Privatization is Not the Answer
Before the end of this month, the new session of the Alberta Legislature gets underway. On Tuesday, February 22nd we are expecting the Speech from the Throne where the current government will lay out its plan for the year leading up to the next provincial election.
On Thursday, the 24th we’ll get the budget. To be honest… I am worried about what the UCP actually has planned.
On one hand we’re hearing that the province is flush with money due to the unexpectedly high price of oil right now. Any reasonable leader would use that windfall to reverse the cuts to public services that we’ve all had to endure over the past several years. However, knowing this government, the budget will be couched in the usual language of, “…we are spending too much on programs important to Albertans…!” and, “we need to rein in spending” to be topped off with a generous helping of “…this was all due to our careful planning!” nonsense.
We’ve seen what this government is all about time and time again. And when it comes to health care, they believe the system exists as a money-making opportunity. The UCP has been blindly privatizing health care in Alberta, and they haven’t taken their foot of the gas despite the pandemic.
There isn’t a problem that they come across that they don’t believe that privatization will fix – even when the evidence is clear that this just ain’t so. If you haven’t yet, take a look at the Parkland report later in this newsletter to see just what I’m talking about. You have made it crystal clear that your union is to support and advocate for a public health care system – one where every public dollar is spent on a publicly operated, administered and delivered health-care system. Privates are a no go for one reason – money intended for patient care goes to profits. This is not about the professionalism and dedication of our members working in the private system – which is unquestioned. It’s about giving those members the same capabilities to care for their patients, and protections today and into the future that are in sync with our members in the public system. And it’s about being able to recruit qualified professionals to the benches where they’re needed so that you and your colleagues aren’t left completely spent even before you begin your shift.
Labs have been in the news recently as Alberta Precision Labs’ community labs are taken over by DynaLIFE. Transition talks are underway. Privatization of ambulance services is next as an advisory committee has been struck to solve the EMS crisis. The family of one of the MLA chairs of the committee set up private ambulance services in Alberta… twice. But we are on that committee too, and privatization will never be supported by HSAA.
The pandemic isn’t over and now the government is proving it has learned absolutely nothing over two years and lowering restrictions too early. HSAA is fighting to ensure everyone is getting the support they need to stay on the job. And HSAA will continue to sound the alarm over the creeping privatization of health care. HSAA is 28,000 health-care professionals dedicated to protecting the public health system and the vulnerable Albertans who rely on it.
In Solidarity,
Mike