Hello Flin Flon, I am honoured to have been re-elected as your representative in the Manitoba Legislature. Working in service of our community and for the many great people in northern Manitoba is a privilege.
This re-election is an indication that people in the North are frustrated with the government’s cuts to northern services. Our young people do not want to stay or come if they cannot give birth in this community and seniors do not want to stay when they cannot get a doctor or home care. The governments’ continued cuts in health care and northern patient transportation are driving our people away.
Obstetric services have been suspended in Flin Flon for nearly a year now. This has forced hundreds of mothers in the North who depended on Flin Flon obstetrics to travel further and without the ability to deliver close to home. The Northern Health Region (NHR) released an annual report which cites more gaps and service delivery challenges for the suspension of services. Based on the NHR’s report, services can only be restored with government directive – a decision they have yet to make.
In Thompson, expectant mothers cannot access C-sections due to the closure of operating rooms. In Cross Lake, there remains a need for funds to build a new health care facility. Despite the numbers of questions asked in the House and elsewhere about the government’s commitment to helping fund the facility, no definitive answers have been given.
It speaks volumes about this government’s commitment to the North when Thompson was losing hundreds of mining jobs and they would not even allow the community to access the Mining Community Reserve Fund, designed specifically for that purpose. Again, the government chose to argue over responsibility rather than help when the rail line was washed out going to Churchill, limiting access to food, propane and other essential goods to our communities. This government proposes many strategies, yet there continues to be no actions to support the North.
Northern Manitobans shouldn’t be expected to get by with inadequate services. The needs of northern Manitobans can no longer be neglected. The programs and services in the North need to be preserved and improved. Our women, youth, seniors and communities as a whole deserve far better.
As your MLA, I will ensure the voices of the North are heard loud and clear. The collective voices from all communities in the North will be represented, one way or another, in the Legislative Assembly. Thank you again for your continued support.
Contact Tom at [email protected], or call Tom’s Flin Flon offices at 1-204-687-3246 or 1-204-687-3393.
