One week from TODAY! Join us to call for action to defend our public health care.
RSVP Edmonton: www.friendsofmedicare.org/no2tieryeg
RSVP Calgary: www.friendsofmedicare.org/no2tieryyc
Privatization of surgeries is already worsening public capacity & worsening wait times, while allegedly compromising potentially hundreds of millions in public health care funding.
But instead of improving capacity or focusing on workforce planning to improve care, she's just doubling down. Again!
Health experts say dual practice will backfire, Smith says 'they're wrong'. The dual-practice system outlined in Bill 11 would allow physicians to bill the public system while simultaneously charging other patients privately. medicinehatnews.com/news/local-n... #AbHealth #AbPoli #MedHat
"Since 1979 @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social has consistently spoken up in the interest of patients & front-line health care workers in AB. We’re proud of our decades-long track record of non-partisan, transparent and evidence-based public health care advocacy."
#abhealth
#ableg
#UCPlies
Blue-filtered photo of the Alberta Legislature building. Text reads, "Friends of Medicare Responds to Government's Attack on our Credibility. Read FOM's response: friendsofmedicare.org/news"
When politicians can't defend their own policies, they seem to increasingly resort to attacking their policy critics instead—Including FOM.
In light of their recent comments attacking our credibility, here are some of the noteworthy policy predictions FOM has made under this provincial government:
www.friendsofmedicare.org/no2tieryyc?r...
Join @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social in saying NO to two tier health care and calling on the Federal Government and Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan, to enforce the Canada Health Act and save public health care!
#SupportPublicHealth
#CanadaHealthAct
We're standing with partners across Canada to demand action by the federal government to stop 2 tier healthcare. We'll always fight for publicly funded, publicly delivered healthcare. Join our call on March 16 National Day of Action. Details here: www.friendsofmedicare.org/events
"A declining population means fewer people are left to die"
Too many have died. Too many families & communities have mourned losses.
We deserve evidence-based health care policy that spans beyond election cycles & political points. Help us call for it: friendsofmedicare.org/ISupportHarmReduction
RECENT DRUG ALERTS/TIPS Update for Medicine Hat and southern Alberta (March 2026)
Please review and distribute this information appropriately.
More information at: tinyurl.com/4kpt52ny
#MedHat #KeepingSafe #OverDosePreventionPlease #MHDrugCoalition
“Where is the funding. What is the timeline? What’s the plan to staff them once they’re open? When is any of that happening? ... It’s easy to promise a thousand beds. What’s the plan to actually deliver on them?” says FOM's executive director, Chris Gallaway.
Incompetent and cruel.
"“We’re not talking two years away. We’re talking many years away. And Edmonton simply cannot wait that long to get more hospital beds,” he said.
The budget, according to Manns, does not align with the messaging from government."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
We're growing! Welcome Karlie Hanoski.
She's a progressive organizer w/ a proven record winning gains for her fellow Albertans and Canada-wide.
We need all hands on deck to protect and strengthen our public healthcare—Join Friends of Medicare to help support our work: friendsofmedicare.org/join
RECENT DRUG ALERTS/TIPS Update for Medicine Hat and southern Alberta (March 2026)
Please review and distribute this information appropriately.
More information at: tinyurl.com/4kpt52ny
#MedHat #KeepingSafe #OverDosePreventionPlease #MHDrugCoalition
A parallel private-pay system will worsen access to publicly funded surgery /via @cmaj.ca
www.cmaj.ca/content/198/...
Couldn't have had anything to do with the paywall and access barriers imposed on Albertans seeking to get vaccinated, could it?! 🤔
Alberta is reporting 250 flu deaths so far this season. Last year there were 236 influenza deaths.
Alberta's flu season is now the deadliest in recent memory as experts call for action https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-s-flu-season-deadliest-in-recent-memory-as-experts-call-for-action-9.7109033
↷ canadahealthwatch.ca 🍁
Promotional graphic for a live educational event titled “Learn to Advocate.” The design features a dominant purple background with bold white and contrasting text. Headshots of MLA Marie Renaud, disability advocate Zachary Weeks, and Michelle Kristinson from the Alberta Ability Network appear side by side. The text promotes a session focused on how to advocate against cuts to disability services in Alberta. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30 PM and will be streamed on YouTube Live with ASL interpretation included.
EVENT INVITE 📢: Join me, @marierenaud.bsky.social and Michelle Kristinson for a live session on practical advocacy tools you can use right now.
March 4 • 6:30 PM • YouTube Live
Register: stan.store/zacharyweeks
#Alberta #YEG #YYC #DisabilityRights
Blue filtered photo of the Alberta Legislature building. Text reads, "Budget Continues Agenda of Health Care Destruction & Privatization. Read FOM's response: friendsofmedicare.org/news"
In Budget 2026, FOM was watching for key investments in public health care to address the crisis in our system.
Instead, saw a continued roll out of the government’s expensive, chaotic restructuring, while doubling-down on their failing privatization schemes.
www.friendsofmedicare.org/budget2026
Spruce Grove. March 23.
One thing that has become obvious after budget day: govt finally has to admit how much they have BLOATED the HC admin!
Looks like it took AHS from about 3.5% admin costs to 6.7% admin costs (or more)!!!
That's INSANE!
(we still don't know the AHS BLOW-UP costs yet)
1/2
This is not a military target, thus it is a war crime. Although we always hear some excuses, like "tunnels" or "using civilians as shields."
"Under international humanitarian law, deliberately attacking a civilian school that is not being used for military purposes is considered a war crime. "
They reject everything the Feds want to do for us, but they want the money. They suck with money.
Everyone in this province deserves timely access to quality public health care, not just those who can afford to pay for it.
It's time to let this government know that Albertans value our public health care—& we're willing to fight for it!
🚨 TAKE ACTION 🚨 friendsofmedicare.org/notwotier
Hundreds of Edmonton-area folks have already RSVPd to our townhall today... Are you one of them??
We've talked with thousands of people about health care on this tour. Help make today our biggest stop yet!
Join FOM & @pfparks.bsky.social TODAY at 2pm!
www.friendsofmedicare.org/public_healt...
Remember the rare blood clots after some people received the AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines?
We now know exactly what happened to trigger them.
My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social, showing that research into making vaccines even safer never stops.
www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...
ALL Albertans deserve health care! Yet we're creating a two tier system where the wealthy can pay for unequal access, at the expense of everyone else.
It's not what Albertans want & it's not what we voted for. Act now to defend our public health care!
📢 friendsofmedicare.org/NoTwoTier
📍 Don't miss our next townhalls in Vegreville (TOMORROW!) and Edmonton (SUNDAY!):
friendsofmedicare.org/UrgentConver...
The AB government announced a navigation portal for seniors in need of continuing care... And that's it.
But while seniors face real issues with the system, the government keeps privatizing & eroding care standards. Seniors in Alberta deserve real change!
Watch FOM's Chris Gallaway on Global news:
Can we just have an Inquiry! If this was any other company the people responsible would no longer be employed. #ABleg #ABpoli #Cdnpoli
Blue-filtered photo of a health care worker pushing a seniors' wheelchair. Text reads, "Real Changes Needed for Continuing Care in Alberta"
Yesterday the AB government announced a new navigation portal for continuing care. But a portal can't fix the many structural problems in our system: short staffing, lack of capacity, degraded care standards... the list goes on!
Seniors deserve real change.
www.friendsofmedicare.org/change_neede...
