In Question Period yesterday Health Minister Theresa Oswald fielded direct questions about her knowledge of the file and how it is being handled by the WRHA. Gerrard had said in an exclusive interview on TGCTS on Monday, that he was going to advocate on behalf of the family at the earliest opportunity.
Here is the transcript of that exchange:
Gail Glesby Death
Investigation
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, Manitobans have been shocked recently to learn of the appalling facts surrounding the death of Gail Glesby.
Ms. Glesby was seen at the Health Sciences Centre emergency room in 2004 when she became ill after a gastroscopy procedure, and while there, as I understand it, she developed an intracerebral hemorrhage, likely from a fall in the emergency room washroom. The diagnosis was delayed and, as the result, she died.
Now, the recent death of Natasha Richardson has emphasized the need to make a rapid diagnosis when somebody falls and has a head injury, but unlike Natasha Richardson, Gail Glesby fell in an emergency room.
I ask the minister whether she is prepared to meet with Gail's daughter, Ashley, to talk to her, to offer her an apology, to ensure that this incident is very thoroughly investigated, reported on and that changes are made to correct the problems.
Hon. Theresa Oswald (Minister of Health): I can say to the member, as he knows all members of this House understand, that the loss of a loved one is a tragic and serious thing. When there are circumstances surrounding the loss of that loved one that are not clear to the family, that can really compound any sorrow that is felt.
I can assure the member that at the time of this individual's death, reviews were conducted. There have been some questions subsequent to that concerning the circumstances surrounding the death. It was some years ago. Those records are being pulled from the archives at the WRHA. We'll meet with the family, and, indeed, any family that wants to meet with me is welcome to, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, it's my understanding that critical incident reports are to go to the minister. So I would ask the minister: When knowing that there have been quite a number of critical incidents in Winnipeg's emergency rooms–I think more than 50 over the last little while–can the minister tell this Chamber, was this particular death of Gail Glesby considered a critical incident?
The investigation, we are told, of some sort was done. Did the minister receive a report of the investigation, and can the minister tell us what changes were made as the result of the report?
Ms. Oswald: I can inform this House that in the situation of this particular case, the death was investigated as a critical clinical occurrence, which, indeed, was the type of investigation that predated a critical incident. The legislation was not in place at that time.
An investigation did occur at that time, but, of course, as Manitobans have learned recently, there are concerns by this family that perhaps not all of the information came forward.
So the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has agreed to rereview the situation, to speak with the family to learn if there were any details at all that didn't come forward during that investigation, so that they could come forward now.
Records are being retrieved from the archives, Mr. Speaker. We want this family to have peace, and that comes from knowing the details. We're going to work with this family to ensure that that happens, Mr. Speaker.
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Today's Winnipeg Free Press suggests that the city is faced with a budget shortfall of $10M after a city analysis of the provincial budget. According to Bartley Kives, the city was hoping for $15M in NDP generosity but it appears only $1.55 million in new funding is coming to 510 Main Street.
On provincial budget day, Katz said city officials were still trying to determine what the 2009 provincial budget meant for Winnipeg. Two weeks later, the total amount of additional revenue heading Winnipeg's way appears to be $1.55 million, according to a summary provided by Winnipeg chief financial officer Mike Ruta.
Increased provincial speeding fines should allow the city to earn $800,000 in additional traffic-enforcement revenue this year, while the province's new electronic waste recycling enhancement could generate $750,000, Ruta said in a statement.
(Of course this story comes only 8 days after our own interview with Coun. Jeff Browaty about the budget. He told us the city was facing a $5M hole. But anyways...)
In his lede, Kives describes the math this way:
Winnipeg will receive about a tenth of the extra revenue Mayor Sam Katz expected from the Doer government this year, leaving a $10-million hole in the city budget, civic number-crunchers suggest.
Memo to Bart: $15 Million minus (a tenth of $15 million) = a $13.5 million shortfall, NOT $10 million.
Maybe an editor chopped out some other part of the equation.
Or, maybe Bart was just having a bad day. Because his FP/Probe Research poll on infrastructure priorities story had a few gaps in logic as well.
Starting with not providing the actual questions in the story (at least, not online).
Or the actual sample results that would justify the claim:
... the picture changes dramatically when the sample is broken down by age, as Winnipeggers 18 to 34 are almost just as concerned about rapid transit as they are with road repairs, the survey suggests.
Also, there is no frame of reference provided to explain why "older" folks prefer building roads and bridges as opposed to the younger set dreaming of electric trains.
For instance, knowing how many of these youthful 'visionaries' actually pay property taxes and have an true stake in the city budget, could help explain why they are so eager to spend scads of money on the future, while the clear majority insists that potholes and sewer lines be fixed first NOW.
Even the headline is wrong - or is it a clue about the agenda of the gatekeepers?Winnipeggers' top concern? Roads, transit
Younger people evenly split.
... 52 per cent of respondents to a March telephone survey of 600 adults selected road and bridge repairs as their priority, compared to 22 per cent who favoured the construction of a rapid-transit line...
Do the math. 52 percent is more than DOUBLE 22 percent -- yet transit makes the headline.
And consider the choice offered respondents left out of the headline:
21 per cent who chose to complete the city's $1.8-billion waste-water upgrade
Based on a survey of 600 people, the margin of error is around 4%. (Of course that's only because Google told us, Probe hasn't bothered posting this survey online yet.) Statistically, transit and the water plant are tied.
So for the headline writer to pick "transit" as a "top concern", and ignore the dead-heat with the waste-water plant, and trumpet the 'younger people evenly split' angle with no actual proof provided, is indicative of how the gatekeepers assume that no one will actually read and analyze the story -- but everyone will read the headline and accept it as fact.
How long will it take for some rapid transit lobbyist or green-leaning politician to cite this bogus story and headline as gospel and try to leverage more money towards their pet project at a photo-op, taking funding and attention away from the undisputed "top concern" - fixing our crumbling roads and bridges so that our cars don't sustain busted shocks and bent frames.
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Former Freep crime and court specialist James Turner is making his mark on the web with the detailed ongoing coverage about youth crime and gangs, that he used to file over on Mountain Ave.
Check it out - www.jamesturner.ca
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Many thanks to Red River College president Jeff Zabudsky for explaining the recent recommendations of the Vehicle Standards Advisory Board which he was a member of. He's also taken on an appointment to the Innovation Council, and is incoming chairman of the United Way campaign. Now that's busy! Yesterday's interview will be replayed next Tuesday night at 11 PM, or can be found at our archives thru the Kick-FM website.
Today: Kelly Dehn of CTV with Crimewatch, and we also have details of a First Nations band audit that points to a possible financial crisis.
Thursday: Jon Waldman of Slam!Sports reviews Wrestlemania 25 and plugs his new book.
Good Friday: A Special TGCTS episode: The Gail Glesby Story.
Next week:
- NHL playoff predictions with Scott Taylor on Tuesday,
- the value of youth soccer as a community builder on Wednesday after 5 PM with Rocky Moudgill of WYSA,
- and next Thursday at 4.15 PM, family law expert Jack King.
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Moses and Aaron went to the Pharaoh and said to him "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: "Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert."
HAPPY PASSOVER !!
