EDMONTON – As the union for more than 80 per cent of the employees of the Alberta Mental Health Board, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says clear answers about what is happening at the board must be provided to the public and employees.

"We are extremely concerned by the ongoing changes at the board, and their effect on our members and on the continued delivery of mental health services, which has been promised," AUPE President Dan MacLennan said today.

"The board performs the crucial role of being responsible for mental health services across the province," MacLennan stated. "Albertans require a guarantee that the services of the Mental Health Board will continue to be provided."

Since March, when the government announced it would implement the recommendations of the Mazankowski commission, the AMHB has had three different chief executive officers, MacLennan noted.

"These sudden changes come without any indication that something is up, and without adequate explanation," MacLennan said.

"In all this confusion, we are not being told what both Albertans generally and AMHB employees who are members of AUPE need and deserve to be told," MacLennan said.

MacLennan said the AMHB or the government needs to make clear the following points:

" What will happen on a day-to-day basis to the services provided by AMHB employees? " What will happen during and after the transfer to the patients for whom they care? " What will happen to AMHB staff and facilities? " What facilities or buildings will be closed? " How will the mental health services now delivered in those places be provided? " What will happen to the patients and their families?

AUPE represents more than 2,300 AMHB employees.
The union will be contacting both the new CEO of the AMHB as well as the Minister of Health to seek clarification on the ongoing and proposed changes to mental health services, MacLennan said.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)

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