September 1, 2020
EDMONTON

AB government doubles down on the sale of seniors’ care to profit

Today’s announcement by Premier Kenney and Health Minister Shandro, boasting a ‘new approach’ to creating continuing care spaces featured nothing of the sort. Instead, what we’re seeing is this government perpetuating the same old system that has been in crisis for decades. A crisis that is the direct result of rampant privatization, and a funding structure that creates incentives for both not-for-profit and especially for-profit providers to underpay their staff, and understaff their facilities.

“It is beyond comprehension as to why this government refuses to learn from the ongoing public health emergency that is COVID-19, despite the glaring light it has cast onto the long-existing cracks and weakness in our senior’s care system,” says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.

On August 31, 2020—a day marking both International Overdose Awareness Day and the closure of North America's busiest supervised consumption site—over 200 harm reduction supporters and advocates signed an open letter to the Alberta government to denounce the decision to cut all funding to and close Lethbridge’s SCS, and urge them to immediately reverse the decision and reinstate appropriate funding and support new leadership to scale up SCS in Lethbridge.

Read that letter in it's entirety here:

August 31, 2020
EDMONTON

On International Overdose Awareness Day Albertans must also mourn the loss of Lethbridge's SCS

Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember the Albertans who have died of overdose, and send out our solidarity to the parents, grandparents, children, families, and friends of those who have lost their lives. 

Ironically, while we remember and mourn, we must simultaneously watch this government move ahead with the closure of ARCHES, North America’s busiest supervised consumption site (SCS). ARCHES, located in Lethbridge, was recently audited by the Alberta government, which found evidence of misallocation of public funds. In response, rather than to address the issue directly, the government has instead elected to cease all funding to ARCHES, and close the facility altogether. ARCHES’ SCS, which opened in early 2018, sees up to 800 visits a day, and provides many additional services including needle pickup, community outreach, and referrals to addictions treatment and other supports. The facility has been replaced for the time being by a mobile site with a 3 person capacity.

October 21, 2020
EDMONTON

Bill 204

Patients and health care workers in Alberta are suffering the impacts of a wide-spread short staffing crisis throughout our public health care system. But instead of listening to those on the front-lines and working to address it, our provincial government is pursuing an aggressive privatization agenda that will only make things worse.

August 10, 2020
EDMONTON

Backroom deals, political influence are dictating Alberta's health care

Today’s CBC story highlights the lengths that this government will go to in order to push their privatization agenda on Albertans. A new private orthopedic surgical facility—the largest ever in Alberta—has been proposed on the site of Ericksen Nissan, next to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, and has already gained the Minister of Health’s “tentative political support.” 

5 orthopedic surgeons, the Principal Advisor for the Minister of Health, lobbyists, and representatives from Ericksen Nissan have all come together, hired an architect and have had ongoing ready access to the Minister of Health. “This deal shows unequivocally how ideologically driven health care delivery objectives are mixing with political influence and interference in this province,” states Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. “Behind closed doors, away from any public accountability, scrutiny, or oversight, the Minister of Health has given ready access to those who seek to profit from the poor health of Albertans.”

On July 30, 2020, Friends of Medicare hosted an online discussion about the recently passed Bill 30 and it's impacts on both patients and health care workers. FOM's executive director Sandra Azocar, along with panelists Dr. Jillian Ratti and Dr. Lorian Hardcastle, sat down to explore the contents of Bill 30, discuss the ways that it opens the door to the privatization of our public health care, and answer questions from concerned Albertans.

 
Open Letter: Defunding Lethbridge ARCHES SCS

Bill 204 openly advertises the sale of blood in Alberta

On July 8, 2020 MLA Tany Yao introduced Bill 204: Voluntary Blood Donations Repeal Act. This work-shy, mere 3-page bill simply calls for the repeal of the Voluntary Blood Donations Act (2017). It offers no alternative to address our current dependency on US plasma-derived products, and no reason to necessitate this repeal, except to further this government’s never ending quest to privatize our public resources.

Friends of Medicare’s initial statement on Bill 30

July 6, 2020

The announcement of Bill 30: Health Statutes Amendment Act, made by Health Minister Tyler Shandro today, highlights this government’s demonstrated lack of commitment to Albertans’ public health care. If passed, the omnibus bill would make sweeping changes to Albertans’ health care, including repealing or changing 9 pieces of existing health legislation.

“Bill 30 represents yet another step in the systemic process of privatization that this government has been committed to since prior to the election,” says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. “It signals that this government is unable or unwilling to learn the necessary lessons from a pandemic that has made abundantly clear the importance of a responsive public health care system.”