January 15, 2016
Province To Expand Bilingual Health Services In St. Boniface This Spring
– – –Increasing Access to Front-line Bilingual Services Important for Francophone Community: Premier Selinger
The construction of the new accès access Saint-Boniface will be completed this spring and ready to offer quality services to French-speaking Manitobans soon after, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“This new accès access Saint-Boniface will augment community health and social services available to the francophone community,” said Premier Selinger. “Offering services in the community’s language of choice is in line with our commitment to the French Language Service policy and our government is proud to see this project nearing completion.”
The Manitoba government provided $8.9 million to develop the new centre, with additional funding for staffing and operations. Several health and community organizations will move into the new building once the construction is completed. The centre will be fully accessible and designed to support people with disabilities.
”We are excited for this opportunity to strengthen our existing partnership with Centre de Santé,” said Milton Sussman, president and CEO, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA). “Appropriate access to the health services Winnipeggers need is a priority for the WRHA. I am excited to be able to reach more residents in St. Boniface and St. Vital through this centre and to be able to serve them in English and in French.”
The premier noted that accès access St. Boniface will be part of Manitoba’s My Health Teams initiative, bringing together teams of care providers, including local family physicians, to work with patients and make sure they are able to receive a broader range of services when they need it.
“Centre de Santé is looking forward to expanding its services,” said Monique Constant, director, Centre de Santé and WRHA. “Having a family care provider and access to all manner of services under one roof will make a big difference for many families in the St. Boniface and St. Vital area.”
The premier added the centre will offer services to community resources that support adults with intellectual disabilities and to children and families through children’s and community living disABILITY services. Manitoba Family Services will also offer employment and training supports for people with disabilities as well as employment and income assistance. The Saint Boniface Bilingual Services Centre, which offers government services in partnership with Service Canada and the City of Winnipeg, will also be located in this building.
“This will mean better access to bilingual services in the health and social services area, as well as broader government services, under one roof for a diverse and growing population,” said Premier Selinger.
There are currently five ACCESS Centers in Winnipeg, including ACCESS River East, ACCESS Transcona, ACCESS NorWest, ACCESS Downtown, and ACCESS Winnipeg West as well as several integrated health and social service centres.
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