EDMONTON — Friends of Medicare and activists within the disability community are returning to the Alberta Legislature today to renew our calls on the UCP government to improve our home care system. In March 2024 this petition was first tabled in the Legislature. More than a year later, our calls for improved home care funding and services in Alberta have remained ignored by this government. As of today, our petition has reached over 37,000 signatures in support, and will be tabled again in the Legislature today following Question Period.

EDMONTON — Yesterday, the Senate passed Bill C-64: An Act Respecting Pharmacare, without amendments. This is a major step forward for drug coverage in Canada, laying the groundwork for what would be the most significant expansion to our public health care system since the creation of national Medicare over sixty years ago. The legislation sets up a framework for universal, single-payer, first-dollar drug coverage for all Canadians, beginning with coverage of contraceptives and diabetes medication and equipment. 

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.

On Sunday, September 17, Migrants Rights Network and allies in cities across the country will be holding a nation-wide Day of Action for Status for All. Friends of Medicare will be joining Migrante Alberta, and other advocates at the Alberta Legislature, to call on the federal government to keep their promise to ensure regularization for undocumented migrants and permanent resident status for all without further delay.

Friends of Medicare's statement on today's Supreme Court decision

EDMONTON – This morning, public health advocates across the country were heartened to learn that the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed Dr. Brian Day and Cambie Surgeries Corporation’s attempt to overturn previous decisions made by BC’s courts, a conclusive decision to uphold Canadians’ rights to public health care based on need, not the ability to pay.

EDMONTON — Friends of Medicare and concerned Albertans will be holding an information picket outside of Canadian Blood Services (CBS) in Edmonton at noon today, December 1. This action coincides with events being held outside of CBS locations in Ottawa, ON, Dartmouth, NS and elsewhere.

Albertans who use drugs and their allies will hold the second Dying for Access event in Edmonton at 12:00 PM MST on November 29, 2022, at the Legislature Grounds. 

Coinciding with the re-opening of the Alberta Legislature, this rally is a call for the government to take urgent action on the ongoing drug poisoning crisis that continues to kill more Albertans aged 25 to 39 than any other cause of death. 

Friends of Medicare helped to coordinate the day of action event outside of the office of federal cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault.

This morning, the Government of Alberta reversed course on previously announced changes to the Insulin Pump Therapy Program following backlash from Albertans.

In May, the lives of 4,000 Albertans with diabetes and their families were thrown into chaos and uncertainty when the government announced sudden changes to the Insulin Pump Therapy Program. Albertans responded quickly, sending more than twenty thousand letters to their representatives, speaking out against these changes and the destructive impact they would have on their households and communities. Shortly after, the government announced a pause to those changes, and today reversed course completely.

Friends of Medicare's statement on today’s decision from the British Columbia Court of Appeal

This morning, the British Columbia Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed Dr. Brian Day’s appeal of the lower court’s ruling on the Cambie Case, re-affirming that provincial laws which limit a two-tier health care system do not contravene the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.