Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...-ers-1.7095276


Cool stuff. Why are tax dollars funding a private corporation's push for profits again? oh ya, 'berta.

Family doctors are private corporations too. That's not a real issue.

According to the article many pharmacists have had this ability since 2007, so it's mostly a marketing and branding thing with Shoppers. No real issue.

The issue is if the government sees this as an alternative to doctors and thinks they've solved the primary care issue, and if their messaging encourages people to rely on pharmacists for their complete medical care (which they can't deliver).

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

If it is good enough for BC, it is good enough for us.

What does that mean?

However, the organization that regulates Alberta pharmacists says the clinics are nothing new.

"Shoppers Drug Mart has chosen to label portions of some of their pharmacies as 'pharmacy care clinics' to create awareness about these services. The services offered in 'pharmacy care clinics' are already available in most pharmacies," Alberta College of Pharmacy spokesperson Barry Strader said in an email Thursday.

This announcement is just that we gave tax dollars to a private company to do something they already do. That's it. Yay?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

What does that mean?


This announcement is just that we gave tax dollars to a private company to do something they already do. That's it. Yay?

Correct me if I am wrong, but the government didn't give Shoppers any tax payer money to expand these clinics. They are paying for service but there is no actual investment.

[calgarygeologist]

I also find it interesting that Dr. Meddings is quoted in the article as being considered about the conflict of interest with pharmacists prescribing and selling medication yet doctors are not without their own issues because they can receive huge benefits and gifts from the drug companies and reps for prescribing drugs. The prescription opioid issue was in large part because of doctors getting big bonuses from the suppliers.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Correct me if I am wrong, but the government didn't give Shoppers any tax payer money to expand these clinics. They are paying for service but there is no actual investment.

Paying for what service? One they already do? What is new here?

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Paying for what service? One they already do? What is new here?

The Shoppers guy was a bit confused in the press conference, saying there would be a mix of public and user-paid services and that something like cholesterol testing would not be covered....glances over at someone else...no wait, it is covered.

I would have to think that any services that are publicly-covered for a doctor would be publicly covered for a pharmacist. The funding model is not clear though. If they are fee for service then do they get paid the same as a doctor (I assume so), yet are dealing with only simple cases, basically skimming off the less complicated stuff.

LaGrange also mumbled something about alternate relationship plans (ARPs) which may mean Shoppers gets a fixed annual amount per FTE for providing this service. I don't know how ARPs are governed but there is a potential that Shoppers could bill for a lot of potential hours whether they are used or not. If they're investing $77M they must see some good upside.

[Superflyer]

Funny that talk about a healthcare shortage when this article came on my new feed this morning. It is from NS and how they are attracting healthcare workers instead of trying to drive them off.

https://www.ckbw.ca/2024/01/26/61280/

The second round of $10,000 cheques are coming in several weeks to nurses who stayed in the healthcare system.

Last year the government spent roughly $250 million on a lucrative ‘thank you’ bonus on nurses and other healthcare staff, after the turmoil of the pandemic, in an effort to retain workers.

Health Minister Michelle Thompson told reporters Tuesday that spending that kind of money was worth it, after about 150 nurses came back to our health care system

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

Funny that talk about a healthcare shortage when this article came on my new feed this morning. It is from NS and how they are attracting healthcare workers instead of trying to drive them off.

Yup, imagine what a crazy premise!

My sister's a nurse in Calgary and just had their offer accepted on a house in Sydney

[Fuzz]

I dunno, Kenney's strategy of cutting nurses pay was pretty spot on, too. Look how happy they were back in June 2021...

After working the front lines through three gruelling waves of the pandemic, and now facing the prospect of pay cuts, some Alberta nurses say they're exhausted, demoralized and looking to get out — prompting concerns about the future of health care in the province.

"We are the ones that are seeing COVID at its worst."
But as the province emerged from its most recent COVID-19 surge — and negotiations between the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA), Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health resumed — nurses were presented with a three per cent wage rollback proposal. Including other changes, UNA argues it amounts to a five per cent cut.

"That was a huge slap in the face to a lot of us," said McGrath.

All this prompted McGrath to take a temporary one-year position — away from the front lines.

"I've never seen morale this low," she said. "We don't have the same spirit that we used to."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...rses-1.6114721

Like, gee, really can't figure out why we have staff shortages now...It's pretty baffling. Must be Trudeau's fault.

[Ozy_Flame]

When a pandemic is raging and oil is booming, but you got bigger priorities like union busting.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

When a pandemic is raging and oil is booming, but you got bigger priorities like union busting.

It’s their #1 priority at the end of the day.

[Faust]

The Breakdown

Smith today on the Coutts "anniversary"...

"Bravo for them!" (Legit quote BTW)

And...

If there's people who want to "celebrate and remember the victory... I'm all for that". (Also legit quote)

So there's that.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

https://x.com/thebreakdownab/status/...297051717?s=61

[Roughneck]

If it’s “bravo for them”, Smith should probably lead the charge for the UCP to rescind the Critical Infrastructure Defense Act, no?

[Faust]

The Breakdown

Oh, and Smith is going after electronic tabulators too now.

Which is ironic because her hero Tucker was fired after false allegations were made towards the makers of electronic voting machines.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

https://x.com/thebreakdownab/status/...728094021?s=61

[GGG]

We have a full audit trail with ours. Paper copy and electronic. This is so stupid.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by Faust

The Breakdown

Oh, and Smith is going after electronic tabulators too now.

Which is ironic because her hero Tucker was fired after false allegations were made towards the makers of electronic voting machines.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

https://x.com/thebreakdownab/status/...728094021?s=61

She has orders from her master.

[Slava]

The government is apparently introducing “parental rights” this week, which is particularly appalling. This is the garbage I specifically voted against last year and I think it’s abhorrent.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Slava

The government is apparently introducing “parental rights” this week, which is particularly appalling. This is the garbage I specifically voted against last year and I think it’s abhorrent.

Come on, please explain to me why I shouldn't have the right to abuse my children, or restrain from becoming full and equally participating members of society? I own them

[Faust]

Former backroom political staffer takes centre stage in Take Back Alberta movement

https://nationalpost.com/news/politi...e-back-alberta

[Ozy_Flame]

Megalomaniac, sociopathic, narcissistic, violent, hyper-political religious zealot.

Just the kind of democracy-loving chud you want pulling the strings.

Keep voting for their leader and party, Alberta. The puppet master's strings are tight.