Northern Manitoba—Today the NDP called on the government to make real investments in northern health after yesterday’s news that water damage has closed three of Thompson Hospital’s operating rooms shows the real dangers of Pallister’s cuts to health care in Northern Manitoba.

“We know the Pallister Government underspent its health care capital budget by over $100 million dollars last year,” said Official Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew. “And we know one of the projects this Government refused to act on was the replacement of the roof for the Thompson General Hospital.”

The Government announced in February 26, 2018 it was going to fund the replacement of the roof at Thompson General Hospital. After taking no action for over a year, the Government put out another press release on May 28, 2019 re-announcing their plan to replace the roof at the Hospital. There is still no timeline for start or completion of this project.

FIPPA documents obtained by the Manitoba NDP show the Pallister Government underspent the health capital budget by $104 million dollars in the 2018/19 fiscal year. While the department of Health identified the Thompson Hospital roof replacement project as a priority, the Pallister Government took no action.

“The MLA for Thompson, Kelly Bindle, has done nothing for three years to advocate for health care in the North,” said MLA for The Pas, Amanda Lathlin. “We need strong voices to stand up for health care in Northern Manitoba, not MLAs like Bindle who refuse to stand up to Pallister’s cuts – the Minister of Health needs to answer for these cuts and present a plan today to restore service as soon as possible to the operating rooms at Thompson General Hospital,” added Lathlin.