For immediate release
Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) President, Mike Parker, grateful government finally announces COVID top-up
“The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) is pleased that the Government of Alberta has finally announced that it will leverage the funds offered by the federal government,” says Mike Parker, President of HSAA, which represents approximately 27,000 health-care professionals in our province. “These finances will recognize the hardships that many low-paid workers in Alberta, including many in health care, have been experiencing while putting themselves at risk for our community.
“Instead of protecting themselves and their families by isolating at home, these workers provided essential services for all of us at great risk. Because of their sacrifice, we’re managing to weather this crisis and their sacrifice should be recognized.”
HSAA urged Jason Kenney and his government to distribute the hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding that has been available for months, following a report released on January 26, 2021 by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) that showed Alberta lagging far behind other provinces when it came to accessing programs from Ottawa. Instead, Kenney has been very public in his claims that Alberta is being treated unfairly by the Canadian government.
“However, while those who are fortunate enough to be included in the top-up are happy to receive the funds, many workers who are also at risk were ignored,” added Parker. “Alberta needs to recognize the contributions of all workers during this pandemic, not only those it deems are ‘heroes.’”
“There are many larger issues at hand that Kenney continues to mishandle like ensuring all front-line health-care workers are included on priority lists for vaccinations and ensuring that every worker who is required to quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 is paid while missing work,” Parker concluded.
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Media Inquiries:
Jerry Toews, HSAA Executive Liaison
587-338-1865 | JerryT@hsaa.ca
