Today, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew and his South Winnipeg candidates were joined by community members to pledge to build a new ER at the Victoria hospital. He was joined by South Winnipeg resident Karla Rawluk, who shared her experience trying to access emergency care at Victoria Hospital.  

“South Winnipeg is a fast-growing area, and we know it’s a great place to live,” said Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew. “But ever since Heather Stefanson’s PCs shut down the Victoria ER, families and seniors in South Winnipeg have been left without any emergency services in their communities. What happened to Karla shouldn’t happen to anyone. And it won’t happen again if our party forms government on October 3rd because South Winnipeg will get a new ER.”  

In November 2022 Rawluk experienced heart attack symptoms and called Health Links. She was told to go to the Victoria Hospital because it was the closest to her. “I waited for five hours, and was never seen by a doctor,” said Rawluk. “The staff kept telling me ‘we’re not an ER, so we can’t help you.’” 

Kinew also condemned the PCs failed health system transformation that silenced and intimidated the voices of doctors and frontline health care staff, and he made an additional commitment to end the centralized, top-down approach to health care practiced by Brian Pallister and Heather Stefanson.  

Dr. Eric Jacobsohn commended Kinew’s new approach saying this “will help address the burnout and frustration that is causing so many doctors and nurse to leave the frontlines.”  

The new ER, the first of three Winnipeg ERs the Manitoba NDP has committed to open, will be built once the necessary staffing is in place to do so safely. This past Sunday, Kinew announced his commitment to fix the health care staffing crisis with a $500 million investment in recruitment and retention. He also promised to change the culture by respecting and listening to health care workers. 

“I’ve heard from so many people like Karla in my community, who have to travel further to access emergency services,” said NDP candidate for Fort Richmond Jennifer Chen. “People in Fort Richmond want their ER back. I’m so proud to be on the only team that is going to get a new ER built for South Winnipeg.” 

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