AMC Raises Alarm Over Rural and Northern Healthcare Crisis Amid Emergency Room Closures

December 12, 2024

Treaty One Territory, Manitoba

AMC Communications

Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) expresses grave concern over the growing crisis in rural and northern healthcare due to the closure of emergency rooms during the holiday season, coupled with the shutdown of nursing stations in First Nations communities. These closures highlight systemic inequities in healthcare access and raise urgent questions about the provincial government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of all Manitobans, especially First Nations.

“First Nations and rural residents are being forced to bear the brunt of inadequate planning and resource allocation,” said Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy. “When emergency rooms and nursing stations are closed, where are our people supposed to go? These closures place lives at risk and exacerbate the already severe health disparities faced by First Nations.”

The AMC emphasizes that the closure of healthcare facilities in remote and rural areas has life-threatening implications. Many First Nations residents are left without timely access to critical medical care, intensifying the challenges of already marginalized communities. These closures are not only a logistical and operational failure but also a fundamental breach of the province’s responsibility to provide equitable healthcare access.

The AMC calls on the provincial government to take swift and meaningful action to address these healthcare gaps. Key demands include:

1. Immediate reopening and adequate staffing of rural and northern emergency rooms and nursing stations.
2. A strategic investment plan for sustainable healthcare in First Nations and rural communities.
3. Comprehensive engagement with First Nations leadership to ensure healthcare planning meets the specific needs of their communities.

“This holiday season, no family should have to fear for their safety due to lack of access to emergency healthcare,” said Acting Grand Chief Kennedy. “The time for action is now.”

The AMC remains committed to collaborating with the provincial government, health authorities, and municipalities to ensure that all Manitobans, especially First Nations, have access to the care they need and deserve.

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For more information, please contact:

Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email:  [email protected] 

About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of all 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe, Nehetho / Ininew, Anisininew, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate peoples.