EDMONTON — The 2025 provincial budget will be tabled in the legislature next Thursday, February 27th. Heading into the budget, the provincial government continues to roll out their expensive and chaotic restructuring of public health care in Alberta, while doubling-down on their failing privatization strategies.

EDMONTON — Today, after two weeks of waiting for answers into very serious allegations of government interference in Alberta’s health care contracting procurement process, Premier Danielle Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange finally held a press conference to announce nothing new. There was no information provided as to the timeline or lead for the promised independent third-party review, and the Premier continued to double down on their failed approach to surgical wait times.

EDMONTON — This morning, new reporting from the Globe and Mail uncovered additional evidence surrounding the allegations of political interference into Alberta’s procurement process with for-profit surgical facilities. 

An article posted by the Globe and Mail last night alleges that Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services, was "dismissed two days before she was scheduled to meet with the province’s Auditor-General to discuss her investigation into procurement contracts and deals for private surgical facilities, according to a letter obtained by The Globe and Mail”.

The article goes on to allege that the former CEO believes that "she was fired because she launched 'an internal investigation and forensic audit' into AHS’s contracts and procurement processes."

The full board of AHS was dismissed by the government shortly after.

EDMONTON — Today, after considerable delay, the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services updated Albertans on their plan for continuing care, unveiling a new logo and a new name: Assisted Living Alberta. This announcement continues the government’s chaotic restructuring of health care in Alberta. 

EDMONTON — Coming out of the holidays, the government quietly announced cuts to eye care coverage for Albertans. These changes include the delisting of partial eye exams for children and seniors, a cut to fees paid to optometrists, and new restrictions on billing, all set to take effect February 1.

EDMONTON — SMG Medical Complex is a proposal to build a massive, 14-storey, private, for-profit health care facility in Fort McMurray. This contentious project has doubled in size from its initial proposal, and now promises to provide numerous services including chartered surgeries, ambulatory care, and “luxurious accommodations." They have launched a website seeking investors where they promise eight to 10 percent returns on investments, plus further opportunities for profits from “those willing to pay out of pocket.”

Edmonton - November 24 - 30, 2024 marks National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW), meant to be an opportunity to learn and highlight ways to address harms related to substance use. As we mark NAAW this year, Alberta continues to see multiple deaths per day due to drug poisoning. This week must be a time to commit to treating addictions care as health care, and to putting patients ahead of profits.

EDMONTON — Yesterday, the provincial government announced a new name and logo for Acute Care Alberta, one of four new agencies the government is tasking with delivering healthcare services in place of Alberta Health Services. They also announced that the roll out of this new sector agency is now delayed from this fall into next spring, prolonging the confusion and chaos surrounding the government’s decision to restructure our public healthcare.

EDMONTON — Public Interest Alberta and Friends of Medicare are raising the alarm following Premier Smith’s private remarks today at the Alberta Continuing Care Association’s Annual Conference. The Premier championed the explicit privatization and “uberization” of continuing care, signalling further restructuring and for-profit care in the immediate future.