Parties argue over helicopters

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/09/2011 (5171 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HUGH McFadyen said Monday if he becomes premier he’ll station a helicopter air ambulance in Brandon.

The Tory leader made the $5-million pledge while campaigning in the province’s second-biggest city.

“One way to take a step toward to restoring rural health care is to provide an air ambulance helicopter for residents of western Manitoba,” he said.

Under the plan, the helicopter would land at the municipal airport and patients would be taken to Brandon Regional Health Centre for treatment by ground ambulance. A Tory government would then look at building a landing pad at the hospital.

The helicopter would be operated by the Alberta-based Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS).

STARS has a helicopter based in Winnipeg, brought in by the province prior to the spring flood. In late July, the Selinger government decided to base it in Winnipeg permanently, Health Minister Theresa Oswald said.

The NDP plan includes building a helicopter landing pad atop a new seven-storey, $39-million diagnostic imaging centre being built at Health Sciences Centre on William Avenue. The facility will be completed in two years.

Oswald said the Winnipeg-based helicopter already covers Brandon and has flown as far west as Swan River.

She said if a second helicopter is needed, it will be added. “That’s always been part of the plan.”