Reflecting on loss and responses to it
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/12/2021 (515 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
On Dec. 9, 2021 my NDP colleague Danielle Adams, MLA for Thompson, died tragically on the highway on her way to Winnipeg.
Danielle worked tirelessly for her constituents to have access to quality health care, education, and good jobs in Manitoba’s northern communities. She was a loving partner, a mother to two young children and her commitment to her community was remarkable. Danielle was the official opposition critic for child care, and she had a strong vision and plan for an accessible child-care system for Manitobans. She is deeply missed by her colleagues, community, friends, and family.
I’ve been reflecting a lot on grief and the nature of loss throughout the pandemic. Loss comes in many forms. It can be the death of a loved one, the loss of good health or one’s home. People have lost jobs or are burned out from their work in health care. Many of us have cancelled vacations or lost the ability to gather as a family during important life events. Few Manitobans have been untouched by loss over the past two years.
We can each do things to cope with loss in individual ways — experts would say you should acknowledge your pain and turn to others, even if it’s just online support through a bereavement program or mental health resource.
We also expect our government to do more during a global crisis but, sadly, we’ve become used to a Progressive Conservative government that consistently drags its feet in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and which fails to protect Manitoba.
I had hoped that the new premier, Heather Stefanson, would have been more proactive in how she governs — but it’s now become clear that she’s chosen to be a bad repeat of her predecessor and mentor, Brian Pallister. We saw this when she refused to call in the military as our health-care system nears the brink of collapse and when she chose to allow Ron Schuler, someone who has refused to support vaccination efforts, to stay in her caucus and cabinet.
In order to limit the damage it has already done, this government needs to invest immediately to keep injured or ill patients from lying in hospital hallways. It also needs to improve access to testing for COVID-19. Manitobans have lost out on quality of life due to delays in surgeries and diagnostic tests and need to see this government take action to help them now.
I always love to hear from constituents, Email me at lisa.naylor@yourmanitoba.ca or call my office at 204-792-2772.
Lisa Naylor
Wolseley constituency report
Lisa Naylor is the NDP MLA for Wolseley.