The Illusion of Crisis in Health Care? (Part 1)

The Conservative Government of Alberta arguably has a history of fabricating crises in Medicare. From full frontal assault in 1994, through Bill 11 in 2000, past the Third Way in 2005 to the Super Board in 2009; closing beds, jeopardizing the health of our seniors and tossing the mentally ill into an already overloaded community network on the way; the agenda seems similar: Create a crisis and then try selling privatization as a solution. More than 80% of Albertans consistently affirm their desire to keep Medicare public, universal and accessible to all. The speaker will argue Medicare is affordable and that Government fear-mongering is an attempt to question the affordability of public healthcare. Premier Stelmach’s appointed Health Minister openly admits that he is tougher than his predecessors and that he has the ‘mettle’ and the organization to push this agenda on reluctant Albertans. Why is he doing this; in whose interests and what monstrosity lurks over the horizon? James will outline the patterns and motivation of this agenda and describe some actions and options to defeat it once again. Speaker: James Moore James Moore is an advocate for a healthy and informed society. He lives in Lethbridge with his spouse Arlene and sons Kevin and Julius. James is a part time Instructor in the School of Justice Studies at Lethbridge College. He also works in computer communications, instructional design and on-line learning through his Lethbridge business Distancedge Communications