Members encouraged to participate
Even as front-line workers in long-term and continuing-care go to work each day terrified that they might lose another person they care for or that they themselves might get sick, the government is marching ideologically ahead to privatize the facilities in which they work.
Last month, AUPE wrote to Alberta Health Services seeking assurance that they wouldn’t be selling off Capital Care and Carewest as proposed by the Ernst & Young review delivered to the government last year. The responses received were vague at best. Plans to sell off Graduated Support Services in Calgary and Residential Support Services in Edmonton also remain in limbo.
Alberta Health has engaged accounting firm MNP LLP to complete a Facility-Based Continuing Care Review. Part of this very quietly launched consultation process involves a number of surveys targeted at different segments of the population, including workers in long-term, continuing-care and supportive living facilities.
The government says their aim is to improve the quality of life and care for current and future residents. But given their previously stated aim is to sell these facilities to the highest bidder, we think their priority is to increase the dividends paid to the shareholders of profitable multinational corporations and wash their hands of responsibility for the care of the most vulnerable Albertans. The deadline to complete the surveys, which can be found here, is Jan. 29.
At the same time, the Ministry of Community and Social Services is reviewing the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program. The FSCD program currently provides services and supports to about 15,000 children and their families across the province. The stated purpose of the review is to make sure services and supports available through the program are delivered in a sustainable way so the program can continue to support families now and in the future. The likely purpose is to provide cover for cuts to the program in the upcoming budget. You can complete the survey (deadline: Feb 1) here.
We encourage members to participate in these public consultations.