News

Shocking outbreak numbers highlight government's failure to protect seniors during Omicron wave

Over 100 positive COVID-19 cases in Chartwell Griesbach Retirement Residence – just one of hundreds of outbreaks in Long Term Care and Designated Supportive Living facilities in Alberta

EDMONTON — The fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on our communities, our health care system and our seniors’ care system. As with each prior wave, it is the residents and workers of continuing care facilities who are bearing the brunt of this burden. As of January 25, the Government of Alberta COVID-19 Outbreak Tracker shows 110 Long-Term Care Facilities and 195 Supporting Living Facilities with active COVID-19 outbreaks. While the government’s tracker does not show the number of staff or residents impacted in each of these outbreaks, documents obtained by Friends of Medicare show that at least one facility has surpassed 100 positive cases.

Fom Friends of Medicare

Written by
January 27, 2022

  • Shocking outbreak numbers highlight government's failure to protect seniors during Omicron wave

    Over 100 positive COVID-19 cases in Chartwell Griesbach Retirement Residence – just one of hundreds of outbreaks in Long Term Care and Designated Supportive Living facilities in Alberta

    EDMONTON — The fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on our communities, our health care system and our seniors’ care system. As with each prior wave, it is the residents and workers of continuing care facilities who are bearing the brunt of this burden. As of January 25, the Government of Alberta COVID-19 Outbreak Tracker shows 110 Long-Term Care Facilities and 195 Supporting Living Facilities with active COVID-19 outbreaks. While the government’s tracker does not show the number of staff or residents impacted in each of these outbreaks, documents obtained by Friends of Medicare show that at least one facility has surpassed 100 positive cases.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    January 27, 2022

  • Privatization is not the solution to Alberta’s EMS crisis

    Today’s announcement reduces the EMS safety net while lining up more public health care dollars for private pockets

    EDMONTON -- Emergency Medical Services in Alberta have been in crisis for months. Yet while health care workers, unions, community groups and Albertans have all been raising the alarm bells, the government has let the crisis continue to grow without a plan, until Alberta’s EMS services have reached a breaking point. Today's announcement by the government introducing their "10-point plan"  was a far cry from the urgent action that is needed to repair the worsening capacity crisis facing Alberta's EMS.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    January 24, 2022

  • Friends of Medicare’s statement on the Federal Speech from the Throne

    EDMONTON — Following today’s Speech from the Throne, Friends of Medicare were disappointed to see an utter lack of movement towards the long-awaited expansion and much-needed improvement of our health care system. Particularly, we saw little direction as it pertains to the implementation of universal Pharmacare, taking profits out of Long-Term Care, and investing in better and public mental health care. We had also hoped to see an indication of a permanent fix to Employment Insurance by ensuring that paid sick days for all workers is the rule and not the exemption.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    November 23, 2021

  • Enough is Enough: No time left for political foot-dragging

    EDMONTON — The last two press conferences held by Premier Jason Kenney and Minister of Health Jason Copping have been filled with what Premier Kenney does best: non-answers, inconsistent with what Albertans actually need to stop this devastating fourth wave. In his many non-responses to media questions, our Premier continuously compared our province’s current COVID-19 numbers with those of other jurisdictions in this and previous waves, downplaying the true gravity of our present situation. 

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    September 30, 2021

  • Government continues to play political games with our health care and our lives

    EDMONTON — Over the weekend, Albertans saw their leadership once again engage in political games with our lives, gaslighting and projecting their own negligence onto others. This time, Alberta Health Services' leadership has been called into question, specifically Dr. Yiu, AHS’ CEO and President.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    September 28, 2021

  • Cabinet Shuffle September 2021

    EDMONTON — Today the Alberta government saw its second cabinet shuffle in less than three months. This time, Premier Kenney has named a new Health Minister: Jason Copping, MLA for Calgary-Varsity and previously, the Minister of Labour and Immigration. 

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    September 21, 2021

  • 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.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    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.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    September 08, 2021

  • Health Advocates to Kenney: Show up and do your job

    September 1st, 2021
    EDMONTON

    Health Advocates to Kenney: Show up and do your job
    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.
     
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    September 07, 2021

  • Provincial Health Coalitions Put Federal Parties on Notice

    August 19, 2021  For Immediate Release

    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.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    August 19, 2021