Tag Archives: Horne

A Trip to the Mayo Clinic: Your dime or mine?

Posted on April 20, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

This past January Mr Soapbox and my youngest daughter (let’s call her Mini) went on a pilgrimage to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  Unbeknownst to them they were following in the footsteps of Ms Michele Lahey, former Chief Operating … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

What Would It Take to Make you Plead Guilty? Alberta Revamps Traffic Court

Posted on April 7, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

What would it take to make you plead guilty to a crime you didn’t commit?  One hundred dollars?  One thousand dollars?  Need more information? Okay, what if the crime isn’t serious?  And if you plead guilty you can avoid the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

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

Posted on March 31, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

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

Posted on February 24, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

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?

Posted on February 10, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

“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

Merry Christmas Florence Nightingale

Posted on December 23, 2012 by susanonthesoapbox

Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, once said “No man, not even a doctor, ever gives any other definition of what a nurse should be than this –‘devoted and obedient.’  This definition would do just as well for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

We are not the Borg!

Posted on December 9, 2012 by susanonthesoapbox

The Borg is an alien race that exists in the Star Trek universe.  Its sole purpose is to assimilate all other species, usually by force, into the “hive mind” in order to achieve perfection. OK, hold that thought… …now consider … Continue reading →

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

The Baby Whisperer vs the Bully Boy

Posted on November 18, 2012 by susanonthesoapbox

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

Can Mr Merali Play Moneyball?

Posted on August 12, 2012 by susanonthesoapbox

When asked why senior executives at Alberta Health Services are so generously compensated, the government’s response is either: I have no idea, those over-the-top supplemental pensions and extravagant expense accounts were before my time (Minister Horne) or the AHS has … Continue reading →

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

Alluadin Merali: Your guide to the Twilight Zone

Posted on August 5, 2012 by susanonthesoapbox

The day that Alluadin Merali left his post as CFO of Alberta Health Services (AHS) was the day Albertans entered the Twilight Zone.  Like the ordinary folk in Rod Sterling’s TV show who find themselves thrust into a surreal alternate … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments