EDMONTON — On page 13 of last week’s Budget 2025 Fiscal Plan there is a reference to the change of ownership for Alberta’s hospitals. As of April 1st, the titles for hundreds of health care facilities will be directly under the ownership of the provincial government through Alberta Infrastructure. As one Calgary Herald columnist summed it up over the weekend: “Sell off hospitals? The UCP Budget makes it possible.”

Initial Budget Response from Chris Gallaway, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare:

EDMONTON — “Albertans are worried about accessing the health care they need when they need it. Heading into Budget 2025, we were watching for key investments in public health care including prioritizing action on health care capacity and workforce planning for a growing province. Unfortunately for Albertans, that’s not what we saw in today’s budget.

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 — Every year, February 4th marks World Cancer Day, an important day to raise awareness and mobilize for improvements to cancer care. This year, we are calling on the Alberta government to publicly share more information on the plans for the continued operations of the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Friends of Medicare was pleased to see the new centre finally begin taking appointments in October, but we remain concerned that the public has yet to be provided a plan for full operations at this new facility.

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. 

LETHBRIDGE — Two family doctors at the Campbell Clinic in Lethbridge recently posted public letters explaining why they are leaving their practices, pointing the finger squarely at the government and Health Minister for their failure to listen to Alberta’s physicians and act to sustain primary care.

EDMONTON — Beginning today on the International Day of the Older Persons and continuing all week, Public Interest Alberta and Friends of Medicare are releasing harrowing stories and videos from seniors and Albertans who are experiencing the current crisis in seniors care. They are standing with seniors to send letters to the provincial government calling for minimum staffing hours so that Albertans receive the care they deserve.

EDMONTON — Following their gathering last week, the Alberta Medical Association has been increasingly vocal in their disappointment with the provincial government for failing to implement a new Primary Care Compensation Model, as promised. This lack of action comes after months and months of delays.

EDMONTON — Before announcing her plan for education infrastructure, Premier Smith’s 10-minute televised address opened last night with an extended anti-immigration rant, blaming folks moving here from other countries for Alberta’s lack of capacity in health, housing and education. 

EDMONTON — Yesterday, the Office of the Minister of Health confirmed to DiscoverAirdrie that the controversial proposal to build a facility to house a primary care clinic as well as a second urgent care centre in Airdrie has been approved. Airdrie remains by far the largest city in Alberta without a hospital.