Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Fuzz]

Classic Toyota.

Spoiler!

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by zamler

This is a lie.

But it isn't.

The democrats in the US, the NDP in Canada, all get harked as socialist by their opponents. No policy in their platform calls for the equal distribution of wealth to all citizens.

[zamler]

Still not sure if this is real
https://www.boredpanda.com/toy-yoda-...g-jodee-berry/

[Fuzz]

Snopes says yes:


https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hummer-bummer/

[GioforPM]

So speaking of hospitals etc., my 80+ year old mom, who had a heart attack earlier this year, has had her cardiac tests cancelled/postponed. Apparently they've cancelled all such tests for everyone due to some sort of money crunch. And without that test, the cardiologist won't see her for her next followup which is due soon, because it's kind of a waste of time.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

So speaking of hospitals etc., my 80+ year old mom, who had a heart attack earlier this year, has had her cardiac tests cancelled/postponed. Apparently they've cancelled all such tests for everyone due to some sort of money crunch. And without that test, the cardiologist won't see her for her next followup which is due soon, because it's kind of a waste of time.

Money crunch? Like the testing centres exist, but now won't be used because AHS won't fund them?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Money crunch? Like the testing centres exist, but now won't be used because AHS won't fund them?

Yes I think so. I think it's a personnel thing, but I'm not 100% on it because I'm getting it second hand from the old lady and it hasn't been reported anywhere at the moment that I can find.

[GioforPM]

I mean, this doesn't seem good:

http://waittimes.alberta.ca/WaitTime...e#WaitTimeInfo

[Duruss]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

That's the first time anyone has ever used classic and Toyota in a sentence together.

Or are you in denial that the cars and music of your youth are now so old as to be "classic"?

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I mean, this doesn't seem good:

http://waittimes.alberta.ca/WaitTime...e#WaitTimeInfo

Odd.... this too. Very few procedures being completed, but hey, wait time is down as a result. How is it so low now? Are they farming them out?

http://waittimes.alberta.ca/WaitTime...e#WaitTimeInfo

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yes I think so. I think it's a personnel thing, but I'm not 100% on it because I'm getting it second hand from the old lady and it hasn't been reported anywhere at the moment that I can find.

So more info - they've just cancelled all outpatient echocardiograms because they only have the staff to service in patient ones. So that obviously includes people who had heart attacks etc, and were released, but with followup testing and appointments.

[Faust]

UCP files for judicial recount in 2 Calgary races

https://globalnews.ca/news/9774132/u...adia-glenmore/

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

Nurses union certainly seems supportive of the decision. Or at least they are not opposed.


"According to Smith, some health-care workers have begun to experience "mask fatigue" after three years of pandemic restrictions.

"For some, I think that there is a level of fatigue and they welcome [the change], particularly if their point of care assessment would say they are not at risk and their patients are not at risk," she said."

Saying some Union members are not opposed to something isn’t the same as the Union being supportive of it.

I’ll put it into a context for you. Imagine a collective agreement gets voted down by 90% of workers voting. It would be true to say that some members were in favour of the offer, but it would be absurd to say that the Union is in favour of accepting the contract. And who knows maybe the majority of nurses are in favour of ending the masking, but that hasn’t been reported anywhere or stated by the Union anywhere and firebot’s post explicitly stated that it was what the Union wanted, you’ve kinda done the same thing as well with how you worded your first sentence. Had he or yourself simply said that some of their members were in support of the change I would see no issue with that statement.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

So more info - they've just cancelled all outpatient echocardiograms because they only have the staff to service in patient ones. So that obviously includes people who had heart attacks etc, and were released, but with followup testing and appointments.

I still can't believe people voted for this. And then I get chastised for calling these same voters morons. There is no better description.

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by Faust

UCP files for judicial recount in 2 Calgary races

https://globalnews.ca/news/9774132/u...adia-glenmore/

Sore losers- Anyone know how much a recount costs? I think they should pay for it (especially if they lose) if it's so important to them....Kind of like the penalty after a non successful challenge in the NHL

[Firebot]

Official statement just released (which seems to somewhat conflict the president's own interview statement, but here it is and since I brought it up initially, I wanted to be bringing up the official statement to clear the air).

https://www.una.ca/1443/ahs-continuous-masking-mandate

United Nurses of Alberta encourages its members to remain vigilant and use the precautionary principle after Alberta Health Services removed the continuous masking requirement for employees in hospitals and health care facilities. This policy change also applies to employees of Covenant Health, CapitalCare and Carewest.

UNA believes the policy should not have been hastily lifted in a blanket fashion without further consultation or providing evidence to support the decision and a plan for reinstatement should transmission rates rise. We are concerned that the change falsely sends a signal to health care workers and the public that precautions against viruses like COVID-19 are no longer necessary. Alberta Health reports that 352 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Alberta.

AHS removing the masking requirement in no way diminishes the obligation of health care workers, including nurses, to use every means possible to reduce risk to themselves and their patients. That is why Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) remains in effect.

The statement from December 2021 outlines PPE standards, including access, point of care risk assessment, and PPE supply and minimum requirements, for front-line health care workers in Alberta.

Respiratory protection should continue to be used based on the hazards presented by the workplace. Mandatory PPE is still required in situations where direct patient care is provided. Employees should refer to the joint statement for all PPE decisions.

Protecting the health and safety of nurses and their ability to provide high-quality care to Alberta patients is UNA’s top priority. PPE was a key factor in protecting the health and safety of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic by helping to prevent exposure to and transmission of the virus.

UNA will continue to pressure AHS to ensure policies following best practice for use of PPE in the workplace are being implemented, including monitoring the impact of removing the continuous masking mandate.

UNA members with any questions or concerns should contact their local executive or Labour Relations Officer at 1-800-252-9394.

United Nurses of Alberta is the union for more than 30,000 Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and allied health workers.

Sounds like some damage control being done but the statement is what it is. There was lots of vitrol being directed at UNA on Twitter today with Smith's published statements.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Odd.... this too. Very few procedures being completed, but hey, wait time is down as a result. How is it so low now? Are they farming them out?

http://waittimes.alberta.ca/WaitTime...e#WaitTimeInfo

Some of these are wild, how do they go from 248 in April 2022 to 68 in April 2023? WTF is going on? How can anyone who isn't a moron consider this healthcare?

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Official statement just released (which seems to somewhat conflict the president's own interview statement, but here it is and since I brought it up initially, I wanted to be bringing up the official statement to clear the air).

https://www.una.ca/1443/ahs-continuous-masking-mandate

Sounds like some damage control being done but the statement is what it is. There was lots of vitrol being directed at UNA on Twitter today with Smith's published statements.

It’s certainly in conflict with what your interpretation of the comments from the CBC article was.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Some of these are wild, how do they go from 248 in April 2022 to 68 in April 2023? WTF is going on? How can anyone who isn't a moron consider this healthcare?

Is it possible that they have returned to a normal baseline over the last 6 months and the prior months in that table are elevated due to working through the Covid backlog? Is there more historic data available to track this trend?

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

It’s certainly in conflict with what your interpretation of the comments from the CBC article was.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...fted-1.6878038

CBC had recently changed the headline to "Nurse union leader says change comes as some workers experience 'mask fatigue'". I certainly don't recall that headline originally.

You can take issues with CBC's headline or insinuation as well, or the president's statement, but those comments by Heather Smith clearly indicated acceptance and support for nurses wanting to forgo masks.

Twitter was full of outrage with a petition started against the UNA for her comments about mask fatigue. The official statement was clearly needed.