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Theresa's Tidbits: What next after ministers’ visit?
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
The recent cabinet tour stops in High Prairie and Slave Lake were certainly interesting, but they leave the question of what will happen now.
For example, Children and Youth Services Minister Yvonne Fritz toured the Northern Haven Women’s Emergency Shelter. The province recently provided $195,000 in grant money for the facility, which will help it stay open until the end of October, but core funding is desperately needed so that day-to-day operations can be carried out, a full slate of services can be offered for the women who use the shelter, and staff will not burn out.
When shelter director Sharon Procter pointed this out to Fritz, the minister seemed receptive to what was being said. Let’s hope Fritz will give whatever assistance she, or any other government ministry, can to shelter staff so the facility will no longer have to struggle to stay open.
On the other hand, the first thing Health and Wellness Minister Gene Zwozdesky did after meeting with Slave Lake Health Care Centre staff, and hearing their concerns, was to call Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett and ask him to make those issues a priority for Slave Lake.
That’s very quick action.
Zwozdesky told the crowd at his open house, comprised mainly of pensioners, is that the seniors drug plan the government proposed – which would have seen seniors pay for drugs according to income, as of July 1 – has been put on ice. He also talked about hiring more doctors and nurses and instituting a five-year funding plan to help cut down on wait times and lists and provide faster access to health care.
Let’s hope that all happens. Zwozdesky (hailing from Sangudo) understands the rural situation. He noted each question posed to him and, for those that needed more than just a quick answer, had his assistant get the questioner’s information so the ministry could provide a more in-depth response.
Premier Ed Stelmach asked cabinet to tour the province to hear people’s questions and concerns. If, after all that, nothing is done, then the time and money spent on this endeavour will have been wasted. While cynicism has been expressed about Stelmach’s reasons for the tour – that it’s an attempt to present the Conservatives as better than the Wild Rose Alliance, which is rising in popularity – it does present an opportunity to make things better in Alberta.
Let’s hope the government doesn’t squander that chance.
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