governance
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FOM's Response to Budget 2022
Once again, the government is pushing privatization instead of investing in strengthening our public health care when we need it most
Further privatization in health care was the predictable theme of today’s provincial budget. A keystone item was the government following through on their stated plan to greatly expand private surgical services in Alberta, by accelerating the Alberta Surgical Initiative.
“The government’s budget was more of the same. It presents very little in terms of new plans for our health care, instead defaulting to the same old tired strategy of cuts and privatization. It was their plan all along, it was merely delayed as a result of the pandemic,’ said Chris Gallaway Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. “The UCP government’s unprecedented pursuit of privatization throughout this health care budget represents the abandonment of Albertans and our health care system when we need it most.”
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 24, 2022 -
Throne Speech a missed opportunity to protect and strengthen public Medicare
The UCP government’s agenda continues to prioritize privatization over Albertans’ health care needs
EDMONTON -- This afternoon the Alberta government tabled their Speech from the Throne. It promised disappointingly little in terms of protecting and improving Alberta’s public health care, and provided no indication as to how the government plans to repair the damage that their approach to COVID-19 has wreaked on our health care system.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 22, 2022 -
Opinion: Alberta's public health care isn’t broken; it’s being dismantled
This Op Ed by FOM's Executive Director, Chris Gallaway, originally appeared in the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald on February 15, 2022.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 16, 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.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
November 23, 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.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 21, 2021 -
Health Advocates to Kenney: Show up and do your job
September 1st, 2021EDMONTONFriends 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.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 07, 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 -
The UCP government pays $3M to high priced consultants to repackage and force their privatization agenda
In July 2020, the UCP passed Bill 30: The Health Statutes Amendment Act, provincial legislation that proposes to cut approval times required for private surgical facilities. Shortly after, the government announced their intention to establish a "Health Contracting Secretariat," to build the health care delivery market and reduce barriers to market entry for larger corporate players.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 29, 2021 -
Alberta Budget 2021
Just as Budget 2020 was pushed through with unrealistic forecasts for oil prices and subsequent unfeasible estimations for government revenue, Budget 2021 is being presented under the pretense of unrealistic forecasts for the health needs of Albertans. Quite simply, Budget 2021 is a cruel blow to our public health care system in favor of privatization.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 25, 2021 -
Albertans have lost trust in the government's travelling circus
EDMONTON — Albertans have suffered and sacrificed greatly in the past several months, not least of all by cancelling holiday plans with friends and family as per government mandated public health restrictions. But we have done so with the understanding that these sacrifices were necessary to curb Alberta’s extraordinary COVID-19 numbers, which have surged massively over the past few months under the UCP government’s reluctance to implement the restrictions necessary to limit the spread. Worse still, as of December 29, our provincial COVID-19 death toll has tragically reached 1,046, according to the latest available data.
