Tory health critic ‘disappointed’ after being rebuffed by health officials

The health critic for the Progressive Conservative party says her ability to get information about the accelerated reopening of Dauphin’s emergency department was stymied by Prairie Mountain Health officials because they refused to meet with her.

“I wanted to meet with PMH staff to discuss the status of the facility and the challenges they’re facing and getting services back online,” Kathleen Cook said Friday.

“I was very disappointed that Prairie Mountain Health declined me that opportunity.”

Cook said she asked for a meeting a few days after the Sept. 7 reopening of a temporary ER at the hospital, that was severely damaged by flooding.

The hospital was forced to close July 1 after heavy rain swamped its basement, which housed the mechanical and electrical systems.

The PMH health authority reported that the hospital would be closed for nine to 12 months because extensive repairs were required. Premier Wab Kinew, at the time, called that “unacceptable.” He vowed that a temporary ER would be open by Labour Day.

It opened as promised on Monday, on the main floor of the health centre, using temporary power and water while restoration work continues in other areas of the hospital. The temporary infrastructure includes ventilation measures; bathroom facilities had to be relocated.

On Friday, the health authority said officials had been too busy dealing with the problem to meet with Cook.

“Since the flood, all of our attention and resources have been dedicated to reopening the Dauphin Regional Health Centre emergency department,” a spokesman said in a prepared statement.

Cook questioned that explanation.

“It is my job to hold the government to account and to advocate for the needs of Manitobans. Their refusal to even meet with me to discuss that impinges on my ability to do my job,” she said.

Cook said health authority officials upended her plan to visit the Dauphin care home.

“This isn’t really about whether or not I got a meeting. Part of my job as health critic is to advocate for Manitobans, and it’s difficult to do that when I can’t get an accurate picture of what’s going on,” the Winnipeg MLA said.

Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Manitoba, said Cook’s ask wasn’t out of the ordinary.

“I don’t think it’s an unusual thing for Opposition members to get on-the-ground information as to what’s happening,” he said.

Adams said the role of Opposition is to keep the government accountable, but to also be ready to take the “reins of power” if the government falls.

“In this situation, to be gathering information as the member of the Opposition, talking to people working in that area, it does seem like a logical thing for the Opposition to be doing.”

Members of the PC caucus, including leader Obby Khan, visited the Dauphin constituency this week to meet with business owners, municipal officials, agricultural producers and community advocates.

“Dauphin families have been hit from all angles over the past few months — a shuttered hospital, devastating flooding, tariffs, and so on,” Khan said in a news release. “Our Progressive Conservative team wants to show these families that we are here for them every step of the way.”

— with files from Morgan Modjeski

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca