The Alberta Premier’s plan to withhold funding to struggling hospitals is a simplistic fix for a complicated problem
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith now says she wants the government to retake ownership of as many as possible of the 106 hospitals Alberta Health Services runs and then lease them back to the agency – thereby creating the scenario in which the government could leverage its funding as a weapon of fear.Her idea, as she revealed on Aug. 17 in a members-only meeting with United Conservative Party faithful in Drayton Valley, Alta.
The notion of introducing market-like competition and fear into the delivery of public services no doubt has an appeal to many UCP voters. Would this save taxpayers’ money and guarantee them better service? There is absolutely no guarantee of that, and Ms. Smith has offered no evidence for it.It is also worrying that Ms. Smith says hospitals could be turned over to Covenant Health, a Catholic care provider that does not allow staff to provide abortions, emergency contraception and medical assistance in dying, procedures to which Canadians are entitled.
Health Government Alberta Ahs Province Fear Hospital Alberta Canada Danielle Smith
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Inside the pressure campaign on Danielle Smith to make gun ownership (and more) an Alberta rightAlberta Premier Danielle Smith, shown here at a conservative political event in Ottawa in April, has hyped to her provincial members expanding the province's bill of rights.
Read more »
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says legislation on school pronouns to come after classes beginAlberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will introduce legislation on pronouns in schools after classes begin in September.
Read more »
Premier Danielle Smith reveals plans to transfer some Alberta hospitals away from AHSPremier Danielle Smith says her government’s plan to restructure health care includes removing AHS as the operator of some hospitals and turn facilities over to Covenant Health.
Read more »
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi slams premier Danielle Smith‘s plan to transfer hospitalsAlberta’s Opposition leader says Smith needs to explain her plan to potentially transfer control of underperforming hospitals to third parties and why she chose to quietly reveal the new policy two weeks ago at a members-only United Conservative Party...
Read more »
Why Danielle Smith might move Alberta ministries from Edmonton to UCP-friendly placesAlberta Premier Danielle Smith addresses supporters at the annual Premier's Stampede breakfast in Calgary, Alta., Monday, July 8, 2024.
Read more »
The cheers and jeers of Danielle Smith's private party summerDanielle Smith celebrates after being chosen as the new leader of the United Conservative Party and the next Alberta premier in Calgary, Alta, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.
Read more »