AUPE president advises Albertans to use consultations to make clear their support for public health care
EDMONTON – Alberta Union of Provincial Employees members and other Albertans need to make it absolutely clear to the provincial government through the health act consultation process announced today that they will not accept dilution of public health care in our province, says AUPE President Guy Smith.
Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky issued a statement today urging Albertans to “provide their ideas on recommendations for the forthcoming Alberta Health Act,” with a final report to be submitted by Conservative MLA Fred Horne in the fall.
Smith cautioned that while the minister has committed Alberta to publicly funded health care and adherence to the principles of the Canada Health Act, the federal legislation sets only a minimum standard for the protection of public health care.
“By opening up Alberta health legislation, which in several areas now goes further than the Canada Health Act, he is making it possible to consider eliminating such vital protections as the existing ban on double-dip billing by physicians, private health insurance, for-profit health care delivery and other moves toward two-tier health care,” Smith said.
“For health care to be truly fair and universal, it needs to be publicly delivered, as well as publicly funded,” Smith stated. “AUPE will continue its commitment to speak up for all Albertans in defence of public health care.
“But Albertans themselves need to make it crystal clear to the government that they do not want to see changes that will allow two-tier health care, and that they will hold the government to account for what it does after the committee it has hand-picked to study these questions reports in the fall,” he said.
They can do that by going to the government’s health Website — yourhealthact.alberta.ca — and contributing their views to the committee the government has set up. They should also consider attending the hearings planned by the government in June.
Smith called on Zwozdesky to immediately announce the times and locations of the 12 community based consultations he said would take place throughout Alberta in June.
He also said Zwozdesky needs to commit now to ensuring that cabinet ministers and local MLAs attend those meetings at sit at the front of the hall so that they can hear what Albertans have to say.
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For more information, contact:
Guy Smith, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-265-2294 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)