Uzoma Asagwara

Treatment of survivors is simply inexcusable

The Progressive Conservatives’ health-care cuts are having a damaging effect on Manitobans, which was recently highlighted by the issues with the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program at the Health Sciences Centre.

It’s time to treat addiction as a health issue

Season’s greetings, everyone!

Lions Place up for sale; seniors concerned

Affordable and social housing is so important for seniors and residents of Union Station. We all see the costs of groceries and transportation going up and up. It’s simply getting unaffordable for so many to pay for necessities, including the cost of rent. That is why I was so concerned to hear that Lions Place, located at 610 Portage Ave., is being put up for sale.

Congratulations to 2022 high school graduates

As the school year comes to an end, I want to congratulate all of this year’s high school graduates. It is no small feat to graduate high school, never mind during a global pandemic. For two consecutive years, graduates had to participate in virtual or significantly modified graduation ceremonies. The pandemic has undoubtedly been hard for many students, yet I was also inspired by how students and their families adapted and found innovative ways to stay connected to each other throughout these hard times.

Thankfully, this year’s graduation ceremonies will be in-person. This is exciting for the many graduates and their familie.s who will be cheering them on as they cross the stage to accept their diplomas.

I would like to extend a big thank you to all of the dedicated school staff, including teachers, educational assistants, custodial staff, counsellors, principals, administrative assistants and more for their monumental efforts. Teachers put in the extra hours to ensure that their lesson plans were adapted to online learning. Custodial staff spent extra time sanitizing classrooms to ensure they were safe for students. Thanks in part to your efforts, Union Station students were able to excel.

Unfortunately, school staff’s heroic efforts were not matched by those of government. The Progressive Conservative government cut education funding, which forced many school divisions to cut teachers and other staff positions. Despite these cuts, staff members did the best they could with the limited resources they had.

Budgets are about choices

On April 12, the Progressive Conservative government released its budget for this year. Budgets are about choices, and Budget 2022 demonstrated that the priorities of the Stefanson government do not align with the priorities of Manitobans and the needs of people in Union Station.

This year’s budget for health care is far below the rate of inflation. The results are everywhere in our health system. Wait times at our hospitals have grown unacceptably long. At Health Sciences Centre, the wait for care was 10 hours last month. Three hundred patients have been transported many hundreds of kilometres away because there is not a bed for them.

The problems in the health-care system started before the COVID-19 pandemic because of the PC government’s cuts. In 2019, Manitoba had some of the longest wait times for hip, knee, and cataract surgeries in Canada. Now the situation is worse, including 168,000 Manitobans waiting for surgeries and other procedures.

I have heard from many folks in Union Station who are waiting. Unfortunately, this budget does not set a timeline to clear the backlog. Thousands of Manitobans are waiting in pain, and the PC government owes it to Manitobans to provide a clear timeline for when the backlog will be cleared.

Holding the PC government to account

On March 1, MLAs returned to the legislature for session. Before heading back, I spoke with many Union Station constituents who expressed that they want a government that is committed to strengthening health care and an equitable post-pandemic recovery, all while keeping life affordable.

The Progressive Conservaitve government may have given up on trying to protect Manitobans but we must continue to look out for each other. Preserving testing capacity and ensuring protocols are in place are needed so Manitobans can continue to keep each other safe, especially children under the age of five, who are not eligible for vaccination. I, along with health professionals across our province, encourage everyone to get vaccinated – especially the booster shot which is the most effective way to protect ourselves against hospitalization from Omicron. I received my third dose and I’m grateful to have that level of protection against COVID-19.

The provincial mask mandate ended March 15 and I’ve heard from folks who plan to continue wearing masks. I support those who choose to continue doing so until they feel comfortable to not wear masks in settings where physical distancing is not possible and I encourage everyone to continue the practice of frequent hand-washing and being thoughtful about what we can do to enhance the wellbeing of our communities.

I know that many Manitobans are affected by events beyond our province and we’re all very concerned about what is currently happening in Ukraine. Last week, the NDP successfully passed a resolution to condemn Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine and support the federal government’s sanctions and efforts to help Ukraine maintain independence. In addition to passing this resolution, the NDP reiterated its commitment to supporting the resettlement of Ukrainians in Manitoba. We also called on the PC government to match all donations made by Manitobans to support Ukraine up to $5 million, and to increase support for local settlement organizations.

Childcare centres left behind by government

I would like to wish the constituents of Union Station a happy and healthy new year and I hope that you all were able to safely connect with your loved ones.

For many, the start of the new year is an opportunity to have a renewed perspective and make efforts to begin the year on a positive and productive note.

While so many Manitobans did just that, less than two weeks into 2022, the premier set a very different tone for our province. She openly told us all that we are on our own — a reflection of a clear lack of any desire or willingness to be the leader Manitoba needs during a time where we’re seeing unprecedented COVID-19 cases overwhelming our health-care system and affecting so many other people and sectors, including early childhood education.

Childcare centres are desperately struggling under the exponential increase of cases and are sounding the alarm. We believe that the Progressive Conservative government has a responsibility to protect families. That’s why we’ve called on the  government to support the childcare sector by taking tangible steps such as providing high-quality masks, access to rapid tests, upgrading ventilation, and offering a pandemic pay bump for early childhood educators.

Standing up for all students and educators

For the past five years, the Progressive Conservative government has continually put money ahead of Manitobans.

The University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA), which represents more than 1,000 staff, is currently striking as a result of PC government not allowing fair and free bargaining. This is affecting the recruitment and retention of skilled staff, and directly affecting students’ learning, including that of future health-care professionals.

When professors and students — those wanting to build great lives in Manitoba —leave, bypass, or cannot find employment in our province, we all suffer from the government’s interference and cuts.

Nursing students at the U of M are worried they may not be able to graduate due to the PC government meddling in contract negotiations. About 100 fourth-year nursing students are set to graduate in the spring but their community and clinical placements are now on hold, potentially keeping them from graduating.

Standing up for all students and educators

For the past five years, the Progressive Conservative government has continually put money ahead of Manitobans.

The University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA), which represents more than 1,000 staff, is currently striking as a result of PC government not allowing fair and free bargaining. This is affecting the recruitment and retention of skilled staff, and directly affecting students’ learning, including that of future health-care professionals.

When professors and students — those wanting to build great lives in Manitoba —leave, bypass, or cannot find employment in our province, we all suffer from the government’s interference and cuts.

Nursing students at the U of M are worried they may not be able to graduate due to the PC government meddling in contract negotiations. About 100 fourth-year nursing students are set to graduate in the spring but their community and clinical placements are now on hold, potentially keeping them from graduating. This is on top of fact that the government cut 75 seats fromothe registered nursing program at Red River College prior to the pandemic.

NDP demands PCs withdraw harmful bills

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Manitobans have faced many adversities and made many sacrifices to protect their friends, families, and communities.

Families in Union Station want a government that is committed to strengthening health care and education, all while keeping life affordable. But the PC government wants to make the lives of Manitobans even harder. Putting money ahead of people by making life more expensive is absolutely unacceptable.

The Manitoba NDP and I have been hard at work fighting against the Progressive Conservative government’s harmful agenda. From listening to Manitobans, our NDP caucus understands that Manitobans need support, and we are fighting for you. In the last legislative session, we delayed five harmful bills that were put forward by the PC government, including Bill 64.

The government has let down families in Union Station for years but especially during this pandemic.

NDP demands PCs withdraw harmful bills

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Manitobans have faced many adversities and made many sacrifices to protect their friends, families, and communities.

Families in Union Station want a government that is committed to strengthening health care and education, all while keeping life affordable. But the PC government wants to make the lives of Manitobans even harder. Putting money ahead of people by making life more expensive is absolutely unacceptable.

The Manitoba NDP and I have been hard at work fighting against the Progressive Conservative government’s harmful agenda. From listening to Manitobans, our NDP caucus understands that Manitobans need support, and we are fighting for you. In the last legislative session, we delayed five harmful bills that were put forward by the PC government, including Bill 64.

The government has let down families in Union Station for years but especially during this pandemic. By delaying the bills, the NDP forced the PCs to back down from plans that would hurt the education of kids, raise Hydro rates, not support workers and make life harder for working families in Union Station and beyond.

Standing up for better health care

We all know that for over the past five years, the Progressive Conservative government has waged a full-fledged attack on nurses and allied healthcare professionals.

On Sept. 17, nurses across Manitoba participated in the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions nationwide action and demanded that the PC government commit to treating nurses with respect, and provide safe working environments and fairness.

I was proud to join the Manitoba Nurses Union and Manitoba Federation of Labour in solidarity with Manitoba nurses on the steps of the Manitoba Legislature in Union Station to say that our NDP team will continue to fight for better health care for all Manitobans and for all health-care professionals to be treated with utmost respect and integrity.

The PC government has closed emergency rooms, cut ICU capacity, fired hundreds of nurses, unconstitutionally froze nurses’ wages and has treated nurses and healthcare workers with nothing short of disrespect.

Supporting a safe return to school

As summer comes to a close, I know that getting our kids back to school safely is top of mind for Union Station families. Parents especially are worried about what this fall, and the potential of a fourth wave of COVID-19, will mean for our schools.

My NDP colleagues and I have been talking to Manitobans about what our schools need this September.

While the government was silent, we put forward a five-point plan to protect our kids. We called on the province to upgrade school ventilation systems; set up in-school vaccine clinics to help families and staff to get vaccinated; create smaller class sizes by hiring more teachers, education assistants and other support staff; increase mental health supports; and implement paid sick leave so families can afford to stay home when their kids are sick.

The PC government’s priorities are out of touch with the needs of Manitobans. Instead of making classrooms safe for September, they’re focused on their own internal conflict, silencing opposing views, and wasting money to promote Bill 64.

Supporting a safe return to school

As summer comes to a close, I know that getting our kids back to school safely is top of mind for Union Station families. Parents especially are worried about what this fall, and the potential of a fourth wave of COVID-19, will mean for our schools.

My NDP colleagues and I have been talking to Manitobans about what our schools need this September.

While the government was silent, we put forward a five-point plan to protect our kids. We called on the province to upgrade school ventilation systems, set up in-school vaccine clinics to help families and staff to get vaccinated, create smaller class sizes by hiring more teachers, education assistants and other support staff, increase mental health supports, and implement paid sick leave so families can afford to stay home when their kids are sick.

Instead, the Progressive Conservatives have removed the mask mandate, one of our least restrictive tools to fight COVID-19.

Congratulating grads and a Bill 64 update

One of my favourite parts of being your MLA for Union Station is honouring community members for their achievements, as you are what makes Union Station so special.

This year, I was able to present awards to five graduates of the University of Winnipeg Collegiate and the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre, three of whom agreed to have their names published: Dakota Patterson, Abdikarim Abdi, and Raymond Iradukunda.

I’d like to wish a special congratulations to these five students — as well as all students in Union Station and across the province — for your resilience and perseverance while navigating such a difficult year. Now that pandemic restrictions have eased a bit, I hope you can find ways to celebrate your achievements safely with your family and friends.

The NDP caucus is committed to ensuring that our schools provide all students with the tools they need to succeed. That’s why we used our ability as the official Opposition to delay Bill 64, The Education Modernization Act, until the fall. Parents, students, and educators from across the province have been overwhelmingly speaking up against this bill, but the Progressive Conservatives refuse to listen.

Congratulating grads and a Bill 64 update

One of my favourite parts of being your MLA for Union Station is honouring community members for their achievements, as you are what makes Union Station so special.

This year, I was able to present awards to five graduates of the University of Winnipeg Collegiate and the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre, three of whom agreed to have their names published: Dakota Patterson, Abdikarim Abdi, and Raymond Iradukunda.

I’d like to wish a special congratulations to these five students - as well as all students in Union Station and across the province - for your resilience and perseverance while navigating such a difficult year. Now that pandemic restrictions have eased a bit, I hope you can find ways to celebrate your achievements safely with your family and friends.

The NDP caucus is committed to ensuring that our schools provide all students with the tools they need to succeed. That’s why we used our ability as the official Opposition to delay Bill 64, The Education Modernization Act, until the fall. Parents, students, and educators from across the province have been overwhelmingly speaking up against this bill, but the Progressive Conservatives refuse to listen.

Union Station residents deserve vaccine accessibility

Over the past few months, Union Station community members have eagerly awaited their chance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Now we are entering the phase of second dose eligibility, but some Union Station constituents have yet to receive their first doses.

The Pallister government has not made it accessible for all Manitobans to receive the vaccine, and this is particularly true for folks living with disabilities, seniors and migrant workers.

The government has continued to ignore calls to create more pop-up sites and mobile clinics.

Further to this, many community members require the support of a safe ride program to bring them to vaccination sites, but the government has also not listened to our calls on this matter, which has left many vulnerable community members unvaccinated. These ongoing barriers for folks living with disabilities, seniors and migrant workers are unacceptable — all Manitobans need and deserve equitable access to the vaccine.