| Friends,
This weekend, the UCP membership voted in favour of private, two-tiered healthcare at the UCP AGM. The policy motion came from MLA Jason Copping’s riding of Calgary Varsity. This is on top of Minister Shandro’s announcement that the UCP government plans to contract out up to 11,000 front line jobs in healthcare.
Two-tiered healthcare will only increase wait times in the public system and starve it of resources, including federal funding. Private options will always take doctors and healthcare workers out of the public system, leaving it worse off every time. Only the wealthy benefit by being able to pay for access. That is not the way to build a strong, universal system for all Albertans.
Many Albertans are deeply concerned about these developments. If you are one of them, join others in your community to fight back.
The Alberta Federation of Labour has a helpful tool that will allow you to connect with your MLA. Call your MLA to tell them not to cut our public health care!
A grassroots group, Eyes Forward Alberta is also bringing concerned Albertans together around the UCP motion from MLA Jason Copping’s riding.
Let your voice be heard by:
➡️ Call/Email the Premier, Minister of Health, and official opposition.
 Minister Jason Copping, MLA Calgary Varsity, 403.216.5436 calgary.varsity@assembly.ab.ca
Minister Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health, 403.640.1363 Tyler.Shandro@gov.ab.ca
Premier Jason Kenney: 780.427.2251 or Jason.kenney@gov.ab.ca
📧David Shepard, Shadow Minister of Health: edmonton.citycentre@assembly.ab.ca
📧Rachel Notley, Leader of the Opposition: Edmonton.Strathcona@assembly.ab.ca
➡️Put up a “Protect Public Health Care” lawn sign. Contact DrMetz@eyesforward.ca to get yours.
Even though this attack on public healthcare is happening in Alberta, it is important for all Prairie members to be aware. What happens in one province will easily happen in another. We saw that with the anti-worker legislation put forward in Saskatchewan with the Public Service Essential Services Act, then in Manitoba with the Public Services Sustainability Act, and now in Alberta with the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada will always fight to protect the valuable public services we all depending on and for the workers that deliver them.
In Solidarity,
Marianne |
