Health Minister Sarah Hoffman calls for partnership with nurses to deliver quality public care

Alberta’s new NDP government can rightfully be described as “the heirs of Tommy Douglas,” Health Minister Sarah Hoffman told the annual general meeting of the United Nurses of Alberta Wednesday to rousing applause from about 900 registered nurses and others in the hall.

“For the first time, you have a government that is truly committed to health care,” Hoffman said during the afternoon session of the AGM at the EXPO Centre in Edmonton. “Preservation of public health care is in our DNA.”

Hoffman began her remarks with a reference to the theme of UNA’s 2015 AGM – Here for You.

“Here for you” is both a goal and a commitment,” Hoffman said, “and it is one that your new government shares.

“Our government is here for you – for your colleague health care professionals – and we are all here together for Albertans.

“Being here for you starts with the respect and appreciation that our government has for the care, compassion and professional expertise that you bring to the people who mean so much to us … our families, neighbours and community members in every setting,” she said. 

And that includes, acute care and long term care, emergency and clinical routine, “from bedside to website,” Hoffman noted.

The NDP Government’s commitment to public health care, Hoffman went on, “is why one of our first acts as a government was to restore health care funding that saved 1,500 frontline positions that are absolutely vital to ensuring Albertans get the service they need. And it is why one of our government’s key priorities is stabilizing the health system, so it’s there for Albertans when and where they need it.”

Indeed, she said, the NDP’s commitment to stability applies right across the public service. “It is the first pillar in yesterday’s budget,” she said, pointing to the additional $422 million added to the provincial health budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year’s actual spending, raising it to $816 million or 4.3 per cent above the March estimate tabled by the previous government. 

“This increase provides stable funding for health care and to protect frontline health care jobs,” she said. “And while we are not happy about a large deficit, we will not balance the budget at the expense of people’s health care.”

At the same time, she said, the government believes deficit funding does not offer long-term stability, which is why the government is also emphasizing returning balance to government finances and stimulating job creation so that future balanced budgets will lead to long-term sustainability for public services, including health care.

“A diverse economy will insulate Albertans and their public services from the ups and downs of a single commodity,” Hoffman stated.

“I will be counting on all of you, on your expertise, hard work and dedication to help our government deliver the health services Albertans need, while making the most of every dollar,” she said. “We will need the partnership and long-term vision of a committed public service and its union leadership to make it happen.”

Hoffman also spoke to the NDP government’s commitments to gender equality and the rights of working people.

“I am proud to be part of a Cabinet that is the first in Canada’s history to have more women than men, thanks to the recent appointment of your sister and mine, Danielle Larivee,” she said. Larivee, a former UNA Local president, was elected on May 5 as the MLA for Lesser Slave Lake and was appointed to Premier Rachel Notley’s cabinet as municipal affairs minister one week ago.

“You know that our government has a deep respect for workers’ rights,” Hoffman added.“In the end, I believe Alberta’s new government and Alberta’s nurses have a common passion for delivering quality public health care,” the health minister concluded. “We are both committed to putting the public interest first and foremost.”