Province announces new funding for sexual assault crisis response program

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This article was published 02/04/2023 (931 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives announced new funding for a new community-led sexual assault crisis response program Sunday amid criticism over its handling of a similar program at Health Sciences Centre.

But questions remain about how — and if — the new initative will close existing gaps in service.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires told a group of about 30 people gathered at Klinic Community Health that the province is putting $1.3 million in new money towards a program run by Klinic and Ka Ni Kanichihk, groups that already work with survivors of sexual violence.

“Over the past few months we have heard from nurses, advocates, community service providers and survivors that existing forensic nurse examiner services are not sufficient to address demand and the lack of community-based options is creating gaps in service,” Squires said.

“We recognize that for some, particularly for Indigenous people and those from marginalized communities, that accessing care through a hospital ER doesn’t always feel like a safe or viable option.”

In recent weeks, seven casual nurses have resigned from the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program at HSC, with some telling the Free Press nurse shortages, low morale and communication problems between management and staff contributed to their leaving.

At times, survivors are being sent home with instructions not to shower or wipe themselves after using the washroom until they can return when a forensic examiner is available.

The new community-led program will not offer 24-7 care. It will be available when Klinic is open, Monday through Saturday, mostly during the day.

Squires said the program, which includes a crisis response site at Klinic and another at Ka Ni Kanichihk, staffed by a mobile team, will offer trauma-based care. It will “complement” services already offered through HSC, including collection of forensic evidence that could stand up in court. However, people who need medical care still need to go to the hospital.

About six to eight people, including nurses, will be hired to support the two sites, said Ayn Wilcox, Klinic’s executive director.

“The intention is to look at doing this in a phased as we are able to hire and train folks,” Wilcox said.

The program is expected to launch within three months, Squires said.

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In a statement, Uzoma Asagwara, NDP Health Critic, said Manitobans “can’t trust” the PCs on the health-care file.

“The government ruined a program that delivered health care to sexual assault survivors and helped bring charges against their perpetrators,” Asagwara said. “A year ago the PCs promised to expand services, instead nurses are leaving the program and sexual assault patients are being turned away.”

Health Minister Audrey Gordon has faced calls from the Opposition NDP to resign over the SANE nurse staffing crisis.

Asked three times why Squires and not Gordon was making this announcement, Squires would only say government departments work “very collaboratively.”

katrina.clarke@freepress.mb.ca

Katrina Clarke
Investigative reporter

Katrina Clarke is an investigative reporter at the Winnipeg Free Press. Katrina holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Queen’s University and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University. She has worked at newspapers across Canada, including the National Post and the Toronto Star. She joined the Free Press in 2022. Read more about Katrina.

Every piece of reporting Katrina produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.