Wab Kinew zeroes in on 'health care crisis' and how his strength and weakness are the same thing

Wab Kinew is clear about his party's priority in the Manitoba election, circling back to the topic of health at every opportunity.

It's what the voters are most interested in on the doorstep and in the polls, the NDP leader told CBC Information Radiohost Marcy Markusaon Friday.

"What I've heard over and over in this election, and this iseven reflected in the polling that you've seen released this week, is the No. 1 issue Manitobans want us to get a handle on is health care," he said, adding he has been talking to emergency room doctors and nurses, who saythere is a critical shortage of bed spaces.

The father of three, former journalist and past rapper, sat down with Markusaahead of the Sept. 10 provincial election.

The other three leaders of Manitoba's main political parties also had one-on-ones this week.Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallisterspoke to Markusa on Thursday,Green PartyLeaderJames Beddomewas in the studio on Tuesdayand Liberal Party LeaderDougald Lamont was in onWednesday.

On Friday, it was Kinew's turn topitch hisplatformand reveala bit about himself.

Marcy:What's your greatest strength?

Kinew: Hopefully, it's my ability to listen to others.

M: What's your greatest weakness?

K: I think, again, I always have to work on listening to others. It doesn't always come natural or easy.

M:Where are you most comfortable? Where do you feel like your true self?

K: My wife and I moved into a new home about two years ago and, since that time, it's that new place with our family. That's where I love to be."

Kinew haspromisedto reverse the recent closures of the emergency roomsat Concordia and Seven Oaks hospitals, hire as many as 500 new nurses, and ban mandatory overtime for nurses. Asked how quickly he wants to move on that, Kinew said he is making it a priority but not stomping on the gas pedal.

"For me, it's not about moving quickly it's about doing it safely and responsibly," he said.

"Health care is in crisis and it's because the current government under Mr. Pallisterhas moved too fast with these closures. As a result of Seven Oaks and Concordia closing, now St. Boniface emergency room is turning away patients a few times a week."

The first thing to do is stabilize the situation by reopening the ERs at Concordia and Seven Oaks to create more bed spaces.

"But we're going to have to first identify the nurses and the health care aides to staff those beds.When we can do that safely, then we'll proceed with that," he said.

Asked if he can imagine a scenario in which the Concordia and Seven Oaks ERs would not reopen, Kinew said, "I don't want to rule anything out [but]we already have done our consultations and research into this project and we believe the best course of action right now is to reopen [them]."

Though it would seem to be a hefty expense to reverse those decisions and hire more staff, the NDPhealth care plan makes fiscal sense, Kinew said.

"We are paying tons of money in mandatory overtime, paying nurses double time right now. If we fix the staffing shortage, we'll get back top-paying nurses just regular time, which is much more sustainable financially," he said.

Rebuilding thetrust

On the topic of fiscal responsibility, Kinew was asked how he would win backManitobansto trust the NDP will spend wisely.

Nearly 17 consecutive years of NDP government inManitoba came to an end in the 2016 election with the province's deficit hitting $932 million.

Pallister'sTories, swept to power in 2016 with a majority government going from 19 seats to 40, while the NDP fell from 37 to 14 promised to slow the flowof red ink.

Since then, the deficit has shrunk dramatically and is projected to wind up at $360 million at the end of this fiscal year.

Kinew said the NDP's plan is clearly laid out and open for anyone to scrutinize.

"Right at the outset of the campaign, we put out a fully costed platform. And throughout the campaign, I've been sharing with Manitobans, who asked me a question similar to what you're asking me now, that I am balanced when it comes to the books," he said.

Pressed on the party's past record, Kinew said, "Well, I'm a new leader and over the past few years I've worked very hard to bring in a fresh new team that has a new approach.

"Our approach is balanced when it comes to the books but we have a strong emphasis on fixing health care."

Asked if the previous NDPadministration under then-leader Greg Selinger overspent, Kinewsaid,"I think the message Manitobans sent in the last election was very clear."

Attack ads

The Progressive Conservative Party has targetedKinew in a series of election ads dubbed"Wab Risk," saying he is a risk Manitoba cannot afford.

The campaign, which includes YouTube videos and targeted Facebook ads, asks whether Kinew is leadership-worthy, reminding voters of his past criminal convictions for impaired driving and for assaulting a cab driver. He has received pardons for both offences.

He also was charged with assaulting a former romantic partner in 2003 but that charge wasstayed.

Kinew has discussed some of those past troubles in his 2015 memoir,The Reason You Walk, and said on Friday the PC attack ads have given him the opportunity to show the public "who I am today."

"And in the face of very negative campaigning and attack ads I would like to think I've shown the people of Manitoba that I can keep my cool, I can stay positive and I can continue toexecute on the tasks that I need to accomplish each day," he said.

"So I'll bring those skills to the office of the premier, should I get the chance to serve."

Two-horse race

In a recent interview, a politicalscientist said she wasn't sure if Manitobans are ready for an Indigenous leader.

Asked for his reaction, Kinew said, "I think Manitobansare ready for a leader who is going to build a province that works for all of us," and then went back tohis talking points of improving health care.

"I don't think I've made my identity an issue. I think I've made the priorities of the people of Manitoba my No. 1 issue."

Manitoba Premier job interview - NDP Party Leader Wab Kinew

5 years ago

Duration 11:04

Manitobans head to the polls on Tuesday and the leaders of the province's four main political parties are live throughout the week on CBC Manitoba's Information Radio each morning in a bid to win over voters. Friday was NDP Party Leader Wab Kinew's turn.

He said he has faced incidents of racism on the campaign trail "but that's not my priority."

"I'm focused on providing [voters] with a strong alternative. We are just a few days out from the election and you have a two-horse race now," he said about his party and the PCs.

'You're choice now is, do you want Mr. Pallister for four more years, or do you want a leader, myself,and my team, who's going to provide a better approach on health care, on jobs and on keeping life affordable."

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