Portage la Prairie's efforts to acquire an MRI unit for the new hospital project is a provincial issue requiring the Manitoba government to give the go-ahead. However, we had a chance to hear the opinion of federal Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar, Branden Leslie. He notes that now is the time to get it right.
"We have this beautiful hospital being built here. I was born in the one we’re currently using, so of course, I’d like to see Portage have access to such tools. I think it’s important that we focus on improving access for rural Manitobans, in particular. There’s life beyond the Perimeter. We can’t let political divides hinder our commitments. This issue should transcend party lines. It’s about people, our health outcomes, reducing wait times, improving lives, and ultimately saving lives, potentially."
Leslie stresses he’s a strong supporter of the effort and believes now is the time to keep up the pressure and ensure that the community and region get the services they need, including an MRI machine at the Portage hospital.
"My colleague Jeff Bereza, our MLA, has been doing incredible work, speaking out on this, and coordinating a number of groups—leading the charge to get thousands of people to sign petitions. He’s been taking the lead and doing an excellent job. When I’m in Portage, around town, or at the grocery store, it’s one of the things people mention. They want grocery prices down, interest rates down, and they want an MRI machine. It’s certainly the talk of the town, but, as shown in research, this is bigger than just the town of Portage."
He adds there’s so much potential positive impact, not only for the immediate Portage region but also much further, given the proximity to Southport.
"It’s just common sense. We need to get the politics out of this. This isn’t an inside-the-Perimeter issue. Our provincial government has recognized that there is life outside the Perimeter, and we need to make sure we’re given the services to improve the quality of life for people in this area."