September 23, 2023 – Today Leader of the Manitoba NDP Wab Kinew visited Thompson, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Grand Rapids to announce his party’s commitment to expand northern health care services and make roads safer for Northern families.  

“Everyone in this province deserves quality healthcare close to home. But Heather Stefanson has turned her back on northern Manitobans. Because of her PC government’s cuts and closures, you have to wait longer and drive further to get the healthcare you need,” said Kinew. “The Manitoba NDP will deliver better healthcare to northern Manitoba, and we’ll improve Northern roads and highways to keep families safe.”  

Kinew made the following five commitments:  

• Restoring birthing services to Northern Manitoba, including in Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Norway House, so that families have culturally appropriate care in their home communities surrounded by friends and family.   
• Support recruitment efforts for the new nursing station in Pimicikamak Cree Nation and work with the community to add dialysis care for diabetes patients. 
• Add an MRI machine to the Thompson Hospital to increase diagnostic services in the North.  
• Support funding for road improvements for PR 280 to benefit Tataskweyak Cree Nation, PR 374 to benefit Pimicikamak Cree Nation and PR 391 to benefit Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.  

• Improve safety on Highway 6 with more rest stops.  

Kinew’s commitments today build on the NDP’s previous campaign commitments to train more Northern nurses with an LPN – RN pathway and offering hiring incentives to improve health care staffing in Northern Manitoba. 

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