04/26/2025
Out of the blue a new post on Cochrane EMS Crisis Group. My post was not allowed, because they don’t want me posting or likely because Politics comes into it. Frankly - EVERY ISSUE is about Politics THESE DAYS. They want Cochranites to write the Mayor and demand meetings with the govt about our local EMS Service.
My response- it’s old, it’s been done, it’s not going to get any results. Nada.
Here’s why:
A little History: from the last 3 1/2 years:
I met with our MLA - twice.
I took him 3600 signatures of Cochranites to deliver to Jason Copping. I brought him pages of FOIP detailing the Crisis.
Our MLA agreed to meet with an honourable Medic, but instead - he wrote Darren Sandbeck to let him know that we had “ information that Sandbeck should be aware of” . It was FOIP that the Medic and I had paid for - and that anyone was entitled to get if they paid the $25 .
The Medic was disciplined and lost 5 weeks of work - and he had 3 kids under the age of 10. He spent 2 yrs of hell with Disciplinary hearings, being continually and deliberately delayed, he lost his Honour Guard Position - until finally a Judge heard the case and threw it out of court. The Medic never did get his Honour Guard status back, and he’s still trying to make life better for Medics and his Community Safer.
The Mayor and Council have had Multiple Meetings over the years with AHS… to no avail. The Mayor said he was satisfied AHS was working to improve things the last meeting 2 yrs ago.
A few weeks after the big shebang at town council- a mini seismic shift occurred with some quiet firings and ‘retirements’ happening in the EMS section of AHS. Hmmm….
We met with RJ SIGURDSON, the then Secretary for EMS Reform.
SIGURDSON begged the Medic and me not to go Public. He said he would do anything we wanted - meet with us every week if we just didn’t go public.
The Medic demanded that he request a Ministerial Order that AHS release the FOIP Stats regularly - so that The Public COULD DECIDE if things were “Improving”.
Kathy Le did a Documentary. Exposed the hellish situation for both medics and the people who had to wait a verrrrry long time for help.
SIGURDSON was moved to Agriculture after the Election and although he promised he would always care about EMS - “ because it’s in his Family “ the minute he was switched he ghosted my calls and emails. Lies again.
Last year I met with Adriana LaGrange - she also promised to meet us regularly - And lied in Public after having up to date FOIP given to her.
DURING a Town Hall “ Engagement Session” on Healthcare, where no one was allowed to ask questions Ms LaGrange spoke of how “ the situations were greatly improved in all areas, there are still a few Tweaks of course but everything was improving “ said Medic texted me “ Right Now No Coverage in Airdrie, two trucks called to Cochrane “ meaning there was no Coverage in Cochrane”. I stood to make an announcement but was quickly told to sit down…. While LaGrange rambled on about all the improvements.
We met with Opposition Health Critic Dr. Luanne Metz - someone who actually knows a hell of a lot about Healthcare. She gave us hours of her time. She took this to the Legislature and one local medic and one from Edmonton came with me to the Legislative Assembly in Edmonton.
At the Legislative Assembly when Dr. Metz stood to speak FOR Medics asking for help on their behalf - the UCP en masse Turned their backs to her - while two school classes and medics and I watched from the gallery.
How do you think those Medics Felt ?
DR. Metz “Tabled” many, many horrific stories of Medics work experiences, situations and conditions all leading to Anxiety Disorder, PTSD and Moral Injury conditions that the EMS Safeline had been documenting for more than a year. Those stories are now permanently in the Legislature records. Anyone can look them up.
FOIP is now being WITHHELD. My last FOIP arrived:
22 pages of numbers across the sheet , no interpretation or explanation. Redactions are common. Tongue in Cheek, I wrote back to FOIP to ask for my $25 back - because the information was indecipherable…… no response.
FACT: This Town Council isn’t going to bring change by meeting with anyone - it’s been done multiple times, and nothing has changed.
FACT: Letters to MLA’S Ministers, the Premiere herself DO NOTHING.
They know damn well we are killing off medics.
And they are not listening.
They are NOT listening and they do not care.
They don’t even bother to send a form letter out. You can phone and send letters until the cows come home - there is DELIBERATE deafness to ignore concerns from Albertans.
The only way -
the ONLY WAY NOW to bring change is to stand in public,rally and demand A Public Enquiry so that there is accountability and transparency. THE ONLY WAY is to stand in numbers that are impossible to ignore by this govt!
These are elected officials who are not representing all Albertans and they are not doing anything to improve the situation, while we pay their salaries.
To be clear - when the Premier separates herself from AHS - this is disingenuous and misleading.
We said in our meeting with Adriana LaGrange “ Either You or AHS is Lying to the Public - (giving her the FOIP.) In any event YOU are in charge of AHS so you need to deal with it”.
If our Premier can fire multiple Boards of Directors - She is in Charge of AHS. To the Point, the AHS has been dismantled and many of the buildings have already been sold and leased out. Like a nasty Divorce - sell everything fast and get the money as quick as you can!
Point: the vast majority of Medics do NOT want Privatization. If the Community EMS Crisis Groups think that this is ok - IT IS NOT!
Get this out of our “ pretty little heads” - the situation is not going to improve for medics or their Communities. If Paramedics are next to be Privatized, the same issues will still be present.
I met with Mike Parker HSAA President 2 wks ago - trucks that are 30, 000 km over an oil check, at hundreds of thousands of km - they are falling apart.
LaGrange boasts that new Ambulances have been ordered ( for public or private companies? Cuz there’s a lot of cronyism going on here) - FACT - it can take years to actually receive the New Trucks ….and we are in a waiting line just like many other cities- across the country and across the continent.
Trucks won’t solve the same issues when the Issue is not enough Staff! Not enough Staff because there are too many medics off on health leave, because too masny Medics are voluntarily moving to part time casual, because too many medics are disillusioned, burned out, unable to do the jobs they trained to do.
HSAA’s Union President Parker and others say the dismantling and division and privatization could be “ Catastrophic” for Employees.
Parker wore a Button that Read “ READY TO STRIKE” - which HSAA union members are.
Don’t disguise AHS from the Prov Govt. They are in charge and cannot distance themselves from AHS .
Don’t be fooled - Privatization will not improve EMS Response Times - but it could lower their salaries or wages.
Do your Homework. Look at the recent stats, look at the financials, be informed. It’s not about Party - it’s about what’s RIGHT, and what is just WRONG
Stand up with others and demand transparency and accountability.
It’s time to be vocal with groups - to actually attend rallies - to ask media to cover these stories, it’s time to be COUNTED.
IN NUMBERS THAT EVEN THIS GOVT CANNOT IGNORE.
Sat May 10 RALLY AT LEGISLATURE IN EDMONTON 1 pm - 3 pm. Other Rallies are synching with Edmonton. Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, possibly Calgary.
