Treaty 1 and Dakota Territory, Homeland of the Red River Métis, Winnipeg MB – Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew was joined by his wife Dr. Lisa Monkman today to speak to a crowd of supporters and health care workers at the University of Winnipeg. Kinew laid out his plans to fix the staffing crisis in health care and take better care of the health care workers that take care of Manitobans. 

Wab Kinew was introduced by his wife Dr. Lisa Monkman: “I want to say to every health care worker out there. I know you are tired. I know you are frustrated. I know you feel like no one’s listening to you,” Dr. Monkman said. “But there is someone listening – Wab. He cares about you. And he cares about health care.”  

Kinew said if his party forms government on October 3rd, he will commit to an ambitious health care recruitment plan. He promised to hire back the 300 nurses to make up for the 300 nurses Heather Stefanson cut from Winnipeg, a corresponding commitment for rural and northern nurse staffing and he committed to Doctors Manitoba’s target of hiring 400 more physicians. He also committed to hiring more paramedics, home care workers and personal care home staff. This plan will cost $500 million dollars over four years. 

“We will fix the staffing crisis in three steps,” said Kinew. “Plugging the hole in the bottom of the boat – retention. Bringing in reinforcements – recruitment and training. And looking to the future to set clear long-term goals for our health system.”  

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