[erudyk_29]

At this point, if you're a person of talent and skill, why in the hell would you want to be a top ranking public servant? Every single time there's a political decision that goes bust or you want a scapegoat, you just blame a bureaucrat for it and the public eats it up because "bureaucrat bad". At this rate we're going to be bleeding top rate talent to the private sector which offers better pay, and I don't blame them at all. Wage freezes, public scrutiny and constantly being thrown under the bus for doing your job? A job where your directives and actions are coming directly from elected officials? I don't think people realize that bureaucrats don't have as much autonomy as people would think when it comes to implementing public policy on a provincial level.

I know that the provincial bureaucracy has always had issues attracting skilled managerial/higher talent due to the pay differential when it comes to working for the public service and it's been a challenge to get that in other government services, but shit like this isn't helping at all.

This 100%

The brain drain is here, not just leaving for the private sector, but people leaving for other provinces as well, where they actually respect front line workers. Another UCP term would mean all but the dissolution of AHS and education, funneled directly to Danielle Smith's wealthy donors on tab of the people of Alberta. It's absolutely shameful what they've done to our province and her base falls for the grift every. single. time.

 

[Gus Haynes]

The primary difference is that DOGE is in the hands of that billionaire buffoon known as Elon Musk whereas the dismantling of AHS is likely being done by some middle management bureaucrat.

Just wait for Danielle Smith to strike while the iron is hot and create an Alberta version of DOGE run by (who else??) Sam Mraiche.

 

[fromyeg]

And late yesterday the CIO for AHS along with 19 others was booted. She was good and made our Digital health system the envy of Canada and quite a few other countries.

Is there a news article on this? Is it getting any attention?

 

[TAS]

Waiting times are really bad right now.

And with private surgical systems being created, they have much better working hours, and they deal with much easier types of procedures. So of course health care workers would prefer that type of environment. That type of set though leaves current hospitals and the system weakened is how I heard it from someone inside the system.

One example I heard of the system crumbling, men who are now getting diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer are waiting until June for their first appointment with specialist/oncologist.

 

[David A]

Just wait for Danielle Smith to strike while the iron is hot and create an Alberta version of DOGE run by (who else??) Sam Mraiche.

... yes and who in the spirit of DOGE will probably continue to get nice government contracts, while everything else is being cut.

 

[policyenthusiast]

Is there a news article on this? Is it getting any attention?

No attention whatsoever. Here's the notice she sent to her team (unverified but likely correct)

 

[erudyk_29]

It's the same playbook with every single conservative government, the service is working fine, they find something to whine about it so they can justify cutting spending, which then makes it struggle, so they can justify bringing in private solutions which (not so) coincidentally happen to be owned and operated by their wealthy donors.

It's a vicious cycle that always ends with the tax paying middle and lower class losing their needed services and the billionaires getting richer.

 

[David A]

It's the same playbook with every single conservative government, the service is working fine, they find something to whine about it so they can justify cutting spending, which then makes it struggle, so they can justify bringing in private solutions which (not so) coincidentally happen to be owned and operated by their wealthy donors.

It's a vicious cycle that always ends with the tax paying middle and lower class losing their needed services and the billionaires getting richer.

I believe it was said the other day that our Premier is gaslighting us and after thinking about it some I realize how.

She talks about the current scandal being an AHS problem and wanting to get to the bottom of it, but it is alleged her own (now former) Chief of Staff was trying to pressure the former AHS CEO (the one her Health Minister fired then fired) to accept inflated private contract prices with the support of the Health Minister.

Smith does not even seem to acknowledge her staff or Ministe'rs role in this, dismissing it as an "AHS problem". This is the gaslighting. No, it is really a Smith problem.

 

[Gus Haynes]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ousted-alberta-health-services-boss-warned-of-private-surgery-prices-documents-show-1.7469123

The former head of Alberta Health Services Athana Mentzelopoulos tried to caution the government about the potential impact of chartered surgical facilities on the provincial health-care system months before she was fired, CBC has learned.

Mentzelopoulos earlier this month filed a $1.7 million wrongful dismissal suit alleging she faced government pressure to sign off on commitments for new chartered surgical facilities (CSFs).

One of those was an approval of a contract extension for one vendor, Alberta Surgical Group (ASG), despite concerns she had that the costs were high compared to other contractors.

In a draft letter obtained by CBC News and referenced in her statement of claim, Mentzelopoulos wrote that "AHS remains committed to supporting CSFs and their role in the health system and recognizes the value that they bring including additional surgical capacity and improved access for scheduled surgeries."

But she also noted there are challenges as well.

She said that in addition to chartered surgical facilities costing more than the public system, there was concern they could siphon off critical staff from hospitals.

"These disruptions will have negative consequences for patients and communities, limiting timely access to emergent, urgent and medically complex surgeries such as cancer, general surgery, orthopedic and vascular surgery," she wrote.

 

[Airboy]

Is there a news article on this? Is it getting any attention?

I'm trying to find the link , but don't expect any real media attention. They have their latest chew toys. why play with one more.

 

[Airboy]

I believe it was said the other day that our Premier is gaslighting us and after thinking about it some I realize how.

She talks about the current scandal being an AHS problem and wanting to get to the bottom of it, but it is alleged her own (now former) Chief of Staff was trying to pressure the former AHS CEO (the one her Health Minister fired then fired) to accept inflated private contract prices with the support of the Health Minister.

Smith does not even seem to acknowledge her staff or Ministe'rs role in this, dismissing it as an "AHS problem". This is the gaslighting. No, it is really a Smith problem.

And she keeps Saying " she was not directly involved or responsible". Laying the groud work to throw more people under the bus.

 

[trevorhayden]

At this rate, she will throw enough people under the bus that she will fall.

 

[fromyeg]

https://www.thetyee.ca/News/2025/02...421460063&mc_cid=70dc3e685c&mc_eid=138cb250ca

My vote is to just let Sam Mraiche run the province. It would be more efficient and we’d save on the salaries of the MLAs who just take direction from him anyways.

 

[trevorhayden]

Time for a no confidence vote

 

[kcantor]

Time for a no confidence vote

To be successful a no-confidence vote would require those voting to have a conscience…