News
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Opinion: Alberta's public health care isn’t broken; it’s being dismantled
This Op Ed by FOM's Executive Director, Chris Gallaway, originally appeared in the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald on February 15, 2022.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 16, 2022 -
Solidarity with Striking University of Lethbridge Faculty
Solidarity with Striking University of Lethbridge Faculty
Friends of Medicare stands in solidarity with University of Lethbridge Faculty Association members who are now on strike
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 10, 2022 -
Removing COVID-19 protections is a short-sighted decision based on politics, not evidence
February 8, 2022
EDMONTON
Removing COVID-19 protections is a short-sighted decision based on politics, not evidence
Although the Premier insists it will be “a careful and prudent plan,” the government’s track record suggests otherwise
Today, Premier Jason Kenney revealed via Tweet that he will be announcing his government’s plan to lift Alberta’s public health measures. Last summer the government tried a similar approach, leaving Albertans needlessly vulnerable.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 08, 2022 -
Health Care Workers Deserve Our Respect – Not Bullying and Intimidation
Health Care Workers Deserve Our Respect – Not Bullying and Intimidation
Statement from Friends of Medicare’s Executive Director, Chris Gallaway, in response to planned protests this weekend:
The news of plans for the escalation of protests around Alberta hospitals and medical facilities this weekend is deeply concerning. Our front-line health care workers have spent the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic going above and beyond, keeping our public health care system going, and protecting Albertans. Health care workers deserve our respect and support, and our thanks for their vital service.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 04, 2022 -
Any new federal health funding must be targeted towards stronger public health care in Alberta
Premiers' demand for federal dollars through increased Canada Health Transfer must have strings attached to ensure it goes to improving health care for all
The Council of the Federation, made up of the 13 provincial and territorial premiers, are meeting tomorrow with a focus on their united push for an increase in the Canada Health Transfer that the Federal government provides. Over the past two years, many of the premiers have used the ongoing pandemic as a justification to call for an unconditional increase in health funding.“Even during this global pandemic our provincial UCP government has repeatedly shown they can’t be trusted to prioritize our public health care system over their ideological push for corporate tax cuts, layoffs, funding cuts and privatization,” said Chris Gallaway, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 03, 2022 -
Community Laboratory Services Deal Puts Private Profit over Public Health Care
January 28, 2022
EDMONTON
Community Laboratory Services Deal Puts Private Profit over Public Health Care
Today, Albertans have learned that our public community medical laboratory services have been sold off to DynaLIFE Medical Labs, a private, for-profit company. The contract is slated to begin July 1, and will impact communities all across the province. The change could impact the jobs of as many as 1,400 laboratory workers – it is unclear what it will mean for workers’ pensions.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
January 28, 2022 -
Shocking outbreak numbers highlight government's failure to protect seniors during Omicron wave
January 27, 2022EDMONTON
Shocking outbreak numbers highlight government's failure to protect seniors during Omicron wave
Over 100 positive COVID-19 cases in Chartwell Griesbach Retirement Residence – just one of hundreds of outbreaks in Long Term Care and Designated Supportive Living facilities in Alberta
The fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on our communities, our health care system and our seniors’ care system. As with each prior wave, it is the residents and workers of continuing care facilities who are bearing the brunt of this burden. As of January 25, the Government of Alberta COVID-19 Outbreak Tracker shows 110 Long-Term Care Facilities and 195 Supporting Living Facilities with active COVID-19 outbreaks. While the government’s tracker does not show the number of staff or residents impacted in each of these outbreaks, documents obtained by Friends of Medicare show that at least one facility has surpassed 100 positive cases.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
January 27, 2022 -
Privatization is not the solution to Alberta’s EMS crisis
January 24, 2022
EDMONTON
Privatization is not the solution to Alberta’s EMS crisis
Today’s announcement reduces the EMS safety net while lining up more public health care dollars for private pockets
Emergency Medical Services in Alberta have been in crisis for months. Yet while health care workers, unions, community groups and Albertans have all been raising the alarm bells, the government has let the crisis continue to grow without a plan, until Alberta’s EMS services have reached a breaking point. Today's announcement by the government introducing their "10-point plan" was a far cry from the urgent action that is needed to repair the worsening capacity crisis facing Alberta's EMS.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
January 24, 2022 -
Friends of Medicare’s statement on the Federal Speech from the Throne
Following today’s Speech from the Throne, Friends of Medicare were disappointed to see an utter lack of movement towards the long-awaited expansion and much-needed improvement of our health care system. Particularly, we saw little direction as it pertains to the implementation of universal Pharmacare, taking profits out of Long-Term Care, and investing in better and public mental health care. We had also hoped to see an indication of a permanent fix to Employment Insurance by ensuring that paid sick days for all workers is the rule and not the exemption.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
November 23, 2021 -
Enough is Enough: No time left for political foot-dragging
September 30, 2021
EDMONTON
Enough is Enough: No time left for political foot-dragging
The last two press conferences held by Premier Jason Kenney and Minister of Health Jason Copping have been filled with what Premier Kenney does best: non-answers, inconsistent with what Albertans actually need to stop this devastating fourth wave. In his many non-responses to media questions, our Premier continuously compared our province’s current COVID-19 numbers with those of other jurisdictions in this and previous waves, downplaying the true gravity of our present situation.
“Kenney may be optimistic about our case numbers and hospital admissions appearing to have plateaued, but that’s not the outlook Albertans have been hearing from our health care workers and patients across the province,” says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. “These are the same levels that have already been overwhelming our health care system. This is not sustainable and we can’t keep on like this.”
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 30, 2021
