The front-page headline, “Swann, seniors talk taxes,” in the Saturday, June 20 Gazette certainly does not capture the essence and tone of the town hall meeting hosted by the Liberal caucus and the leader of the opposition, Dr. David Swann.
The headline, along with coverage by reporter Cory Hare leaves one with the impression that, “here the Liberals go again, putting their hands into my pocket for more spend thrift dollars.” This is the impression that needs to be challenged and corrected.
The two-hour town hall meeting was a true witness to democratic engagement by a group of citizens, young and old, concerned about the direction the Conservative government under the leadership of Premier Ed Stelmach and Health Minister Ron Liepert. The general consensus, from the questions asked and the comments made, is that our health care system in Alberta is headed to hell in a hand basket.
Much anxiety was expressed. There was a strong sense of fear that the fundamental nature of our public health care system and the collective ownership gained through generations of courageous struggle and sacrifice by committed humanitarians like Tommy Douglas is being strategically, systematically and dictatorially eroded, if not being destroyed. The fundamental human values, basic to the public health care system that have become part of our social culture are being replaced by marketplace values and corporate bottom line thinking. Government sustainability rather than patient centred health care is the loud assertive voice being broadcast through the Conservative megaphone. Directives rather than consultation, power rather than empowerment describes the governance style of a government obsessed with allowing the invisible hand of the marketplace to correct the problems in health care.
When a front-line nurse from the Cross Cancer Centre bares her soul about the conditions, frustrations and discouragement she and her colleagues encounter on a daily basis, this leaves an impact and certainly registered, at least with me, the serious gravity of the situation. Morale within the health care system is at an all-time low. Professionals like her are not being listened to and those brave enough to challenge what is going on are not willing to give their names for fear of jeopardizing their position or terms of employment. As a physician, Dr. Swann demonstrated empathy and a strong sense of support for the young nurse, who also received applause and wholehearted encouragement from 150 town hall participants.
I believe it is time that the citizens of St. Albert and Alberta wake up and begin to become engaged in the democratic process before the minority views of a few elected government elites and their bureaucratic bull dogs like Australian economist and hard-liner, Alberta Health Services president and CEO Stephen Duckett, throw out the baby with the bath water when it comes to health care reform. Yes, sustainability is certainly an issue but it must be sustainability for the patient, not for the government. Offloading responsibility to the patient and involving private-sector insurance companies is not the direction that will make things cheaper and better for those needing health care.
As a community, we must reaffirm our commitment to the common good and respect the inherent dignity of each human being. There is a cost and we, as citizens, must pony up to the plate and pay our fair share. There is no free lunch. Public ownership of our health care system, however, is fundamental!
Wilf Borgstede, St. Albert
