Tag Archives: AMA

Hey Doc, Ya Wanna Work in Alberta?

“Nice business you got here, be a shame if something happened to it.” – Gangster in a B-grade movie    Alberta’s doctors are tired. They’ve been fighting covid for over a year while at the same time fighting with the … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 81 Comments

Jason Kenney’s Fight with Alberta’s Doctors

“The crisis we have in health care, rural included, is a void of leadership by the UCP government. They were voted in with a majority government, but do not seem to understand the difference between leadership and power.” —  Dr … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Economy, General Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 63 Comments

“Show me the money”: The Alberta Medical Association Channels Jerry Maguire

To borrow a phrase from Renee Zellweger in the movie Jerry Maguire, Dr Michael Giuffre had me at hello.  He battled Health Minister Fred Horne for months, finally getting the Health Minister’s signature on the AMA Agreement settling doctors’ compensation.  … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Alberta Health Services Executive Bonuses: The joy of friends in high places

To paraphrase Ogden Nash (actually Mr Nash did not utter this famous phrase, but for some reason we all think he did), “Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where my bonus is?” It is indeed bonus time.  … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

And Now…A Message from your Premier-In-Waiting: Mr Lukaszuk

We interrupt our regular programming—the PC spin on the cause of the $4 billion budget shortfall—to bring you an important public service announcement from the Premier-In-Waiting, Mr Lukaszuk. Mr Lukaszuk steps up to the microphone and says:    Listen up you … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Economics, Education, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Who do you trust? Premier Redford or Alberta’s Doctors?

“How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders?  The man can’t even trust his own pants.”—a line from the spaghetti western Once Upon a Time in the West. If the government’s attacks on Alberta’s doctors … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Baby Whisperer vs the Bully Boy

In this corner we have Dr Michael Giuffre, the new President of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA).  He’s a pediatric cardiologist who was dubbed the Baby Whisperer by a frantic parent after he’d soothed a screaming baby. In the opposite … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Welcome to the Noodle Bed: Alberta’s Healthcare Delivery System is Reorganizing…Again!

When former premier Stelmach said he was willing to let local hospitals make decisions like buying light bulbs for their own operating theatres I thought he was kidding.  Turns out I was wrong. This week Stephen Lockwood, chairman of the … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Redford’s Policies Trigger A “Stealth Alert”

If you’ve ever wondered why Albertans keep asking their government for one thing but end up with something completely different it’s because the battery on your *stealth alert* device is running low.  How do the PCs use stealth to push … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

The Health Care Town Hall Meeting–How Come It’s Never Anybody’s Fault?

I went to the Health Care Town Hall meeting in Calgary last week.  After two hours I had a headache.  How come it’s never anybody’s fault? “Fault” is defined as being responsible for an unpleasant situation.  I learned all about … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 24 Comments