Hi, my name is Levi Cottingham and I am a Conservative (for those who didn’t already know).
Now that we got that out of the way…
Manitobans were promised meaningful change when the Manitoba New Democratic Party formed government. Unfortunately, things are getting worse. Ask a healthcare worker. Ask a parent. Ask a tradesperson.
The reality on the ground has not improved. In fact, many would argue it has gotten worse. Access to health care remains one of the biggest concerns. Emergency rooms face reduced hours or closures, doctor shortages persist, and too many families are forced to travel long distances just to receive basic care. These are not abstract policy issues—they are everyday realities that affect people’s safety and quality of life.
The numbers back this up.
As noted by the Fraser Institute: “On the campaign trail back in 2023, Premier Wab Kinew promised to fix Manitoba’s health-care system. Fast-forward to today and the province’s health-care spending has increased 9 per cent (per person, after adjusting for inflation) while wait times have increased 34 per cent. Manitobans also continue to struggle with a doctor shortage, and patients are dying after long waits in the emergency room.” For rural communities, where access is already limited, these trends are even more alarming.

Read the whole "Letter to the Editor" on page A4 of this week's Russell Banner.