Manitoba Municipalities Back Rural Training for Lab Techs

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) has approved a resolution aimed at enhancing education for rural laboratory and X-ray technicians. The measure received overwhelming support, with 97 percent of delegates backing it during the recent AMM convention. This initiative is crucial for addressing the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas.

Key Proposals for Rural Education Enhancement

The resolution, championed by eight municipalities in the Westman region, urges the provincial government to take significant steps to improve training opportunities. It calls for an increase in available seats in existing training programs and the establishment of partnerships with institutions outside Manitoba to provide immediate access to training for rural students.

Additionally, the resolution seeks to create a comprehensive rural training and retention strategy, alongside an expedited launch of the combined laboratory and X-ray technology program at Assiniboine College. This program is currently scheduled to begin no earlier than 2027, which local leaders view as too late given the pressing need for qualified technicians.

“We are looking for lab and X-ray to be available to us after those late clinical hours,” stated Sandra Clark, reeve of the Municipality of Two Borders. She emphasized the importance of having healthcare services accessible during critical times, especially following the closure of the emergency department at the Melita Health Centre in September 2023 due to a nursing shortage.

Addressing Immediate Needs in Healthcare

Clark noted that despite the province’s investment in extending hours at the Melita hospital, the lack of personnel to support these hours has become a significant challenge. “It’s imperative that we use nurse practitioners and our diagnostic teams to deliver healthcare to some of the most rural residents in Manitoba,” she explained.

Other local leaders echoed her sentiments, stressing the urgency of addressing the technician shortage. Kelly McMachon, reeve of Deloraine-Winchester, pointed out that there are current vacancies that need to be filled. “The need is now; we have vacant positions now,” he remarked, highlighting that taxpayers in the region expect services that their contributions support.

While there is hope that the Assiniboine College program can begin earlier than planned, Renée Cable, the province’s Advanced Training and Education Minister, indicated that the timeline is unlikely to change. “The reality in terms of construction timelines and everything — the timelines that we have on that build and when the program starts is what it is,” she said.

Cable has been in discussions with local leaders, including Jeff Fawcett, mayor of Brandon, about the program’s opening date. She acknowledged the need for improved training opportunities closer to home, particularly in rural and northern areas of Manitoba.

Efforts are underway to expand training programs from Altona to Churchill, with a focus on licensed practical nurses and healthcare aides. Cable emphasized the importance of keeping residents in Manitoba for their training, stating, “We want to be able to offer training closer to home for students.”

Moving forward, the AMM plans to continue advocating for the resolution through data collection and research. Nick Krawetz, AMM’s deputy executive director, mentioned that the province’s response to the resolution is expected by February. This feedback will guide further actions and potentially strengthen the case for addressing the urgent need for healthcare professionals in rural Manitoba.

The resolution, which garnered support from municipalities including Brenda-Waskada, Carberry, Elton, Melita, Souris-Glenwood, and Wallace-Woodworth, reflects a unified call for action to ensure that rural areas receive essential healthcare services through better training and retention of local professionals.