calgary_news
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DynaLIFE continues to fight its own workers as privatized labs struggle to provide lab services
Friends of Medicare stands in solidarity with laboratory workers in their fight for fairness
This morning, Alberta’s medical laboratory workers called on DynaLIFE to return to the bargaining table, and to commit to fairness. Lab workers provide incredibly important services to Albertans, essential for timely diagnostics and treatment. Yet once again, just like when DynaLIFE tried to take away their pension plan, this private company’s profits are being prioritized at the expense of working conditions, public oversight, and patient care. All while Alberta is facing a chronic short-staffing crisis throughout our health care system.
Written by Alyssa Pretty
April 20, 2023 -
Shift to Private Surgeries will only Worsen Health Care Staffing Challenges
Expanding the use of for-profit surgical centres in Calgary is making health care short staffing worse while failing to solve the surgical backlog
EDMONTON — This morning, Minister of Health Jason Copping announced an expanded use of private, for-profit surgical centres in Calgary. Friends of Medicare and others have already spoken out at length about the problems with the government’s Alberta Surgical Initiative and their unfounded claims that privatization will improve surgical wait times.
Written by Alyssa Pretty
January 23, 2023 -
Alberta’s 122,000 health-care workers insist on meeting with Health Minister
October 24, 2022
Members of Alberta’s major health-care unions are joining together to demand that the government of Alberta develop a plan to deal with the crisis in health care.
EDMONTON – Following the swearing-in of Premier Smith’s cabinet Alberta’s health-care unions are coming together to advocate that the government take steps to fully address the staffing crisis in health care.
Leaders of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) and the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) along with Friends of Medicare (FOM) are urging the newly announced cabinet to deliver a comprehensive plan to fix the health-care system which has been thrown into chaos by short-staffing.
Written by Alyssa Pretty
October 24, 2022 -
Another Day, Another Privatization Announcement from the UCP Government
When negotiations are concluded, Alberta Health Services will go from contracting out 40% of retail food services in Calgary and Edmonton to 100%.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 17, 2022 -
Albertans Rallying Together for Public Health Care
Friends of Medicare to participate in events in five cities calling on the provincial government to put people before profit
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
May 13, 2022 -
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.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 21, 2021 -
Albertans for Ethical Drug Policy demand end to Alberta’s war on harm reduction
Albertans for Ethical Drug Policy demand end to Alberta’s war on harm reduction
June 26, 2021
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.Albertans for Ethical Drug Policy, business owners and community members are marking this occasion with the release of a joint statement, to renew our calls to stop the unjust assault on harm reduction services. Harm reduction, including supervised consumption services (SCS) not only save lives, but they also help to keep people healthy, connect them with services, and ultimately saves money for the health system.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
June 28, 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 -
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.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
January 29, 2021 -
Friends of Medicare stands today in support of Albertans with disabilities
October 27, 2020
EDMONTONFriends of Medicare will be standing today in support of Albertans with disabilities, who are currently supported and cared for under publicly-run Direct Operations at homes and respite centres in Edmonton and Calgary.Approximately 200 guardians of disabled Albertans were given notice on June 10th that the UCP government was “exploring alternative service delivery”—code for privatization—of Edmonton’s Rosecrest home for children, the Hardisty and Balwin respite centers, Edmonton group homes, and Calgary’s Scenic Bow home.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
October 27, 2020
