Plans for the new Portage la Prairie District General Hospital do not include a permanent MRI machine when things open up. However, Portage MLA Ian Wishart says that doesn't mean MRI service will not be available.

"In the throne speech, they talked about having some portable MRIs," explains Wishart. "We don't quite know how that will play out. It is interesting. It's in sort of a new variable. I frankly find it hard to believe. MRI machines strike me as not terribly portable, but they say they can, and they're going to give them a try."

In response to the RHA noting that the population according to the census for Portage to allow for the usual MRI machine, Wishart says the census count is not realistic, and the City has appealed that number.

"The city appealed the census numbers because they get money based on the number of their population from the federal government, and the census didn't show much growth," says Wishart. "Of course, most of us know that there's been a lot of building around Portage. There are 200 more kids in the school last year. Where did they come from? Nobody changed the catchment area or anything like that. If there are 200 more kids, then there must be adults to go with them, right?"

Wishart says it takes quite some time to go through the census appeals process, but that's been initiated. 

"I just don't know what the finding is going to be and they're all keen to know, but it's a federal issue and I don't have any insight into that at all, really," adds Wishart. 

He says the big variable in the MRI decision is they're planning to use the portable versions, and local pressure may cause the RHA to give in, and implement a permanent MRI machine. Wishart notes it's undetermined at this point.

"It will be a year-and-a-half before the hospital is open and at that time, I expect we'll have them on the road," says Wishart. 

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