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National Nursing Week

On Monday May 9, I spoke in the Manitoba Legislature on National Nursing Week.  My comments are below. 

Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, I begin my comments on National Nurses Week with a big thank you to all nurses in Manitoba. What you have done during the COVID pandemic has been and is absolutely extra­ordinary, and has often been at great personal and family sacrifice.

In spite of many of you having had to switch positions or locations as a result of the Conservative government's reorganization in the 2016 to twenty‑nine period, and in spite of the fact that much of the Conservative government's reorganization has made life and the delivery of health care more dif­ficult, you have continued to work and to help others in a way that has been outstanding.

      Even when the Conservative government closed down emergency rooms or urgent care centres or QuickCare clinics where you were working, you have put every effort into continuing to provide care for Manitobans.

      Even when the Conservative government failed to listen to recommendations from various know­ledge­able sources to ensure adequate staffing of long-term care facilities, including personal-care homes, you have done everything possible under very dif­ficult circumstances to help seniors and elders in our province.

      Even when the Conservative government failed miserably in filling staffing positions, to the extent that many, many areas of nursing care in Manitoba were understaffed by 10 to 30 per cent or more, you still came to work and you did everything you pos­sibly could to help Manitobans.

      Even when the Conservative government so botched the organization of our provincial health-care system that emergency rooms and urgent-care centres have wait times of 10 to 12 hours, and even when those who have had to wait a long time got frustrated and angry and took their anger out on you, you did not hesitate to continue working and giving everything you have to help Manitobans who are sick and who were having a lot of difficulty.

      Thank you, thank you, thank you. Merci. Miigwech. Dyakuyu.


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