Kinew, NDP begin transition from opposition to government

The Manitoba NDP has entered its transition period – going from opposition to government – and Premier-elect Wab Kinew has identified the team of people that’ll help guide him and as he goes from NDP leader to Premier of Manitoba.

Kinew’s transition team, detailed Friday, includes 11 people made up of members that “span the province geographically” and come from various backgrounds.

“I want to express my gratitude to each member of the transition advisory team for offering their expertise and guidance as we stand up our new government,” Kinew told CityNews in a statement. “I am proud to be surrounded by a team of experts in several sectors – including health care, business, local government, and labour – as well as strong Indigenous professionals here in Manitoba.

“It is with this broad range of experience, from different parts of the province, that our new government will begin to move forward on implementing our platform and making good on the promises we made to Manitobans.”

On the 11-person team is Dr. Eric Jacobsohn.

“The NDP has been very clear that there are multiple focus points of how to improve healthcare and some can be faster, and some can take years,” said Dr. Jacobsohn.

“People work at places, work at institutions — and it’s not all about money — it’s about the respect, the working environment and whether or not they feel part of their future.”

The cardiac anesthesiologist and ICU doctor, who works both at St. B and the Health Sciences Centre, says the NDP have been clear about their goals to attract and retain medical professionals in the province, saying the new government needs to execute a massive overall shift in healthcare to help the system reach its full potential — which he believes is immense.

“There’s no secret that most healthcare workers felt disenfranchised in the last seven years and felt that local — and provincial leadership — really didn’t hear them, so I think a big push is going to be: ‘What can we do to acutely, or to start affecting culture, while the infrastructure matters: recruitment, can be looked after,” explained Dr. Jacobsohn.

The list also includes CEO Joy Cramer from the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, Ash Modha CEO of Mondetta clothing, Mike Spence, the Mayor of Churchill, and Tanya Paulson, executive director of the Manitoba Building Trades.

Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, also tapped by Kinew to sit on the advisory team. He says the previous PC government ignored labour unions during its tenure, hurting workers — and the province — with its unwillingness to bargain in good faith and provide adequate living wages, saying he’s looking forward to change.

“It’s an exciting time for Manitobans. People have spoken and the NDP have a lot of work to do, but it’s good work and I’m excited to work with them to make things better,” said Rebeck.

“For the last seven years, workers voices have been shutout of the legislature, so it’s nice to be invited back in to be able to raise worker issues, and priorities and talk with this government about how we can represent all Manitobans.”

He too feels the province will benefit from the NDP government, as the unwillingness to have work with labour unions and leadership by the PCs, stunted the province’s growth.

“That doesn’t attract your average worker. That doesn’t bring families that want to come and have a family-supporting job, and work in your economy and participate in your economy and have the means to do so. So to me, it means that we’re going to build our economy together and that everyday workers can get a fair shake and a fair deal.”