Latest news with #UzomaAsagwara
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Pragmatic — not political — Dynacare decision benefits Manitobans
Opinion The Manitoba NDP government did something this week that will surprise a few people — and probably frustrate some of its more ideological supporters. It renewed a contract with Dynacare — a private, for-profit company — to provide lab services in the province. This is the same Dynacare the NDP vocally criticized when it was in opposition. The same private provider it said would erode public health care when the former Progressive Conservative government outsourced community lab services. This week the provincial government signed a new, five-year contact with Dynacare to provide lab services in Manitoba. (Winnipeg Free Press files) But here we are in 2025, with the NDP now in charge, and instead of ripping up the contract or scrambling to repatriate services into the public system, the government has chosen to renew the deal. And it's absolutely right to do it. Political parties say a lot of things in opposition. They posture. They promise. And they condemn decisions that, in government, they often end up maintaining. Why? Because governing is harder than campaigning. What Premier Wab Kinew and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara have done is what any responsible government should do: they looked at the data, assessed the quality of service, examined the cost and made a decision based on results — not on a rigid public-versus-private philosophy. They also added much-needed performance indicators and quality-control measures to the contract. Health-care delivery is complex. And while the idea of a purely public system may have emotional appeal — especially for NDP partisans — the reality is that modern health systems across Canada (and the world) rely on a mix of public and private partners. The question is not who delivers the service, but how well it's delivered, how much it costs and whether the public has free and timely access to it. Dynacare scores well on all of the above. Which is why the company was able to ink another five-year contract with government. Could community lab services be done through the public system, where government runs it directly? Of course. But government's analysis shows Dynacare can do it more effectively and at a lower cost. Is it perfect? Of course not. No provider is. But it has proven to be capable of providing a reliable, cost-effective service that Manitobans depend on every day. Reintegrating these services into the public system would be expensive, disruptive and could take years. It would involve new infrastructure, new hires and retraining. Meanwhile, lab services aren't something we can just hit pause on. People need blood tests, diagnostics and lab analysis every single day. The system can't afford that kind of interruption. So the NDP government had a choice: pursue a symbolic, ideologically satisfying course of action that would please the party base but risk service disruption — or stick with a provider that's already up and running, meeting benchmarks and providing good value. It chose the latter. And deserves credit for it. This is what good governance looks like. It's not always flashy. It doesn't always make for great political sound bites. But it reflects a sober, grown-up approach to managing public services. And let's be clear: this doesn't mean the NDP is abandoning its commitment to public health care. Far from it. The core of our health system — doctors, nurses, hospitals, emergency services — remains publicly funded and publicly delivered. What this decision reflects is an understanding that targeted partnerships with the private sector can, in some cases, enhance delivery, especially when public resources are stretched thin. That doesn't make the NDP any less committed to fairness, accessibility or universality in health care; it's not letting dogma get in the way of delivering results. Some will argue this is a slippery slope — that once you open the door to private involvement, it's hard to close it. But that door has been open for decades. Private labs, clinics and diagnostic services have long been part of the Canadian health-care ecosystem. The important thing is regulation, oversight and accountability. If a private provider fails to meet standards, they should be replaced, just as a public provider would be. If they hit their benchmarks and provide value for taxpayer dollars, they should be allowed to continue. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. That's what Manitobans expect. They want pragmatic decision-making that puts patients first, not blind loyalty to ideology. There's still a long way to go to fix Manitoba's health-care system, especially after years of cuts, consolidation and administrative upheaval. But decisions such as this — where ideology takes a back seat to evidence-based decision-making — are a sign the province is on the right path. You don't need to wear orange or blue to appreciate that. You just want the system to work. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Manitoba government 'has your back' premier tells those facing anti-trans sentiment
'This is 1 province, 1 Manitoba and it includes everyone': Wab Kinew Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew invited his caucus members to stand with him and deliver one message to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, in particular transgender youth. "If anyone is giving you a hard time, just know that the premier, the deputy premier, the ministers, the MLA and the entire government of Manitoba has your back," he said, speaking at the legislative building. Those words came during a pride month celebration at the legislature building on Thursday, where Kinew said there's "a lot" of anti-transgender sentiment in Manitoba. "It's really mean-spirited," he said, adding that those who are spreading it won't get away with it. "This is one province, one Manitoba and it includes everyone," Kinew said. WATCH | Manitoba has your back, premier tells 2SLGBTQ+ community Media Video | Manitoba has your back, premier tells 2SLGBTQ+ community Caption: Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Thursday at an event in the legislature celebrating the launch of Pride Month that the government will support anyone facing anti-2SLGBTQ+ sentiment. The event included a drag show. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. While Pride is about advancing human rights and fighting to take up space the 2SLGBTQ+ deserves to have, it is also about reminding what people can achieve when they look after one another, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said. "In Manitoba, our government is working with each and every one of you to make sure that we set that standard," they said. "Everywhere else in the country, if you can believe it. They're a little jealous of Manitoba. They're a little jealous of what we have going on here." But it's important now more than ever that the community shines together in hopes of letting 2SLGBTQ+ people outside of Manitoba know "they are not alone," they said. Drag queens put on a show during the Pride celebration at the Manitoba legislature that also came with a commitment of $2.5 million in provincial funding to continue developing a housing complex and resource centre for the 2SLGBTQ+ community in downtown Winnipeg. The funding is part of a multi-year commitment to the Place of Pride that the province said will help create a safe and welcoming space for more than 270,000 Manitobans and their families. The $2.5 million will be used to add resources for programming, support and gatherings at the 12,000-square-foot community space operated by Rainbow Resource Centre, the province said. Construction of the four-storey building at 545 Broadway, which provides affordable housing for 2SLGBTQ+ people, wrapped up in August last year. About 30 people who are 55 and older have been housed so far, the province said. Rainbow Resource Centre said last year that the next phase of the project would include counselling rooms, a library, a cafe and permaculture gardens. The new funding announcement brings Manitoba's total commitment to the Place of Pride to $5.5 million. "This is about acknowledging the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Manitoba, taking up rightful space in places that we were never meant to be, that the community was never meant to be," Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said. "It is more than just symbolic … 2SLGBTQIA+ relatives deserve to be in every space, they deserve to be seen, they deserve to be protected."
CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
Winnipeg housing for 2SLGBTQ+ community gets $2.5M in provincial funding for resources, programming
Manitoba is spending $2.5 million to continue developing a housing complex and resource centre for the 2SLGBTQ+ community in downtown Winnipeg. The funding is part of a multi-year commitment to the Place of Pride that the province said will help create a safe and welcoming space for more than 270,000 Manitobans and their families. It will help create a more inclusive society at a time where there's "a lot of" anti-transgender sentiment in Manitoba, Premier Wab Kinew said during a news conference on Thursday afternoon. "This is one province, one Manitoba, and it includes everybody," he said. "It is still important to celebrate pride, even during a state of emergency." The $2.5 million will be used to add resources for programming, support and gatherings at the 12,000-square-foot community space operated by Rainbow Resource Centre, the province said. Construction of the four-storey building at 545 Broadway that provides affordable housing for 2SLGBTQ+ wrapped up in August last year. About 30 people who are 55 and older have so far been housed, the province said. "That's what pride is really all about ... it is about reminding people what we can achieve when we care for one another," Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said. "Everywhere else in the country, if you can believe, they are a little bit jealous of Manitoba, they are jealous of what we have here." Rainbow Resource said last year that the next phase of the project would include counselling rooms, a library, a café and permaculture gardens. The new funding announcement is bringing Manitoba's total commitment to the Place of Pride to $5.5 million. The announcement was part of a Pride Month celebration at the Manitoba legislature on Wednesday afternoon that included a drag show. "This is about acknowledging the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Manitoba, taking up rightful space in places that we were never meant to be, that the community was never meant to be," Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
NDP extends Dynacare deal despite criticism in opposition
After criticizing the consolidation of laboratories and the for-profit delivery of essential health services while in opposition, the NDP government has signed a five-year agreement with Dynacare to deliver even more community services. 'Manitobans made clear to us that they wanted to see lab services improve in the province,' Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said in an interview Wednesday. 'We have come to an agreement with Dynacare that does just that.' That includes opening seven more blood and urinalysis collection sites in under-served areas of the province, including northeast Winnipeg, rural communities and First Nations, the minister said. Winnipeg Free Press Files It also includes rapid mobile lab collection for physicians to support family doctors, and a commitment from Dynacare to deliver a mobile app to review test results at no cost to Manitoba patients, said Asagwara, who couldn't provide a timeline. The value of the contract is $42.4 million for 2025-26, the same as last year, when the province extended the private Ontario firm's contract by one year while it reviewed the future of diagnostic testing in the province. At the time, Asagwara did not rule out bringing community laboratory services back into the public sector. In 2018, Dynacare became the sole provider of community-based specimen collection and analysis services for Winnipeg outside of hospitals after it acquired Unicity Laboratory and X-Ray Services. Dynacare closed 21 lab locations followed by another round of closures that consolidated 25 labs into four Winnipeg 'super sites.' The company currently advertises 14 locations in Winnipeg. The health minister said staying with the for-profit company, in a deal first signed by the previous Progressive Conservative government, is in the best interest of Manitobans. 'Our government prioritizes strengthening the public health-care system,' Asagwara said. 'The transition to Dynacare was made (by) the previous government so many years ago that any change away from Dynacare, at this point, would be incredibly disruptive to not only the health-care system, but directly to patients who rely on this service. We want a health-care system that is more stable, more predictable and provides better services.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The five-year deal aims to increase access and quality of service for things like getting bloodwork done. It will offer more mobile collections in personal care homes so residents don't need to travel, said Asagwara, who couldn't provide details. Dynacare must get the government's permission to close any site, change hours or modify services. There are now non-compliance penalties for failing to meet performance indicators like wait times and test accuracy, the minister said. 'Having standards is a pretty basic component of an agreement,' Asagwara said. 'It is wildly irresponsible that the previous government didn't ever have any performance metrics, any accountability measures or standards in their relationship with Dynacare. We have these measures and performance indicators in place and we're keeping a close eye on them to make sure Manitobans are getting the best value for the dollar.' The health minister called the agreement 'fiscally responsible' and said it allows the province to keep its lab costs stable. 'Manitobans made clear to us that they wanted to see lab services improve in the province.'–Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara The Manitoba Health Coalition says it is disappointing the province is moving to consolidate and expand private lab services. 'This announcement does not make up for the 46 labs Dynacare closed in Manitoba in 2018,' said Molly McCracken, the coalition's acting spokesperson. Closing labs made it harder for seniors and people without access to a vehicle or public transit to obtain those services, she said. In 2025, access to mobile apps is 'standard' and could be provided by a public lab service, McCracken said. 'The priority of for-profit laboratory services is to make money — money that should be going into improving public access instead of being paid out to corporate shareholders,' she said. The health minister said hundreds of unionized Dynacare workers 'deliver great services to Manitobans each and every day.' McCracken said Manitoba should move to the model used in Alberta, where community lab services are publicly delivered by Alberta Precision Laboratories, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alberta Health Services. Dynacare is a subsidiary of the life-sciences company Labcorp, which reported US$13 billion (nearly $18 billion) in revenue in 2024. Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
23-05-2025
- Health
- Global News
Manitoba health minister says new Dynacare deal to lead to more patient access
The Manitoba government has signed a five-year deal with Dynacare to continue laboratory services and open seven more sites in northeast Winnipeg and rural Manitoba. The health-care company is also planning to deliver a mobile app that Manitobans can use to review test results. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara told 680 CJOB's The News that there's no timeline yet for the app, but the value of the overall contract with Dynacare is $42.4 million in 2025-26 — the same as the previous year. The company already has 21 locations across the province, 14 of which are in Winnipeg. 'Manitobans need more access to lab services, not less,' Asagwara said. 'So we've been working with Dynacare to make sure that Manitobans have access to more sites, that there's standardizations in terms of how that care is delivered, that there's expectations in terms of how that care is delivered, and that we're really modernizing lab services for Manitobans.' Story continues below advertisement The minister said the move toward digital technology is part of a push toward ease of access for patients provincewide. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's really about bringing Manitoba health care into the modern era. We have been so far behind other jurisdictions and it's unacceptable, frankly, that health-care workers are still using paper charts, the systems aren't talking to each other … we have to do better. 'We are investing substantial amounts of resources in modernizing our digital technology here in Manitoba.' In a statement, a Dynacare spokesperson said the company is happy to continue working with the province. 'Dynacare is pleased to have reached a new long-term agreement with the Manitoba government, which will allow us to make strategic investments in our facilities, equipment, technology and people in support of Manitoba's healthcare system,' the statement said. Dr. Alex Singer, director of research and quality improvement in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Manitoba, told The News that any move that gives patients more information about their health is a positive one. 'I think it's definitely a positive development that patients will have access to their own records and their own laboratory results,' Singer said. 'There's a utility there, and these things need to be done in collaboration with primary care providers or specialty providers, so there's a balance. Story continues below advertisement 'Not all information is positive, but having access to it will … certainly reduce anxiety when waiting for test results, and I think in some ways will increase safety. If there's two or three people checking, that's always better than one or two. If patients are directly part of that care team, they're more engaged, they're more capable.'
