Rowat’s work pays off as all newborns will now receive hearing screening.
On Sept. 1 Manitoba joined the ranks of Ontario, Nova Scotia and British Columbia in automatically administering hearing tests to newborn infants – all thanks to the work done by a now retired MLA.
On Sept. 1 Manitoba joined the ranks of Ontario, Nova Scotia and British Columbia in automatically administering hearing tests to newborn infants – all thanks to the work done by a now retired MLA.
The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Act was introduced and passed in 2013 as a Private Members bill by then Progressive Conservative MLA Leanne Rowat. Since that time, regulations and standard processes and procedures were developed and the necessary equipment was installed throughout the province to provide services.
Our government knows that families in Manitoba will benefit from a universal program with consistent screening services across the province, so children with congenital hearing loss have the opportunity to develop strong cognitive, speech-processing and learning skills. It is a common misconception for parents that hearing loss in their children is easy to detect and many years often go by without properly discovering hearing loss in their child. Due to how varied our children’s language development is, early detection and diagnosis helps those with congenital hearing loss get the treatment they need as early as possible, as a child’s first two years are the most important for language development.
Thanks to Leanne for her work in getting Bill 202 passed through the Legislature three years ago and to our Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living Kelvin Goertzen for putting the law into effect.
RHA boards
Applications are currently open for residents to apply or be nominated to positions on the board of the Prairie Mountain Regional Health Authority.Minister Goertzen announced on Aug. 11 that rural boards would be reduced from 15 to 12 and that applications to sit on the boards would be accepted until Sept. 16.
Minister Goertzen announced on Aug. 11 that rural boards would be reduced from 15 to 12 and that applications to sit on the boards would be accepted until Sept. 16.
Boards are responsible for the resources and performance of health authorities. The minister noted nominees must have a diverse range of backgrounds, skills, interests, experience and expertise, and share a strong sense of commitment to achieving the provincial vision of healthy Manitobans through an appropriate balance of prevention and care.
Nomination forms are available at local regional health authority offices, community health offices, in regional health facilities, or online at www.gov.mb.ca/health/rha/forms.html.
Ministers visit
As a rookie MLA it is certainly gratifying to have Ministers from our government visit the constituency. Since being elected on April 19, I have had the pleasure of having three Ministers visit, with another scheduled to visit in September. I believe this shows that all Manitobans matter to our government and that we believe in grassroots consultation.
Ralph Eichler, Minister of Agriculture, and Blaine Pedersen, Minister of Infrastructure, were out in late July to speak with producers and municipal officials about downstream flooding caused by the Shellmouth Dam and other water-related and road issues.
The Minister of Indigenous and Municipal Relations, Eileen Clarke, who is from my neighbouring constituency to the east Agassiz, spent a day last week meeting with members of councils in the area. I was pleased to be able to join her for visits with the Rural Municipality of Riding Mountain West, Russell-Binscarth Municipality, Rossburn Municipality and the Waywayseecappo First Nation.
The meetings allowed members of council to meet the Minister and her special assistant, Craig MacDonald of Minnedosa, and discuss areas of concern.
Finally, the Minister of Crowns, Ron Schuler, will be in the Riding Mountain constituency next week for a scheduled meeting with constituents.
Infrastructure funding
Many area municipalities have submitted applications for cost-shared infrastructure funding under four different grant programs – the Municipal Road and Bridge Program, the New Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Fund, the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, and the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. The deadline was Aug. 26 with funding announcements expected this fall.
Municipalities were able to apply online through a “single window”, which has been designed to cut red tape and allow for more efficient access to funding.
Earlier this summer, two area municipalities received funding for new water plants with cost sharing by the federal and provincial governments.
Russell-Binscarth received approval for a $12 million project, while the Rural Municipality of Yellowhead got the go ahead for a $4 million project. The federal government will contribute 50 percent, with the provincial and municipal governments each contributing 25 percent.
The end result is that residents of Shoal Lake, Russell, Binscarth and perhaps Angusville, Waywayseecappo and Rossburn will have reliable drinking water that meets Canadian standards now and into the future.