Ottawa to pay half of $20-M reno at downtown women’s clinic

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This article was published 27/02/2025 (192 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Women’s Health Clinic will receive $10 million from the federal government for sorely needed renovations, but the amount will cover only half the cost.

The clinic, which is in a building at 419 Graham Ave., is outdated. Last week, the boiler broke down and the pipes burst, which caused significant flooding and forced the clinic to close.

“I’m hoping what this (funding) means is it’ll bring the province to the table,” said executive director Kemlin Nembhard.

The federal government announced its contribution Thursday. The funding will support upgrades to the clinic’s aging mechanical, electrical and elevator systems, as well as retrofits that would cut carbon emissions.

The clinic has started renovations, Nembhard said.

Last June, the air conditioning was out of commission for two weeks, resulting in a reduction of services at the downtown location.

The $20-million fundraising campaign had been put on hold before Thursday’s announcement, Nembhard said.

She said the price tag has increased since the recent breakdown at the building, which was built in the 1960s.

“If we could get the province to the table… then we can start looking for the interim place so they can just do the work here, get it done and we can get back to it,” Nembhard said.

Once funding is secured, the plan is to strip the interior down to the studs and rebuild.

On Thursday, Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara sidestepped the question about funding.

“We recognize the invaluable service that is provided… and we’re going to continue to support that work,” the minister said at the announcement.

The government is prevented from making announcements due to the media blackout tied to the March 18 byelection in Transcona.

After forming government in 2023, Premier Wab Kinew gave Asagwara a mandate letter that included the requirement to fund renovations at the clinic, which Nembhard said was supposed to amount to $17 million.

The clinic’s central location and accessibility are reasons to stay put, rather than move to a different location, she said.

“It’s also important for us to own and control our own space and not be at the whim of a change in government or a change in priorities of government or a private landlord.”

On Thursday, the clinic contained construction equipment and scaffolding as contractors had started repairing the flooding damage.

The clinic sees as many as 50,000 patients annually at the downtown location and two other sites.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca