FOM welcomes Lethbridge City Council’s common-sense vote on continued provincial funding for SCS

 
On Monday, August 19, Lethbridge city council voted on a motion to request the provincial government halt funding to the city’s supervised consumption site, subject to the findings of the government’s forthcoming “socioeconomic” review. The motion, introduced by Councillor Blaine Hyggen, was defeated Monday evening by a vote of 6-3.  

“Supervised consumption services are an integral part of a harm reduction strategy — they connect vulnerable Albertans to essential services that will ultimately give them a path to healthier lives,” said Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “We’re glad to see that Lethbridge city council had the common sense to vote down a motion that would have shown a callous disregard for the lives of vulnerable Albertans.”

MEDIA RELEASE APRIL 30, 2019 EDMONTON

Friends of Medicare Welcomes New Health Minister, Honorable Tyler Shandro

APRIL 17, 2019 EDMONTON

Friends of Medicare’s statement on Premier-elect Jason Kenney’s election win

Friends of Medicare congratulates Jason Kenney on becoming Alberta’s Premier-elect. We would also like to congratulate and thank all those who took an active role in our democracy by letting their names stand for election. Our province is made better by this exercise.

As the election dust settles and government gets back to governing, Friends of Medicare wants to remind our government-elect that timely access to quality public health care continues to be of the utmost importance to all Albertans. Albertans know that they are better off with a public health care system that ensures everyone equal treatment without worry about whether they can afford the care they need. Those who seek to dismantle our publicly funded and delivered system face an uphill battle to convince Albertans otherwise.

Today’s health policy announcement from Jason Kenney, leader of the United Conservative Party, made clear that he and his party are not interested in finding public solutions to improve and expand our public health care system. Kenney presented Albertans with the UCP’s “Surgical Wait Time Reduction Plan,” and confirmed that if elected, his party would introduce policy to mirror the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative. He touted their achievements and successes; however, he did not disclose how much money they would need to invest in contracting out and privatizing public surgeries, nor where this money would be coming from.

The Protection of Health Care Act: A step in the right direction to protect and expand public health

With the introduction of Bill 1, the Protection of Health Care Act, Friends of Medicare is optimistic that for the first time in this province we will see the political will to protect our public health care and an end to shirking the rule of law in Canada and Alberta.

Public Interest Alberta calling on politicians not to forget the importance of seniors care

With a provincial election around the corner, a non-profit advocacy group is calling on political parties not to forget about seniors care.

Public Interest Alberta has released a campaign called "Alberta Seniors Deserve Better" an initiative which highlights the issues facing seniors in the continuing care system.

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In preparation for the Alberta election in 2019, Friends of Medicare is seeking feedback from the community about their experiences with our health care system. From now until the end of this year, we will be releasing a series of short surveys to help us determine what values and concrete health care policies Albertans want to see reflected in the platforms coming from each political party vying to lead Alberta after 2019. Your participation will help ensure that a commitment to public health care is front and centre for the 2019 election cycle, and will enable us to continue to work towards accessible, timely, and quality health care for all Albertans.

Keep your eye on this page in the upcoming months -- it will be updated with the latest survey links as they are released.

MEDIA RELEASE
MARCH 22, 2018

MEDIA RELEASE
JAN 11, 2018

UCP Health Policies Would Move Alberta Backwards to the 1990s

Modern Health Care Solutions are Needed

Friends of Medicare are calling for a rejection of proposed UCP policies reported by the Calgary Herald yesterday that would see health care services privatized and budgets slashed.

Friends of Medicare are applauding Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman for introducing Bill 22 the Resident and Family Councils Act.