News
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Government once again fails to put in measures to immediately meet the health care capacity crisis
September 10, 2021
EDMONTON
Government once again fails to put in measures to immediately meet the health care capacity crisis
Yesterday’s announcement from Health Minister Tyler Shandro regarding our health care system capacity failed to introduce any new public health measures to address the growing number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the province.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 10, 2021 -
Government's latest proposal continues to let down front-line workers and patients
September 8, 2021
EDMONTON
Government's latest proposal continues to let down front-line workers and patients
While the government’s latest proposal in the ongoing negotiations with the United Nurses of Alberta rescinds their previous plans to cut wages by three percent, they continue to undermine nurses’ value by rolling back compensation through other areas of their collective agreement, in what would amount to an immediate pay cut of two percent for Alberta's nurses.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 08, 2021 -
Health Advocates to Kenney: Show up and do your job
September 1st, 2021EDMONTONFriends of Medicare are calling for Alberta’s missing Premier, Health Minister, and Chief Medical Officer of Health to show up to work, do their job, and take action to save lives and our health care system.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 07, 2021 -
Provincial Health Coalitions Put Federal Parties on Notice
Provincial Health Coalitions Put Federal Parties on Notice: Canadians Demand Real Action to Fix Long-Term Care
(Canada-wide) - With a federal election called for September 20, provincial Health Coalitions across Canada are putting all federal political parties on notice. The federal government could have already set real national standards for long-term care in legislation or an emergency federal-provincial-territorial funding accord with sufficient funding attached to leverage real change. Instead, nothing has happened. Canadians expect all political parties to commit to bring in national standards for long-term care as a matter of national priority.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 19, 2021 -
Government continues to disrespect Alberta’s front-line workers
August 16, 2021
EDMONTONLate last week, Albertans learned that Alberta Health Services is contemplating plans to address nursing shortages by hiring contract nurses. AHS has been in ongoing negotiations with United Nurses of Alberta, and has proposed a 3% pay cut for the nurses it employs, which the UCP government has claimed is necessary in order to get Alberta’s finances “back on track.” Now we see that they are considering offers from Greenstaff Medical Canada to contract nurses for $55-$75 an hour — compared to $36.86-$48.37 per hour earned by AHS nurses currently.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 16, 2021 -
The power of the people can never be underestimated—Even under this reckless government
August 13, 2021
EDMONTON
The power of the people can never be underestimated—Even under this reckless government
After 15 straight days of protesting the government’s reckless decision to remove Alberta’s most basic and necessary COVID-19 protections, the government has finally taken notice, and moved to “pause” the removal of these protections for 6 weeks, until September 27.
“Today the voices of Albertans proved louder than the irresponsibility of our government. Albertans have shown that we’re able to protect each other when the government won’t,” stated Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. “Faced with a government that has given up on providing leadership and making difficult decisions, Albertans have demonstrated that we truly are in this together when it comes time to protect each other, our children and the most vulnerable.”
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 13, 2021 -
The old boy’s club is alive and well in Alberta’s health care
August 12, 2021
EDMONTON
The old boy’s club is alive and well in Alberta’s health care
Alberta Health Services has managed to largely avoid the scrutiny of Albertans after many years of instability and costly reorganizations. But now, this government has made clear that they are willing to compromise that, via the appointment of privatization ideologues to the AHS board.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 12, 2021 -
FOM stands solidarity with nurses for patient safety
EDMONTON
August 11, 2021
Friends of Medicare stands in solidarity with nurses for patient safety
Friends of Medicare stands in solidarity today with the United Nurses of Alberta, as they stand up for patient care with information pickets at hospitals and health facilities across the province.Albertans have seen firsthand how invaluable nurses and all their health care colleagues have been to our province throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet health care workers have seen continued disrespect from the provincial government, culminating in recent attempts to slash their wages.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 11, 2021 -
Enough is Enough
EDMONTON
August 3, 2021
Enough is Enough! Friends of Medicare protests removal of Alberta's public health measures
For the past 4 days, Albertans have been coming together to say Enough is Enough! Ongoing protests have been held each day in Calgary and Edmonton against this government’s reckless decision to end the most basic public health measures we have to deal with COVID-19 and the variants facing the province, Canada, and the world.The Alberta government has announced that by August 16 they will:- End nearly all public health measures, including masking;
- Close all testing centres;
- Require those with serious symptoms to get tested at a doctor's office or the Emergency Unit at a hospital;
- Largely do away with tracing contacts of people infected with COVID-19;
- Remove isolation requirements for people who test positive;
- Stop asking people with mild symptoms to get tested; and,
- Stop issuing medical data on COVID-19.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 03, 2021 -
Friends of Medicare stands with Capital Care and Carewest workers
EDMONTON
July 29, 2021
Friends of Medicare stands with Capital Care and Carewest workers
Friends of Medicare stands with health care workers from Capital Care and Carewest protesting the expected sale of Alberta’s public Long-Term Care facilities. We join members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Local 049 today at their noon-hour rally in opposition to the Alberta government’s continued privatization of Alberta’s continuing care.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
July 29, 2021
