Remote. The definition from the Oxford Dictionary is “a place situated far from the main centers of population; distant.”
In Manitoba the north has always been considered remote. Because of this the area and people living and working there receive special payments known as north allowance or remote living allowance.
The extreme southwest area of Manitoba could easily be considered remote as well, especially in the case of healthcare. Melita Health Centre serves a large area from the US border north and Saskatchewan border east. Three years ago during the COVID-19 epidemic, Prairie Mountain Health Regional Health Authority closed Melita’s emergency and acute care. The reason given at the time was that Melita nurses were needed to serve at other local hospitals. Naturally this caused concern, anger and uneasiness among the residents affected by this decision.
Bill Holden, mayor of the Town of Melita said a committee was formed to address the delivery of, or lack of, healthcare. This committee has been fluent throughout the process.
“We started working with the RHA on this matter so the hospital wouldn’t close. A proposal was drafted by the RHA and sent to us. We have been turned down twice in the provincial budget.”
The reasons given included there was no room in the budget or the proposal arrived too late.
Holden said he was recently speaking to Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care Uzoma Asagwara and they said they only just recently had a first glimpse of the proposal. Minister Asagwara assured Holden this project had merit in the budget.
“We’re eligible for four positions and currently have two Nurse Practitioners (NPs). This summer we will be getting a third NP and there is ongoing communications with a possible physician to fill the fourth position.”
“The provincial government has to step up. We need at the very least primary care, and lab and ambulance services,” said Holden.
Province rejects Melita healthcare proposal twice
Over 350 people attended a public meeting concerning healthcare held April 1, 2025 at the Melita Legion Hall. Prairie Mountain Health RHA was represented by CAO Treena Slate, Debbie Poole (Regional Lead, Clinical Planning), Glenda Short (Regional Lead, Community Services) and Janet Twordoclid (Regional Lead, Acute Care) and Shared Health personnel participating on the panel, included Karen Beheyt (Manager, Lab Services), Callum Melvin (Director, EMS) and Scott Noble (Director, EMS).
Also attending and in support were council members from the municipalities of Two Borders, Brenda-Waskada, Grassland, Sifton and towns of Virden, Killarney, and Melita. Bill Holden gave opening remarks with Scott Phillips, councillor with the RM of Sifton as the moderator.
Holden began by stressing the local healthcare committee had an excellent working relationship with Prairie Mountain Health (PMH).
Slate gave an update on the community-based program being developed for Melita.
“This plan was started in 2022 when Mayor Bill and Reeve Sandra Clark requested something be done for healthcare in the area. The plan is a Made in Melita program that is unique to the area and serves the remoteness of the area. It is led by nursing providing enhanced primary and community-based care.”
She added that PMH has requested government approval and funding for the plan. To date they are still waiting for response from the government. In the meantime PMH is carrying out analysis of services needed in the area and ensuring everything is aligning with the needs.
“Currently there are two NPs and visiting physicians from Deloraine and Virden. We want to build on this with a proactive stance and we are hopeful to soon hear about funding.”
“The plan for Melita is based on various programs across Canada, including one that is called The House – Care Under One Roof. It is not an ER but rather semi-acute care. It gets you to where you need to be for timely accessible care, consistent and reliable,” said Slate.
While all medical services are needed, perhaps the most pressing one is ambulance service.
Melvin said the whole province is experiencing a shortage in EMS services. The paramedic shortages are prevalent and most acutely in the southwest. There is a high vacancy rate, 20-25% across Canada and we are working actively to fill shortages.
“We move ambulances around on a regular basis to best serve all regions.”
There is some good news. At one time there was significant disparity between wages of paramedics working in city versus those working in rural areas. After intensive lobbying the wage difference has been corrected.
“As well, the access to education has improved. Paramedics students can now do single stream studies. Interest in paramedics is trending upwards as work is being done to promote this career to students,” added Melvin.
Beheyt, Manager Lab Services for Shared Health said there is also good news in the Lab and Diagnostics world with ACC to soon be offering a medical lab program.
“Currently lab/diagnostic students are being trained in Saskatoon. Because the course will be offered in Brandon there are five students set to graduate in 2026 returning to service in Manitoba. The ACC program will see its first class of students graduate in 2027.”
Questions and Answers
The panel invited questions from the floor.
Question: We have heard that Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation is interested in purchasing the Melita Hospital. Where is that at?
Answer: “We are not in a position to act on any proposal to purchase the health centre. The RHA owns it and it would have to go through the proper procedures with them,” said Holden.
Slate added that PMH is engaged to work with Canupawakpa and fully support the development of Indigenous-led health services.
Question: Why are we not looking into educating and recruiting more Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs)?
Answer: Melvin said there is a move towards reintroducing EMRs for ambulance response roles.
“We have boosted the medical first responders program with EMR stations and MFR (Medical First Responder) models. There are stations in Rapid City, Miniota, Wawanesa and other locations.”
Question: Why not have PCP training courses in the rural areas. There has been good luck with Melita hosting nursing courses in the past, why not PCP as well?
Answer: Shared Health agrees with this but Red River Community College no longer offers rotating campus. Scott Phillips added the local health committee is pushing ACC and RRCC to bring courses to rural Manitoba.
“We push for this weekly,” he said.
Question: What does the plan look like for Melita Health Centre’s future?
Answer: Slate said there would not be much change. The final plan would see more NPs with extended hours, hope to acquire a local medical graduate for physician role, and there would be some virtual-care options.
“There is no plan to change the transitional care or PCH. We are trying to align resources and ensure there is access to many facets of medical care. Observation beds would be part of the plan but this won’t exist right away,” she added.
Question: Will we be getting any more lab/x-ray days? Some things cannot wait and people are going to go elsewhere for care.
Answer: Beheyt said they are trying to increase the x-ray days from one day to two days.
Question: What if the government does not accept proposal?
Answer: If there is no approval by government a walk-in facility might be a possibility but this would need to be discussed with the NPs.
Holden added that the biggest issue right now is the lack of ambulance service.
“We will continue to meet and work with the RHA. We have a good working proposal but it will take time to implement. The RHA is working well with us and we would like to thank PMH for working on the EMS situation. We have to have ambulance service,” he said.
Holden encouraged people with further questions to call himself or stop by the Town of Melita office.
“We wish to thank Mayor Bill Holden and Reeve Sandra Clark for their tremendous initiative and lead in this project. And the government says the plan for Melita is very innovative,” added Slate.
by JUDY WELLS
Recorder staff