Health Archives - Page 2 of 2

11Jul

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Government Finances, Health, Opinion/Research, Politics

Alberta Nurses- Poised to Strike?

Soon after Finance Minister Travis Toews announced a $17-billion deficit, on 6 July he fired a warning shot at the United Nurses of Alberta. While acknowledging nurses’ contributions to responding to the COVID-19 health crisis (“working diligently throughout”), the News release stressed “the important work of getting the province’s finances back on track.” The terse release reiterated the gist of the MacKinnon Report’s recommendations that for Alberta to rebalance its finances it must cut both the size of the public service as well as bring salaries and benefits in line with other provinces. According to Toews, nurses in Alberta get paid 5.6 per cent more than other comparator provinces (presumably B.C., Quebec and Ontario). This differential costs the Alberta taxpayers an extra $141-mil...

22Jun

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Energy, Environment, Health, Politics

The times they are a’changin

Come senators, congressmenPlease heed the callDon't stand in the doorwayDon't block up the hallFor he that gets hurtWill be he who has stalledThe battle outside ragin'Will soon shake your windowsAnd rattle your walls… Bob Dylan On Thursday 18 June a remarkable event took place. The near simultaneous release of an Alberta Energy Regulator (AER)/Canadian Environment Impact Assessment Agency (CEIAA) joint panel rejection of the controversial Grassy Meadows coal project and a news release from Alberta's Environment and Energy ministers "respecting" the Joint Panel’s recommendations. The Thursday announcements followed declarations by federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson that all coal projects which produced selenium would be subject to federal review due to the environmental imp...

18Apr

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Environment, Health, Opinion/Research

Exploring a regulatory maze

This post, the first of a series of articles dealing with the nature of regulation-making authority in Alberta endeavours to understand the breadth and complexity of regulation in various forms. This post was tweaked by a news release concerning a violation of the Environment Protection Enhancement Act. The series will investigate the complex nature of legislation and delegated regulation-making powers, the nature of enforcement, and the possible implications for society and the economy at large. Suncor pleads guilty On Friday 16 April the Alberta Department of Environment and Parks issued a press release stating Suncor Energy Products Partnership Product s Suncor Energie, S.E.M.E pleaded guilty to breaching legislation “relating to the release of hydrogen sulphide.” The event happened on...

11Jul

By albertarecessionwatchNo Comments

Health

Health care policy and delivery cost Alberta taxpayers about $20 billion per year or roughly 40 per cent of the province's operating budget. The NDP government has maintained funding in the system but now efforts are underway to identify ways of streamlining the system. A Primary Care Network Review by Alberta Health identified a number of troubles, some of which the Auditor General had noted in earlier reports. Of concern is the high ratio of physicians to health staff that weakens the rationale for multi-member teams. (more…)