NDP leader urges enhanced help

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/11/2020 (1856 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After days of mounting COVID-19 cases, deaths and limited hospital space, the NDP is calling on the provincial government to step up — specifically for small businesses and health care.

Sunday marked the third straight day of more than 300 new COVID-19 cases in the province and the deadliest day of the pandemic with six deaths, a new high.

As the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region prepares to enter code red on the pandemic response system today, the NDP leader is asking the government to match the effort of its citizens.

“We are coming forward here today to call on our government to match your commitment by making sure that there’s going to be strong supports for small businesses to be able to weather this storm and also for that urgently needed investment in health care — life saving, medical treatment so that people will be able to literally survive this coming winter,” Wab Kinew said Sunday.

Kinew was joined by Union Station MLA Uzoma Asagwara, and Chris Graves, owner of King’s Head Pub, across from St. Boniface Hospital, all demanding the provincial government take action and help Manitobans during the pandemic.

“We want to see direct financial assistance for small businesses,” said Kinew. “At this point in the pandemic we’re passed the point where a business can take on more debt. We’re passed the point where they can defer bills. The payments are coming due now.”

Launching a new grant program would help these businesses, Kinew added.

“We’re proposing that the government start by making $100 million available in this coming month for the businesses to be able to keep in operation and be there to serve us either through takeout during this period or through whatever capacity they can. And then of course, to be there to reopen once this difficult time is over,” he said.

Graves said the pandemic has hurt his pub and each time they were forced to close they had to clean out their draft lines. He added he’s probably poured $25,000 worth of beer and cider down the drain throughout the two closures.

“I would like to say, don’t look at me as the owner of the King’s Head. Look at me as my 30 staff that rely on my business to stay open afterward through this pandemic,” said Graves.

He added that 50 per cent of his employees consider their job at his pub their career; it’s not just a part-time job.

As small businesses face the fear of closing their doors for good, the health care system in Manitoba is overwhelmed.

“We’ve heard from doctors, not only in Manitoba but we heard from doctors in other jurisdictions, that it could come to a point where they’re having to make the decision about who gets to access a ventilator and who does not,” said Asagwara. “We should not allow our health care system to get to a point where doctors are forced to make that choice.”

Parkview Place long term care home is located within Asagwara’s constituency. The care home has had a major outbreak of COVID-19 cases lately, resulting in 22 deaths. Asagwara and Kinew said it’s time for the government to take over Parkview Place.

Care homes, like Parkview Place, and hospitals need more staffing now, especially when some workers are contracting the virus and having to isolate.

“The calls and the demands are consistent. They are the same. It doesn’t matter what level of staffing you are, they need more bodies, they need more people,” said Asagwara. “The reality of it is the government knew this could happen. They said they were preparing for this. They said they were looking at flexing up and making sure there was surge capacity and we’re not seeing that.”

Kinew said the government needs to immediately take action and he said they have to try everything. He listed bringing in the military as an option if the government can’t get the situation under control soon.

“I don’t think that’s the next step, but I think it should be a future step if we can’t get this situation under control,” said Kinew. “We know the military has the logistical expertise and they also have a tremendous amount of health care expertise within their ranks.”

As Winnipeg prepares to move into code red today, some business owners said they have had zero contact with the government about having to shut down.

“I’m at the centre right now and I just checked the emails and we haven’t received any emails yet about any of the new restrictions,” said Pat Boon, owner of Polo Park Bowling Centre. “I am so frustrated with the lack of information from the Manitoba government and the lack of financial help.”

Kinew said the government has the funds to help local businesses and invest in health care and is asking them to do so.

“Here in the province of Manitoba we have a Rainy Day Fund with hundreds of millions of dollars in it. What are you waiting for? It’s pouring. Let’s put that money to work. Let’s protect some jobs. Let’s protect some small businesses.”

 

kellen.taniguchi@freepress.mb.ca