At a Glance - April 18, 2024
Candidate Criticized for Healthcare Comments
Chelsae Petrovic, UCP candidate in Livingstone-Macleod, has come under fire for comments she made on a podcast earlier this year. In the video, she can be heard saying that she believes people need to be more accountable for their own health outcomes.
“Maybe the reason why you had a heart attack was because you haven’t taken care of yourself. You’re extremely overweight, you haven’t managed your congestive heart failure, you haven’t managed your diabetes and there’s no personal accountability. But they come into the hospital and all of a sudden it’s everyone else’s problem but their own.”
In a subsequent statement, Petrovic wrote that "I understand my comment could be offensive when removed from the longer interview, and I should have chosen better language.”
“I believe we should be a province that not only focuses on reactive health for those in need but also one that teaches our kids to practice healthy living, which includes taking care of our physical health.”
Millions Invested in New Post-Secondary Seats
As part of Budget 2023, Alberta will be investing $193 million into a number of post-secondary programs across the province which is expected to create nearly 8,000 new seats. Included in the funding is $20 million over three years to add 120 new physician seats at both the University of Calgary and University of Alberta. $44 million will also be invested to create 1,400 new seats for health-related programs such as nursing, and $22 million will be used to create 2,100 nurse bridging program seats for internationally trained nurses.
In a press release, Minister of Health Jason Copping wrote that “we are committed to growing our health care workforce and ensuring we have the spaces available for Alberta’s students to continue their education. The increase in post-secondary health care training program spaces will help address staffing needs and build a stronger health care system for Albertans.”
Ethics Investigation Underway
A statement from the Premier’s Office indicates that Danielle Smith is currently being investigate by Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler. “The Premier was recently contacted by the Ethics Commissioner, who is undertaking an investigation into whether or not the Premier has interfered with the administration of justice in relation to a COVID prosecution.”
“The Premier welcomes this investigation, is fully cooperating with the Commissioner, and is confident this examination will confirm there has been no such interference.”
On April 4, NDP Justice Critic Irfan Sabir wrote to the Commissioner to request that she investigate the now infamous 11-minute phone call with Artur Pawlowski. As there are no public details available other than what the Premier’s Office and NDP have released, it is impossible to accurately say what the terms of reference are and what a possible timeline for completion looks like.
Indigenous Children’s Services Agreement Signed
Pursuant to Bill C-92, three First Nations in Alberta have signed an agreement with the federal government that will return the jurisdiction of their child and family services back to their Nations. The co-ordination agreement was signed by Loon River First Nation, Lubicon Lake Band, and Peerless Trout First Nation. The five-year agreement will include a total transfer of $149.4 million to the Founding First Nations to implement the changes.
Lubicon Lake Band Chief Billy Joe Laboucan said that “for generations, federal and provincial governments have systemically asserted policies that caused pain, hardship and intergenerational trauma for First Nation children and their families. That’s finally starting to change.”