This past week, our United Conservative government continued to move Alberta forward by addressing critical issues like provincial rights, affordable housing, health care, and infrastructure.
On Monday, Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver slammed the Trudeau Liberals for side-stepping our provincial government and cutting deals directly with municipalities. Minister McIver was clear that he intends to protect Alberta鈥檚 constitutional right to oversee the governance of Alberta鈥檚 municipalities. This was followed by Leduc-Beaumont MLA Brandon Lunty introducing private members鈥� Bill 204, the Municipal Government (National Urban Parks) Amendment Act, to protect and defend Albertans鈥� interests when it comes to the creation and development of National Urban Parks in their communities.
Later in the week, Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen announced that, in response to the concerns and frustrations of many Alberta drivers, our government will ban the use of photo radar on ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton, starting Dec. 1. Further, we will be engaging with municipalities and law enforcement over the next year on removing all 鈥渇ishing hole鈥� locations across the province. Albertans can be confident that going forward, photo radar will only be used to improve traffic safety, not generate revenue.
Last but certainly not least, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange announced this past week that Alberta will soon allow nurse practitioners to open their own independent clinics. This move will give Albertans greater access to regular primary care providers and comes in response to concerns we have heard from Albertans who cannot find a regular doctor. With this issue top of mind, we will continue to support and stabilize primary health care across the province by enabling nurse practitioners to open their own clinics, take on patients, and offer services based on their scope of practice, training, and expertise. With nurse practitioners typically able to provide about 80 per cent of the medical services a family physician provides, we are confident that this new model will add much-needed capacity and significantly improve access to skilled primary care providers.
Premier Danielle Smith, Minister LaGrange, and our entire United Conservative team are working tirelessly to fix the issues that have hindered our health care system for years. We won鈥檛 kick the can down the road on fixing these problems. We understand the importance of fixing Alberta鈥檚 health care system right now. And we are starting to see positive results. According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, our province has 348 more doctors working in our province today than we did last quarter. I look forward to seeing this positive trend continue.
Protecting drivers from photo radar fishing holes
Alberta is changing photo radar rules to ensure the focus is on traffic safety, not revenue generation.
Many Albertans have expressed growing frustration with the purpose and use of photo radar. To respond to these concerns, Alberta鈥檚 government implemented a pause on new photo radar equipment and locations on Dec. 1, 2019. After receiving data from across the province, Alberta鈥檚 government is taking the first step of banning photo radar on ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton starting Dec. 1. At the same time, Alberta鈥檚 government will be engaging with municipalities and law enforcement over the next year on removing all 鈥渇ishing hole鈥� locations across the province. Albertans can be confident that going forward, photo radar will only be used to improve traffic safety.
Strengthening primary care with nurse practitioners
Alberta鈥檚 government is expanding opportunities for nurse practitioners to give Albertans greater access to a regular primary care provider when and where they need one.聽
Too many Albertans cannot find a regular family doctor or have trouble getting an appointment with the one they have. Alberta鈥檚 government continues to support and stabilize primary health care across the province by enabling nurse practitioners to open their own clinics, take on patients and offer services based on their scope of practice, training, and expertise. Typically nurse practitioners can provide about 80 per cent of the medical services a family physician provides, and this will be reflected in the compensation model when it鈥檚 finalized. As the province enables nurse practitioners to do more of the work they are trained to do, a new compensation model will be created to encourage them to operate independently, adding much-needed capacity to Alberta鈥檚 primary care system.
Calling on all Albertans to help shape health care
All Albertans are encouraged to participate in an online survey on the refocusing of Alberta鈥檚 health care system.
All Albertans are encouraged to participate in an online survey on the refocusing of Alberta鈥檚 health care system. Alberta鈥檚 government is refocusing the health care system to improve health outcomes for Albertans and empower health care workers to deliver quality care across the province. Engaging with health care workers and Albertans, and listening to the input of patients, families and caregivers remains a top priority for Alberta鈥檚 government throughout this refocusing process. As a next step, Albertans are encouraged to share their thoughts through an online survey to gather deeper insights into the challenges, obstacles and successes experienced by both health care staff and Albertans within the current health care system.
Keeping Alberta seniors safe
Alberta鈥檚 government is launching a new program to provide shelter for seniors escaping elder abuse in rural and Indigenous communities.
Seniors escaping elder abuse need a safe place to live. Nearly one in 10 Alberta seniors may be subjected to elder abuse, and this is unacceptable, for anyone, in any form. To help keep them safe, Alberta鈥檚 government is investing an additional $3.3 million over the next three years to provide more safe spaces for seniors seeking help. Alberta鈥檚 government is working closely with community partners to find solutions to prevent and end elder abuse. Through this new Safe Spaces initiative, more than $2 million will bring together local organizations and seniors lodges to provide shelter for seniors in rural Alberta and Indigenous communities.
Sincerely,
Martin Long, MLA
West Yellowhead
