Selkirk’s new MRI faces funding woes

Province won’t pay for machine in full 

Premier Greg Selinger is seen in this 2011 file photo pledging to fund a new MRI scanner in Selkirk if the NDP is re-elected in the provincial election.

 

By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record

The Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority is facing a $133,000 funding shortfall for an MRI scanning machine slated to go in Selkirk’s new hospital, and the province is refusing to pay the balance leaving the community to pay the difference before the hospital opens in 2017.

The RHA has no formal fundraising plans in the works, but did raise some funds earlier this month by having construction workers, who are building the new hospital, pay for a barbeque lunch during a work break.

“I imagine there will be a more robust campaign on kind of what remains to be raised here,” said Blair Stevenson, the RHA’s regional director of acute care.

A RHA spokeswoman said of the community’s $340,000 required contribution, just over $207,000 has been raised. 

Selkirk mayor Larry Johannson said he was surprised to know the MRI hasn’t been paid for yet.

“Nobody’s ever said that to me,” Johannson said.

Johannson along with several others community groups were pushing for the new hospital to have the scanner several years ago, and Premier Greg Selinger promised $4 million in funding for the MRI if the NDP was re-elected during the 2011 provincial election. 

But that promise came with a catch -- the community had to pay 10 per cent of the machine’s total cost, and even though the scanner is now estimated to cost $3.4 and not $4 million, the province is refusing to fund the remaining $133,000 balance. 

After Selinger’s campaign promise, Johannson and others began fundraising for the MRI.

“We did turn over some funds to the province to go towards the MRI,” Johannson said.

When the Record asked Selinger’s office if the province should be covering the $3.4 million cost given it is lower than the $4 million originally promised, a spokeswoman deflected the question saying the plan was always to have the community split the cost. 

“The commitment to build an MRI in Selkirk has always had a community contribution associated with it,” said Naline Rampersad in an email.

Rampersad went on to say the community funding requirement applies to all capital health projects in the province, and contributions can range from 10 – 20 per cent.

Stevenson said he is confident the RHA will find the money needed to pay for the MRI in time for the hospital’s spring 2017 opening date. 

“We’ve got a very generous community in Selkirk and the Interlake,” Stevenson said.

 -- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition May 21 2015 p.7