Selinger promises QuickCare clinic

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This article was published 18/03/2016 (3865 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Day 2 of the provincial election campaign brought NDP Leader Greg Selinger to Brandon, where he promised to build the city’s first QuickCare Clinic if re-elected.

“What’s unique about the model is it’s a nurse-driven model, so that allows those nurse practitioners to put their skills to work in the community,” Selinger said at Assiniboine Community College’s practical nursing department.

The campaign promise would double the number of QuickCare clinics in Manitoba, from eight to 16. The clinics are open evenings, weekends and holidays and provide followup information to a patient’s family physician.

“Our QuickCare Clinics in Manitoba right now have diverted over 170,000 people from going to emergency rooms,” Selinger said. “That takes pressure off the ERs, that allows people to have health care close to where they live … It’s a good investment in the future and we’re very pleased to be able to have a QuickCare clinic here in Brandon.”

While in Brandon, Selinger made stops at Prairie Firehouse, The Town Centre, Samaritan House and Fraser Sneath Coffee. He sat down with The Brandon Sun to talk about the campaign and some of the important issues in Westman.

He referred to the new school being planned for Brandon’s south end, which the NDP announced last November.

“We were out here in the fall and people were starting to talk about the school and … we worked our way through it,” Selinger said. “We went back and checked and … clearly the evidence was there that we needed a new school. Well, we were able to do that, long before any election came up. We put it into our plan, so where was (Brian Pallister)?”

Selinger took a few jabs at Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister for not committing specific priorities for Brandon, particularly the new school.

“I think it’s important we put that out there early and start doing the planning and make sure it happens,” he said. “There’s a lot of young families in Brandon, it’s a growing economy here. We want to make sure they have proper education.”

The NDP has faced several setbacks over the past few years, such as the controversy surrounding the PST increase and the internal leadership challenges. When asked what he believes has been the biggest challenge, Selinger said getting the positive messages out when the negative ones were building up.

“I think the biggest hurdle we always face as a government that’s been around for a while is to make sure we’re communicating the positive things we’re doing to make a stronger Manitoba,” he said. “I think that communication challenge is always gigantic, especially if negatives build up and you don’t get a chance to sort of get underneath that and indicate what you’re really focused on.”

Selinger spoke about the Brandon East race, which has NDP incumbent Drew Caldwell fighting for the seat he has held since 1999.

When asked if Caldwell should be running on his own record and his own history in the community, rather than the party messages, Selinger said there’s really no separation.

“I think Drew always runs as Drew, but he also always runs as a New Democrat,” he said. “I think he doesn’t separate the two. He’s been a lifelong New Democrat. I think he wears the values of his community and of his party, which are very similar … He wears those proudly, and he’s always looking for a way to make a difference.”

Over the past 16 years, Selinger said Caldwell has done a lot for Brandon East, but also the whole southwest region.

“I think it’s important that we keep a guy like that, that’s interested in the whole area,” he said.

Selinger also bolstered Brandon West candidate Linda Ross, calling her a strong candidate with years of experience in education and administration.

“I think she would add a lot to the legislature because of her knowledge and her ability to think about the important issues of the day … not only of the community but of the country as well,” Selinger said. “I think she brings a lot of knowledge and smarts to the table.”

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