News
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FOM stands solidarity with nurses for patient safety
EDMONTON — Friends of Medicare stands in solidarity today with the United Nurses of Alberta, as they stand up for patient care with information pickets at hospitals and health facilities across the province.
Albertans have seen firsthand how invaluable nurses and all their health care colleagues have been to our province throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet health care workers have seen continued disrespect from the provincial government, culminating in recent attempts to slash their wages.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 11, 2021 -
Enough is Enough
EDMONTON
August 3, 2021
Enough is Enough! Friends of Medicare protests removal of Alberta's public health measures
For the past 4 days, Albertans have been coming together to say Enough is Enough! Ongoing protests have been held each day in Calgary and Edmonton against this government’s reckless decision to end the most basic public health measures we have to deal with COVID-19 and the variants facing the province, Canada, and the world.The Alberta government has announced that by August 16 they will:- End nearly all public health measures, including masking;
- Close all testing centres;
- Require those with serious symptoms to get tested at a doctor's office or the Emergency Unit at a hospital;
- Largely do away with tracing contacts of people infected with COVID-19;
- Remove isolation requirements for people who test positive;
- Stop asking people with mild symptoms to get tested; and,
- Stop issuing medical data on COVID-19.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 03, 2021 -
Friends of Medicare stands with Capital Care and Carewest workers
Friends of Medicare stands with health care workers from Capital Care and Carewest protesting the expected sale of Alberta’s public Long-Term Care facilities. We join members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Local 049 today at their noon-hour rally in opposition to the Alberta government’s continued privatization of Alberta’s continuing care.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
July 29, 2021 -
Continuing care announcement is the “no-money miracle’ approach
EDMONTON — Today, Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced the allocation of $400 million in operational funding over four years, for 6,000 continuing care beds across the province. Of these, 2,200 will be new beds, and the remaining 3,800 will be refurbished or renovated from existing “underutilized” spaces in private facilities.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
July 09, 2021 -
Government applauds nurses, cuts their wages in the same breath
EDMONTON — Yesterday, Finance Minister Travis Toews announced that the government would be moving forward with plans to cut salaries of Alberta’s nurses. The newly proposed 3% salary rollback comes in addition to previously announced rollbacks, in the form of reduced shift and weekend premiums. All together, Alberta’s nurses are facing at least 5% compensation reduction.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
July 07, 2021 -
Albertans for Ethical Drug Policy demand end to Alberta’s war on harm reduction
CALGARY - June 26 is the Global Day of Action Against Oppressive Drug Policy, Support, Don’t Punish. Today, Albertans are coming together at for the YYC Day of Action, to commemorate and remember the lives that have been lost as a result of this ongoing opioid pandemic, and to call on this government to stop the unjust assault on harm reduction services.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
June 28, 2021 -
Bill 70 gives dangerous liability shield to for-profit seniors’ care providers during global pandemic
EDMONTON — Friends of Medicare and Public Interest Alberta join organizations from civil society, labour, and senior citizens representing hundreds of thousands of Albertans speaking out against Bill 70: COVID Related Measures Act, which is expected to be voted on by the Legislative Assembly today. Twenty-three (23) organizations have signed an open letter to demand that this legislation not be passed into law because of the dangers it poses to Alberta seniors and their families. The letter was emailed to Premier Kenney, Minister of Health, Tyler Shandro and UCP MLA Richard Gotfried, the sponsor of this bill. The open letter will be tabled today in the Alberta Legislature by MLA Christina Grey, Critic for Labour and Immigration & Official Opposition House Leader.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
June 16, 2021 -
Govt review of AB's continuing care system simply changes who pays, who benefits
June 1, 2021
EDMONTON
Government review of Alberta's continuing care system simply changes who pays, and who benefits
Yesterday, the Minister of Health and MLA Richard Gotfried announced the release of the final report of the Facility Based Continuing (FBCC) Review Panel. This 15 member panel was appointed by the health minister to discuss issues relating to the FBCC Review, being conducted by MNP LLP, a chartered accountancy and business advisory firm. This review is intended to serve as a reference for the impending legislative review which will see the consolidation of 15 pieces of current legislation that oversee our current continuing care system.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
June 01, 2021 -
Friends of Medicare's statement in recognition of National Nursing Week 2021
Nurses deserve to be valued and respected beyond National Nursing Week
May 10th to 16th marks this year’s National Nursing Week. Friends of Medicare would like to take this opportunity to recognize the instrumental role that nurses play throughout every aspect of our health care system—a role that has been amplified and become all the more vital as we battle the disastrous consequences of a worldwide pandemic.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
May 11, 2021 -
Privatization & profiteering continues as K-Bro is awarded sole contract for laundry & linen services in Alberta
April 27, 2021
EDMONTON
Privatization & profiteering continues as K-Bro is awarded sole contract for laundry & linen services in Alberta
Today, K-Bro Linen Inc. announced that they had been named the successful bidders for the Request for Proposals put out by Alberta Health Services in October 2020. They will become the sole providers of laundry services for AHS across the province of Alberta. While this news comes as no surprise, it is a disappointing indication that this government is bent on perpetuating privatization experiments within our public health care system.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
April 27, 2021