COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – Ste Anne Hospital should be regional

Happy belated Canada Day! Despite the rainy weather, I hope everyone was still able to get out, enjoy the long weekend, and celebrate festivities with friends and family.

Summer has officially begun, which means there are plenty of exciting events on the horizon. Over the next couple of months, Manitobans can look forward to so many different and unique community events, including parades, festivals, and markets, just to name a few, as well as Folklorama in the coming weeks. I encourage you all to get out, soak up the nice weather, and take in some of the different local events happening throughout the summer, as it is a great way to show support for your fellow community members.

I would also like to take the time to encourage the provincial government to designate Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital as a regional hospital. Despite not having the official designation, the hospital has always operated with a regional approach.

Between 2016 and 2021, the region’s municipalities experienced an average population growth of 14.8 percent, with the Town of Ste Anne experiencing a 36.8 percent increase over the same period. This population growth has created an increased demand for healthcare, while the hospital has had to limit their hours of operation due to a significant shortage of bilingual healthcare professionals. By designating Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital as a regional hospital rather than a community hospital, it would help strengthen their capacity, ensuring the hospital’s sustainability and future for the benefit of the regional population. They would be able to offer more competitive salaries as well, enabling them to recruit and retain skilled bilingual health professionals, while also being able to broaden their range of specialized services, reception capacity, emergency services, and care programs.

The Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities and four of its member municipalities have likewise been calling on the government to obtain a regional designation for Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital. This initiative also has the support of all 16 bilingual municipalities in Manitoba.

This should not be a partisan issue. As the NDP repeatedly talk about improving healthcare in Manitoba, I hope that they will see the value and importance of designating Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital as a regional hospital, and the impact that designation would have on our healthcare system here in Dawson Trail and across the region.

For more updates and information, visit my website at boblagasse.com. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact my constituency office at ca.lagasse@outlook.com or 204-807-4663.