News

Commemoration of one year anniversary of COVID-19 shows disproportionate toll pandemic has taken on AB’s seniors

EDMONTON — March 11, 2021 marks the one year anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, and seniors groups, labour groups, and advocacy groups are gathering outside of the Federal Building at the Legislature to install an visual representation of the lives we have lost to COVID-19, especially those of Alberta’s seniors who have been disproportionately affected. The visual will be a collection of roses, made by Erin Alyward, each one colour coded to show the age of the person we lost. The advocates and activists will also be joined by members of Alberta Arts Action Group, a group which blends arts and activism, who will sing and recite poetry as we mark this solemn occasion. 

Fom Friends of Medicare

Written by
March 11, 2021

  • Commemoration of one year anniversary of COVID-19 shows disproportionate toll pandemic has taken on AB’s seniors

    EDMONTON — March 11, 2021 marks the one year anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, and seniors groups, labour groups, and advocacy groups are gathering outside of the Federal Building at the Legislature to install an visual representation of the lives we have lost to COVID-19, especially those of Alberta’s seniors who have been disproportionately affected. The visual will be a collection of roses, made by Erin Alyward, each one colour coded to show the age of the person we lost. The advocates and activists will also be joined by members of Alberta Arts Action Group, a group which blends arts and activism, who will sing and recite poetry as we mark this solemn occasion. 

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    March 11, 2021

  • Alberta Budget 2021

    Just as Budget 2020 was pushed through with unrealistic forecasts for oil prices and subsequent unfeasible estimations for government revenue, Budget 2021 is being presented under the pretense of unrealistic forecasts for the health needs of Albertans. Quite simply, Budget 2021 is a cruel blow to our public health care system in favor of privatization.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    February 25, 2021

  • APWG: Bill C-213 important step towards a long-awaited national, universal Pharmacare

    EDMONTON - The Alberta Pharmacare Working Group (APWG) is encouraged by the tabling and subsequent debate of Bill C-213, An Act to Enact the Canada Pharmacare Act. If passed, this private member’s bill would create a framework for the implementation of a national pharmacare program modeled after the Canada Health Act, founded on the principles of public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability and accessibility. The Bill comes before the House of Commons in an historic vote tomorrow, February 24, 2021.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    February 23, 2021

  • Wage top-up signals calm before the storm for Alberta's essential workers

    February 10, 2021
    EDMONTON

    Wage top-up signals calm before the storm for Alberta's essential workers

    Friends of Medicare were relieved to learn today that the dedicated health care staff and essential workers of this province will finally be receiving wage top-ups after many months of waiting. During a press conference this afternoon, Premier Kenney and Minister of Labour Jason Copping announced that under Alberta’s Critical Worker Benefit 380,000 workers in both the public and private sector will receive a one-time top-up payment of $1200.

    “While Albertans continue to contend with the uncertainty of this pandemic, between the government's vaccine rollout and their decision to reopen bars and restaurants while we’re seeing unpredictable new variants, this is certainly great news for our vital workers, though considerably overdue,” says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    February 10, 2021

  • Residents & families can rest easy that homes for Albertans with disabilities will not be privatized

    After many months of waiting, Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social Services, announced today that the Alberta government will maintain the current service model for residential and personal care facilities for people with disabilities in Edmonton and Calgary.  Albertans who have called these Direct Operations sites their homes for years or decades will be able to remain there under public operation.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    January 29, 2021

  • Health Coalitions call for Federal Leadership to Defend Public Health Care

    Media Release
    For Immediate Release
    January 25, 2021

     

    Health Coalitions call for Federal Leadership to Defend Public Health Care

    (Edmonton) Seven health coalitions, representing concerned Canadians from PEI to British Columbia, are calling for stronger federal action on health care ahead of Monday’s opening of Parliament.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    January 25, 2021

  • Gov't action urgently needed amid deaths of AB health care workers

    EDMONTON — On behalf of Friends of Medicare’s board and staff, as well as our members and supporters across Alberta, we would like to extend our condolences to the family, friends and health care colleagues of the three health care providers who have now died from COVID-19. The devastating loss of these workers marks a crucial moment at which this government must act expediently to fulfil their responsibility to prevent any further deaths. 

    January 07, 2021

  • Albertans have lost trust in the government's travelling circus

    EDMONTON — Albertans have suffered and sacrificed greatly in the past several months, not least of all by cancelling holiday plans with friends and family as per government mandated public health restrictions. But we have done so with the understanding that these sacrifices were necessary to curb Alberta’s extraordinary COVID-19 numbers, which have surged massively over the past few months under the UCP government’s reluctance to implement the restrictions necessary to limit the spread. Worse still, as of December 29, our provincial COVID-19 death toll has tragically reached 1,046, according to the latest available data.
    January 04, 2021

  • Health Coalitions Call for Increased Federal Health Care Funding and Accountability

    Health Coalitions Call for Increased Federal Health Care Funding and Accountability

    Ottawa, December 10, 2020- On December 10, Canada’s premiers are meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to request an increase to federal funding for health care. Health coalitions from across the country support the call for a long-term increase to the Canada Health Transfer (CHT). This funding must be accompanied by a robust accountability framework to ensure that provinces and territories invest this money in public health care and uphold the Canada Health Act.
     
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    December 10, 2020

  • Alberta's seniors deserve accountability from government & continuing care operators

    EDMONTON — The Alberta government’s most recent announcement of new COVID-19 restrictions did little to promote the protection of seniors who reside in Alberta’s continuing care system. We heard nothing by way of a staffing plan to ensure that seniors receive much-needed care, or to address the shortages that will continue to be exacerbated by limitations set on families’ visitation.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    November 27, 2020