Seniors, health care advocacy groups concerned about continuing care changes this fall

EDMONTON – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) Women’s Committee launches an awareness and letter  campaign Strike a Change for Alberta Seniors, as Alberta’s Health Minister continues to roll out changes to Continuing Care.

EDMONTON — This past Friday, the provincial government announced that they were shutting down the long-COVID outpatient programs, meaning that the clinics in Alberta dedicated to treating people suffering from long-COVID will be closing. The letter from Alberta Health Services informing patients of the closure suggests that they should contact their primary care provider to determine if they require additional resources. This at a time when over 650,000 Albertans are without a family doctor.

EDMONTON — Earlier this year, the government informed the Airdrie Health Foundation that the long-overdue expansion and renovation of the Airdrie Community Health Centre had been paused in order for them to consider a proposal to add a private partner to the public facility. Following much outcry from Albertans, the government announced the public project was back under way.

EDMONTON — In recent weeks, Albertans have heard repeated, troubling news about the state of surgeries in our hospitals, first about 90 orthopedic surgeries out the Royal Alexandra Hospital were postponed, followed by the news that orthopedic surgeries at the facility have now been halted until August 11. The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) has also been raising the alarm over the frequency of general surgery diversions as a result of these ongoing staffing shortages, which have since expanded to include trauma care diversions. 

This Op-Ed by Friends of Medicare's executive director, Chris Gallaway, was originally published in the Edmonton Journal on July 18, 2024.

I was disappointed to read Health Minister Adriana LaGrange’s recent op-ed article, “Why Alberta is opting out of the federal dental care plan,” in which she continues to spread misinformation on dental care in Alberta, while attempting to justify the premier’s recent announcement that their government intends to try to take the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) away from Albertans.

This letter was written by Friends of Medicare's Leduc-Beaumont Chapter Chair, Cam Heenan, and was originally published in the Edmonton Journal and the Leduc Rep on July 16, 2024.

EDMONTON — As Canada’s premiers meet in Halifax this week for the annual Council of Federation, health care is once again one of the key agenda items. New Environics Research polling released by the Canadian Health Coalition today shows that people across Canada overwhelmingly support initiatives to support and expand public health care. 

Yesterday, Premier Danielle Smith informed the federal government that she wants to opt Alberta out of the new national dental care program.

EDMONTON — To date, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has already helped more than 100,000 Albertans access dental care who were previously unable to do so. This is on top of the tens of thousands of Alberta children who were helped by the interim children’s Canada Dental Benefit.

EDMONTON — June 26 is the Global Day of Action for the Support Don’t Punish campaign. In Edmonton, Friends of Medicare will be joining other advocates and community members gathering at 12:00 noon at Churchill Square today for a rally and march in opposition to the UCP government’s proposed forced treatment legislation, and in support of evidence-based voluntary treatment options in Alberta, including harm reduction services.

EDMONTON — Friends of Medicare is calling on members of the Senate to support the timely passing of Bill C-64: An Act Respecting Pharmacare before the summer break, so that the government may quickly move forward with implementation of a national Pharmacare plan, which will include universal, single-payer coverage of contraceptives and diabetes medication and equipment.