September 1st, 2021
EDMONTON
Friends 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.
“Part of the job of these public officials is to answer questions from our citizens and media,” said Executive Director Sandra Azocar. “Instead of hiding on social media, they should do what health care workers and Albertans are expected to do - show up and do the job they’re being paid for.”
In the weeks long absence of Kenney, Shandro, and Hinshaw from media scrutiny, Alberta’s 4th wave has worsened, more people are dying of COVID-19, and our hospital wards and intensive care units are buckling under the strain.
Their words and action are needed. Here are things Albertans and Friends of Medicare are expecting to hear from them when they show up to do their job:
- Provide Albertans with a clear plan to mitigate this current health crisis they helped to create. A plan that has clear metrics of measuring progress and being made based on the best possible medical evidence, not left up to political whims.
- Reinstate and expand contact tracing including with school boards, and the release of outbreak data as it is received.
- Reinstate a provincial mask mandate with metrics for when it will be initiated and concluded.
- An actual vaccine outreach plan that will ensure that all Albertans have ongoing access to vaccination, this should include community and workplace clinics, and expanding the vaccine paid sick time legislation to include paid sick time for anyone experiencing side effects after their shot.
- Finally, Albertans deserve an apology and a recognition that our government was short sighted and wrong to say, “they did not see a scenario like this”.
Albertans rose up and protested for 16 consecutive days, demanding that this government reinstate testing, tracing, and isolation and to take this 4th wave seriously.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw has not made any public appearances since August 13th, when she walked back the plan to abandon testing, tracing and isolation requirements until September 27th, 2021. At this point, she cited rising hospitalization rates that exceeded projections by more than 60 percent.
“Instead of proactive measures to contain the 4th wave, we’ve seen bed closures, cancellations of elective surgeries, serious staff shortages, and responsibility passed on to school boards and municipalities to protect public health,” said Azocar. “This shameful negligence must stop. If Kenney, Shandro, and Hinshaw are unwilling to do their jobs, they should resign.”
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