-million commitment to establish a new downtown community safety program.

The Downtown Community Safety Partnership began in 2020 in Winnipeg, as a partnership between provincial and municipal governments, fire and police authorities, and business stakeholders to serve those who live, work, and learn in that city’s downtown.

Stefanson, Kinew and Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont were scheduled to participate in Brandon’s only leadership debate this morning presented by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

On Wednesday evening, a leaders’ town hall will be hosted by Doctors Manitoba, which will be streamed live online. For more information, visit bitly.ws/VEQm .

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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