KLEIN: Unacceptable! Neglect costs woman a limb while Health Minister dances on social media

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As a Manitoban, I am both disappointed and embarrassed by the recent actions of a Minister in the Government of Manitoba. The behaviour exhibited by Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara is unbecoming of someone holding such an honourable position.

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Premier Wab Kinew must act decisively by removing this Minister from their role and ensuring that all members of his caucus conduct themselves professionally and with respect for all Manitobans.

While a Winnipeg woman endured unimaginable pain and ultimately lost her leg due to delays and neglect in our health care system, the Health Minister thought it appropriate to post a video of herself dancing on social media, accompanied by a frivolous caption about loving your daughter.

This tone-deaf display is a slap in the face to Manitobans who are struggling with a failing healthcare system. It is unprofessional, insensitive, and utterly unacceptable for someone tasked with overseeing the health and well-being of our province.

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The story of Dan Milburn and his wife, Rosanne, illustrates the dire state of healthcare in Manitoba. Rosanne suffered complications from a surgery at the Health Sciences Centre, resulting in an open wound that remained untreated for days due to a lack of available beds. Despite repeated attempts to get help — including daily emails to Health Minister Asagwara’s office for eight consecutive days — Dan received only reassurances from staff that proved to be empty promises. His wife’s condition deteriorated, leading to the eventual amputation of her leg.

Dan’s frustration is palpable. He took to social media to express his despair, detailing the harrowing experience his wife endured. “Look who is now going on her third day with an open wound with still no bed for her at HSC,” he wrote. “The surgeon who opened her up said the dressing wasn’t meant to be on this long and would have never done it if he knew that the doctor at HSC didn’t have a plan.” His pleas fell on deaf ears, and his wife Rosanne paid the price for the system’s failures.

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When I spoke with Dan, he told me how shocked he was to see the Asagwara’s insensitive dancing video. “The video shows she doesn’t take her job seriously. It was very unprofessional,” he said. Out of consideration for Rosanne’s emotional state, he decided not to show her the video, knowing it would crush her spirits.

“People are going to have to pay,” Dan said, expressing his frustration with the lack of accountability. “No apology from anyone. Nothing from the Health Minister (Asagwara) since my wife lost her leg.” His words echo the sentiments of countless Manitobans who are fed up with a system that is failing them, all while their elected officials engage in frivolous activities and activism.

As Minister Asagwara plays around on TikTok, Manitobans are enduring longer wait times, insufficient staffing, and critical gaps in emergency medical services. Over the holidays, many communities outside Winnipeg are concerned that they will not have access to emergency services due to staffing shortages. Yet, somehow, Asagwara found time to post a dancing video on social media. The optics are appalling, insulting, and unprofessional.

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Meanwhile, resources are being allocated to initiatives like free birth control and gender-affirming surgeries, including facial feminization and vocal surgery. While these may be important to some, the NDP has failed to provide substantial evidence that they have addressed the core issues plaguing our healthcare system.

The unions who worked tirelessly and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to get this NDP Government elected now report that nurses are overworked, stressed, and leaving the profession in search of better opportunities. Where are the additional nurses and doctors that were promised? Where is the evidence of reduced wait times? Where is the accountability?

This display on TikTok demands an apology to all Manitobans who are suffering while they wait for necessary medical treatment. Premier Wab Kinew must reprimand and remove this Minister and ensure that his team conducts themselves with the professionalism and respect that their offices demand. A TikTok video apologizing to Dan’s wife and others like her who have suffered due to the system’s failings would be more appropriate than the self-serving content we’ve seen.

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The position of a government minister is not a platform for boosting personal egos on social media. It is a position of immense responsibility and privilege, one that should be treated with the utmost seriousness.

Politicians have limited time in office, and they should use that time to deliver on their promises and serve the people who elected them. Minister Asagwara’s legacy should not be defined by a viral TikTok video but by tangible improvements in Manitoba’s healthcare system — improvements that, so far, are nowhere to be seen.

Manitobans deserve better. They deserve leaders who are committed to addressing their needs, not ones who prioritize social media antics over meaningful action.

This behaviour is unbecoming of any professional, let alone an elected official entrusted with the care of an entire province’s health system. Representing the Crown demands a level of decorum and professionalism that has clearly been forgotten. The actions of this Minister are a disservice to the office she holds and to the people she serves.

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It’s hard to imagine the outrage that would have ensued if this had been a Conservative minister. The NDP’s “bully brigade” would have unleashed an all-out social media attack from every angle, demanding resignations and accountability. Yet, when it’s one of their own, the silence is deafening.

Premier Kinew, it is time to get your house in order. Fire Minister Asagwara and demand that your team respects their positions and the people they serve — all Manitobans. This is not about political affiliation or ideology. It’s about ensuring that those in power act with integrity, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to serving the people. Anything less is unacceptable.

— Kevin Klein is a former Tory cabinet minister, a former city councillor and President & CEO of Klein Group Ltd.

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