Reflecting on members’ hard work and our union’s recent gains, as challenges ripple through the health-care system

Hello everyone,
 

Another holiday season is upon us, and we are coming up on year three of this unprecedented crisis in health care.
 

While this crisis continues, it is you – our members – who step up to the plate every day in the face of many challenges to provide care for Albertans. Thank you for everything you do for health care in Alberta. Including, stepping up during the recent surge in demand at children’s hospitals, which pushed them beyond capacity. As these impacts ripple through the health-care system, it’s important we take advantage of our recent gains as a union.
 

This year, we secured millions of dollars for our members working for Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health for the Rural Capacity Investment Fund (RCIF). The purpose of the fund is to support efforts to retain and recruit health-care professionals in our rural communities. This fund can be used to help people relocate to rural Alberta and support various recruiting and retention initiatives.
 

Through new Letters of Understanding, both AHS and Covenant Health have committed funds to their RCIF for this fiscal year and next. That means this year’s money is only available until March 31, 2023. AHS has set aside $5.7 million and Covenant Health has set aside $300,000. If that money doesn’t get spent, we lose it. We are the experts in health-care delivery, and we need to take advantage of this opportunity.
 

As we have been pushing the government to make a plan to address the new realities of health care, your Board has been connecting with Local Unit Chairs and the membership to help us develop a new strategic plan for HSAA. I’m pleased to announce the plan is being finalized this month. The strategic plan will lay out the vision for HSAA and set the priorities for the next three years. We look forward to sharing more details about the future of HSAA with you over the coming months.
 

Wishing you time to spend with loved ones and time to rest and recharge this holiday season!
 

Leanne