Blog

Budget 2021 Webinar

April 09, 2021 5:24 PM

Alberta's 2021 provincial budget was passed on February 25, and despite promises from the UCP government that health care would be the priority, it was clear that this budget was a disingenuous attempt to cover the privatization of our health care. If we have learned anything from this pandemic, it should be that we all depend on well funded, staffed and resourced public health care. Albertans need a more responsive public health care system, and that can only be achieved by improving and expanding our current system, not by imposing private, for-profit alternatives.

National LTC Standards legal opinion

March 22, 2021 9:37 AM

On March 22, advocates representing more than a million Canadians came together to demand that the federal government and provinces work together to establish national standards for long-term residential care. The groups released a legal opinion setting out a proposal for a commitment from the federal government to ongoing funding for long-term care with clear criteria requiring the provinces to improve quality, accountability and take profit out of seniors’ care.

Pharmacare: The Time is NOW!

February 19, 2021 1:25 PM

On February 17, Friends of Medicare and Manitoba Health Coalition cohosted this webinar to discuss Canada's urgent need for a national, universal drug program, with guests Heather McPherson (MP for Edmonton-Strathcona) and Peter Julian (MP for New Westminster-Burnaby).

It's Time to Reimagine Continuing Care - Learn More

January 22, 2021 10:39 AM

On January 20, 2020, Friends of Medicare and Public Interest Alberta's Seniors' Task Force co-hosted this webinar. We were excited to be joined by guest speakers and seniors' care experts Dr. Margaret McGregor, Dr. Pat Armstrong, and Dr. Rebecca Graff-McRae (moderating) for this important and timely online conversation about our continuing care system during COVID-19 and beyond.

See the video recording, and additional resources from our panelists below!

2020 in review

December 21, 2020 11:07 AM

A year in review, from our Executive Director:

By Sandra Azocar, December 21, 2020

As 2020 winds down, I look back with appreciation at everything that Alberta’s public services have accomplished to keep Albertans healthy and safe. When this year began, we could not have imagined the challenges we would face with a global pandemic and the impact it would have on the people of Alberta. We had to adapt quickly, and the resolve, professionalism and commitment shown by health care workers and all essential workers to maintaining vital services was truly impressive.

Make Revera Public!

December 16, 2020 12:00 PM

Seniors living in continuing care have suffered the greatest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, and Alberta is no exception. Across the country, companies are failing to hire enough staff, and to implement necessary protections to keep residents safe. If nothing changes, 2,000 more people in continuing care in Canada are expected to die by year's end.

Bill 204 Fact Check

November 10, 2020 1:53 PM

Friends of Medicare and other Albertans concerned about the impact Bill 204 will have on our public blood system have been contacting Tany Yao and their MLAs to urge them not to allow this dangerous bill to pass. In response they have been receiving the following standard template letter from both MLA Yao and other UCP MLAs, containing factual errors and misinformation. Friends of Medicare has fact checked this letter to set the record straight: Bill 204 won't help Albertan patients.

► Learn more about our public blood system & Bill 204

► Stand up for our public blood system!