Latest news with #InformationRadio
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Manitoba formalizing protocol to tell cardiac patients of surgical wait times
Manitoba is introducing changes to formalize the communication on surgical wait times for patients in need of cardiac procedures after a Manitoba woman died while waiting for surgery last fall. Debbie Fewster, a mother of three and grandmother of 10, was diagnosed with an extreme blockage that required a triple heart bypass. While she was initially told surgery would be required in a matter of weeks, her family said she waited almost two months for the procedure and died on Oct. 13. After Fewster's family shared her story with the public last month, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara issued a directive to the province's health-care system leadership to take action and prevent Fewster's story from repeating. Asagwara said the "vast majority of Manitobans" already receive cardiac care within the required benchmarks. But after the minister's directive, health authorities found "there were some pretty clear areas of concern." Debbie Fewster died at age 69 on Oct. 13, 2024, after her family said she waited almost two months for triple-bypass surgery she was told she needed urgently. ( In response, the province is establishing new protocols the minister said will help ensure there's full clarity for patients regarding timelines on their cardiac plan. The process, outlined in a Shared Health memo sent to the province on Wednesday and shared with CBC, will be coming into effect over the coming weeks, Asagwara said, to ensure there is a system alignment with the rules. Speaking on the new measures, Premier Wab Kinew said patients "are going to have to have both the target, but also what's going on right now, a snapshot of the system, how long people in the cardiac needs category are expecting to wait." LISTEN | Manitoba's premier on Information Radio: Before a surgical consultation patients will receive information in writing on the targeted wait time for their procedure based on their acuity, according to the memo. Later on, during the consultation, the surgeon will provide the patient with the timeline of when the surgery should happen. Quarterly reports to be publicly released Manitoba will also begin issuing reports every three months on the patients who died while waiting for a cardiac surgery or procedure, along with information on whether or not their death was directly the result of not getting care. The province already tracks patients who die while waiting for surgery and reviews their cases to determine what happened, but with the reports Asagwara said Manitoba has an opportunity for more transparency and accountability in cardiac care. "We will formalize that process to make sure we have full clarity … so that we can understand what steps need to be taken to prevent that in the future," the minister said. At first, the directive will only cover cardiac procedures, Kinew said, but cancer care procedures could potentially be next. "It makes sense for us to look at a lot of these life-saving interventions," Kinew said Friday, adding the province will continue working to slash surgical wait times. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says the vast majority of Manitobans already receive cardiac care within the required benchmarks. (CBC) PC health critic Kathleen Cook said in a statement the new process is a first step but more needs to be done to ensure patients receive timely access to live-saving care and have clarity about how long they will have to wait for it. The new measures don't talk about providing patients with information on how they can access out-of-province care when waits in Manitoba exceed medically recommended timelines, Cook said. "More transparency is desperately needed in our health-care system," she added. On tracking the date of patients who died while waiting for a surgery, Cook said it is important for the province to expand it beyond cardiac care given that other services, including cancer services, face "significant and dangerous delays." "Expanding this approach to all life-saving surgeries would help ensure more patients receive timely care when they need it most," Cook said.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Manitoba formalizing protocol to tell cardiac patients of surgical wait times
Manitoba is introducing changes to formalize the communication on surgical wait times for patients in need of cardiac procedures after a Manitoba woman died while waiting for surgery last fall. Debbie Fewster, a mother of three and grandmother of 10, was diagnosed with an extreme blockage that required a triple heart bypass. While she was initially told surgery would be required in a matter of weeks, her family said she waited almost two months for the procedure and died on Oct. 13. After Fewster's family shared her story with the public last month, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara issued a directive to the province's health-care system leadership to take action and prevent Fewster's story from repeating. Asagwara said the "vast majority of Manitobans" already receive cardiac care within the required benchmarks. But after the minister's directive, health authorities found "there were some pretty clear areas of concern." Debbie Fewster died at age 69 on Oct. 13, 2024, after her family said she waited almost two months for triple-bypass surgery she was told she needed urgently. ( In response, the province is establishing new protocols the minister said will help ensure there's full clarity for patients regarding timelines on their cardiac plan. The process, outlined in a Shared Health memo sent to the province on Wednesday and shared with CBC, will be coming into effect over the coming weeks, Asagwara said, to ensure there is a system alignment with the rules. Speaking on the new measures, Premier Wab Kinew said patients "are going to have to have both the target, but also what's going on right now, a snapshot of the system, how long people in the cardiac needs category are expecting to wait." LISTEN | Manitoba's premier on Information Radio: Before a surgical consultation patients will receive information in writing on the targeted wait time for their procedure based on their acuity, according to the memo. Later on, during the consultation, the surgeon will provide the patient with the timeline of when the surgery should happen. Quarterly reports to be publicly released Manitoba will also begin issuing reports every three months on the patients who died while waiting for a cardiac surgery or procedure, along with information on whether or not their death was directly the result of not getting care. The province already tracks patients who die while waiting for surgery and reviews their cases to determine what happened, but with the reports Asagwara said Manitoba has an opportunity for more transparency and accountability in cardiac care. "We will formalize that process to make sure we have full clarity … so that we can understand what steps need to be taken to prevent that in the future," the minister said. At first, the directive will only cover cardiac procedures, Kinew said, but cancer care procedures could potentially be next. "It makes sense for us to look at a lot of these life-saving interventions," Kinew said Friday, adding the province will continue working to slash surgical wait times. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says the vast majority of Manitobans already receive cardiac care within the required benchmarks. (CBC) PC health critic Kathleen Cook said in a statement the new process is a first step but more needs to be done to ensure patients receive timely access to live-saving care and have clarity about how long they will have to wait for it. The new measures don't talk about providing patients with information on how they can access out-of-province care when waits in Manitoba exceed medically recommended timelines, Cook said. "More transparency is desperately needed in our health-care system," she added. On tracking the date of patients who died while waiting for a surgery, Cook said it is important for the province to expand it beyond cardiac care given that other services, including cancer services, face "significant and dangerous delays." "Expanding this approach to all life-saving surgeries would help ensure more patients receive timely care when they need it most," Cook said.
CBC
17-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Manitoba's canola industry, farmers call for federal action on looming tariffs from China
Impending Chinese retaliatory tariffs on some canola products has led Manitoba farmers and industry members to critique the Canadian government for not doing enough to protect farmers from financial harm and make amends with China. Jason Johnston, who operates a grain farm in Darlingford Man., about 117 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, said provincial and federal politicians haven't acknowledged the impacts farmers are facing since China's Commerce Ministry announced it will impose 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil and oil meal starting Thursday. "In the week since this announcement has been made, canola has dropped $2 a bushel, so on my farm that would mean about an $80,000 loss every year," Johnston said, adding that he farms approximately 1,000 acres of canola on crop rotation each year. "We are definitely in the red on canola at these prices." The looming tariffs are in retaliation for Canada's 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and a 25 per cent levy on Chinese aluminum and steel products imposed on Oct. 1. Canada followed the lead of the United States and the European Union who initially applied import levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles. Johnston wonders if canola farmers will be compensated for their losses and urges Canadian politicians — who have been "completely silent" on the issue — to lift the tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in the hopes China will revoke its tariff threats. "We are price takers, we have no say in this at all … and Canadian farmers need to know what's going to happen," he said during an interview on CBC's Information Radio on Monday. Canola is Canada's second largest acreage crop with more than 21 million acres produced annually, a federal news release said. Canola meal exports to China made up $920.9 million of Canada's economy in 2024 while canola oil exports to China made up about $21 million. Although farmers are seeking other options for crops to grow on their farms, flooding these alternative agriculture markets poses a risk as well, he said. The federal government has implemented some tariff relief measures for Canadian businesses and workers, including $1 billion in new financing through Farm Credit Canada to reduce financial barriers for the Canadian agriculture and food industry — but Johnston says these are loans and not financial aid. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, following the U.S., which has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. U.S. President Trump has paused some tariffs imposed on Canadian goods, including canola products, until April 2. Johnston questions why Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was sworn in on Friday after the previous leader Justin Trudeau stepped down, isn't ramping up the country's trade relations with China if the U.S. is no longer a favourable trade partner. The federal government's former International Trade Minister Mary Ng and Lawrence MacAulay, the former federal minister for agriculture, said Canada "remains open to engaging in constructive dialogue with Chinese officials" to address their trade concerns, according to a news release on March 8. Johnston criticized how Carney promised to support workers in the Canadian steel and aluminum industry on Wednesday following the impacts of U.S. tariffs, but has yet to commit to supporting farmers affected by tariffs on canola. Carney is also doubling down on his partnerships with France and the U.K. as Trump continues to attack the future of Canada's sovereignty and economy. Winnipeg South Centre MP Ben Carr said China's tariffs on canola are "unwarranted and unjustified." Government officials are working to ensure support is in place for Manitoba farmers, he said in an emailed statement on Monday. Andre Harpe, chairman of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, said he's spoken to Kody Blois, the new federal cabinet minister for agriculture and agri-food, who seems to be listening to the industry's concerns. "We are starting to see recognition that this is a serious issue," said Harpe, who's based in Grande Prairie, Alta. Possible tariffs from the U.S. and China will simultaneously leave Canada with "no room to breathe" which would be "absolutely devastating," he said. The industry has already seen some grain companies holding back from buying canola, Harpe said.
CBC
13-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Manitoba premier defends 'meme war' as PCs criticize video making fun of Trump
Manitoba's premier is defending his cheeky approach to the Canada-U.S. trade war on social media after the Progressive Conservatives criticized him for making fun of Donald Trump. Wab Kinew said Thursday that a video he posted on TikTok last week, in which he signed a faux executive order pulling American alcohol off liquor shelves in the province, is a way to balance the province's response to U.S. protectionist measures while staying true to the "friendly Manitoba" identity. "Part of this is a meme war, right?" Kinew told Information Radio host Marcy Markusa. "They're talking down Canada. They're … going after our prime minister. So I would expect that whoever in the White House is doing that is going to have a sense of humour, too. So we can chirp back with things like the executive order video." On Wednesday, interim Progressive Conservative Leader Wayne Ewasko attacked Kinew for mimicking the U.S. president while getting "no attention" from U.S. decision-makers. Ewasko used question period to criticize Kinew's approach for not yielding results like those achieved by Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Earlier this week, Ford imposed a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity going to the U.S., though he later suspended it after Trump fired back by threatening to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. Ford said he'd agreed to the suspension after the U.S. secretary of commerce agreed to a meeting, which is taking place Thursday morning. N.S. Premier Tim Houston "is advancing interprovincial trade reform, while Doug Ford is getting direct meetings with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick," Ewasko said during question period. "Manitoba's premier? Well, he's mocking President Trump on his TikTok for social media clicks." Ewasko also referred to an interview the premier did for an article in the New York Post that described Kinew as an "ex-con rapper-turned-Canadian politician" who was "playing tough guy" in the trade war. The Opposition is "so tender-footed around offending Mr. President Trump. They can't even bear to offend him," Kinew said during the exchange. "You know what? We did hang up a massive Canadian flag. It was a thing of beauty — a very beautiful, wonderful, amazing flag that we were all happy to see outside of the building here," he said. On Thursday, the premier said the gags also help morale by letting Manitobans know "we continue to maintain a good sense of humour." 'We have to be judicious' But Kinew also said the province needs to know when to change tack and should be strategic when plotting out moves in the trade war with the U.S. The province is ready to act tougher on the U.S. if President Donald Trump follows through with some upcoming tariff deadlines, but right now, the province is trying to negotiate, Kinew said. "We have to be strategic and we have to remember that this is a four-year presidency that we're dealing with," he said. "We definitely have some big 'Trump cards,' if you will, including with Manitoba Hydro … but we have to be judicious when we're thinking about how to play these cards." He specifically mentioned Hydro contracts with U.S. firms, purchasing of transformers and power line equipment — which Kinew said is worth $35 billion over the next two decades — and surcharges on some energy exports.
CBC
07-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Manitoba distiller cautiously welcomes agreement to lift trade barriers
Brewers and distillers are cautiously optimistic as governments work to remove trade barriers that currently make it hard for alcohol produced in Manitoba to be sold elsewhere in Canada. Earlier this week, the federal government announced it's reached a major deal with most provinces to allow beer and spirits to flow more freely across the country. The governments are expected to have a framework for the deal done within weeks. The latest push to remove the administrative and regulatory burdens that hinder interprovincial trade has been spurred by the on-and-off threats of tariffs on Canadian goods exported to the U.S. Brock Coutts, co-owner of Patent 5 in Winnipeg, said he hopes this make it easy for the company to ship its product to bigger markets like Ontario, though he's wary. "Each of the provinces have a very convoluted bureaucracy with different rules," he told Information Radio. "For everyone to agree on that, I think would be a bit of a challenge." Manitoba is one of the provinces that stand to gain the most by removing the administrative and regulatory barriers that hinder trade, which, according to a 2019 International Monetary Fund report, would add $245 billion to the Canadian economy. The province is one of the most open to alcohol shipments, allowing residents to shop online for booze from other provinces without restrictions. The province is also a signatory of the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, which creates a single economic region with British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Perry Joyal, head brewer and operations manager at Torque Brewing, said their only market outside Manitoba is Saskatchewan. The brewer had previously looked into selling its product in Ontario, but bumped against high costs, including upfront fees to get listed by that province's liquor board. "They're actually kind of prohibitive. We would have to raise our prices to the point where they wouldn't be palatable to the consumer," Joyal said. "Then when you add in the additional cost of having to transport everything a province away as opposed to selling in town here in Winnipeg … it's always been a little bit too expensive for us." The governments have directed the committee in charge of implementing the Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) to developed a countrywide credential recognition plan by June 1. Tyler Dyck, president of the Canadian Craft Distillers Alliance and a vintner in B.C., said distillers and brewers essentially pay "greedy" liquor boards for shelf space. Dyck said the question is to what extent the deal will allow provinces to ship product straight to consumers in other provinces without any markup. The federal government said most first ministers committed to allowing direct-to-consumer sales. The CFTA's action plan calls for the expansion of sales channels for alcoholic beverages. Dyck said distillers in provinces that do not have incentives like agricultural rebates often can't really afford to make their own spirits, so they're forced to import. "All our government liquor stores … they're actually helping every other country's economy much more than they're helping ours, because quite frankly, they're putting them on display and allowing them to occupy 99 per cent of the shelf space," he said. Coutts said cutting the federal component of excise taxes would also help foster local growth. "I just wonder if there's a real strong desire of anyone right now in government to tackle a problem like that," he said.
