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2005 Spring Session Report: Seniors and Community Supports

The Liberal Opposition’s major accomplishments in Seniors and Community Supports this session included the government’s long-overdue increase to AISH levels, in response to the Liberals’ repeated calls for more help for AISH recipients. The 2005 provincial budget included an $80-million annual injection to the program, raising spending to $488 million per year for severely disabled Albertans who cannot work full time to support themselves. This is exactly what the Liberal Caucus had been calling for. However, we continued to criticize the government’s inability to conduct long-term planning when they failed to set a plan to ensure regular increases to the monthly living allowance.

The recommendations in the Auditor General’s Report on Long-Term Care Facilities echoed many of the measures the Alberta Liberal Opposition has proposed for years regarding all those in continuing care.  Liberal policy supports the establishment of provincial standards for:

  • Minimum staff training requirements,
  • Resident care, including resident rights in all continuing care facilities,
  • Accommodation,
  • Nutrition and food

As well as:

  • The establishment of an independent Ombudsman for residents in continuing care facilities,
  • Restoring universal dental and optical benefits for seniors under the Alberta Seniors Benefits program.

The Liberal Opposition identified problems and pressed the government for action, long before the Auditor General’s report was released. We drew attention to the high rate of sedative and antipsychotic drug use in Alberta, which is almost double the rate in Europe and the U.S., and the possible connection to staff shortages. The Alberta Liberal Opposition repeated these concerns when the AG presented similar findings.

Accountability was a theme that was emphasized throughout this spring session as we planted seeds of democratic reform by proposing the establishment of all-party committees. The cooperation and openness that all-party committees create, make the democratic process open, transparent, and accountable.  Bridget Pastoor offered her expertise to the Task Force on Continuing Care Health Service and Accommodation Standards in reviewing the substandard care levels at continuing care facilities across the province.  She urged the government to put partisan politics aside in an effort to do what is best for Albertans in care.

 

Helping Alberta’s Seniors Lead Full and Active Lives

Today’s seniors are not content to watch life from the sidelines – they are actively involved in their communities and most are fully aware and engaged in the issues that affect them.

The cutbacks of the Tory government over the past 10 years have hurt seniors. Many have seen their ability to pay the bills and enjoy their retirement decline sharply.

While eliminating health care premiums and gaining the modest benefits promised by the Tory government will provide some relief for seniors, more needs to be done.

The Alberta Liberal Opposition would:

  • Restore universal dental and optical benefits for seniors
  • Index the Alberta Seniors Benefit to the Alberta consumer price index
  • Reduce costs for independent seniors by re-regulating electricity and introducing public auto insurance
  • Provide incentives to build affordable housing for seniors
  • Increase the number of long-term care spaces
  • Provide stable and equitable funding for seniors’ lodges
  • Establish Standards of Care for organizations caring for frail or ill seniors
  • Implement Standards of Training for seniors care attendants so staff are equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills
  • Establish a body to investigate complaints of elder abuse and other seniors’ issues

Find Your Policy

Looking for a particular policy?  Select your topic area here to see our policy in that area.

 

Alberta Liberals announce critic and committee roles as MLAs sworn in

Edmonton – With today’s swearing in of Alberta Liberal MLAs, Alberta Liberal leader Raj Sherman says his team is looking forward to continuing to speak up for Albertans on issues of critical importance.

“Every Alberta Liberal MLA who ran this spring was re-elected,” says Sherman. “This is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to standing up for what is right in areas such as seniors’ care, public health care, and public education. This is an Alberta Liberal tradition, and we will continue this tradition of giving voice to those who need help being heard and to providing innovative solutions instead of merely criticizing.”

In addition to the swearing in, Sherman is also announcing the roles his team will play in terms of House positions, critic portfolios, and committee assignments.

“We have a very experienced and capable team,” says Sherman. “We will bring this experience to bear as we hold the government to account.”

Please see the attachment for a list of Alberta Liberal House, Critic, and Committee Assignments.

Alberta Liberal Caucus House Critic and Committee Assignments 20121.pdf

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For more information contact:

Amy McBain, Communications Consultant
(780) 904-5430

Major misses the mark

Edmonton – Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman says Justice Major’s review of MLA compensation is well-intentioned but misses the mark.

“We don’t want to replace golden handshakes with golden parachutes,” Sherman says. “If Major’s recommendations are accepted, MLA pay will still be too high and the pension plan too generous.”

Sherman feels that Major’s suggested compensation package is too rich, particularly for the premier, who is already among the best-paid in the nation. But Sherman says Premier Redford could offset some of that expense by reducing the size of cabinet.

“Alberta Liberals have called for a streamlined cabinet of 16 ministers for some time,” Sherman says. “If the premier wants to deliver on her message of change, she needs to start at the top, with a more efficient cabinet.”                           

Sherman says that MLAs should be paid a base salary of around $100,000, fully taxable, in addition to public committee pay based on attendance. Alberta Liberal policy also includes reducing the number of MLAs to double the number of Alberta’s Members of Parliament, further reducing the burden on taxpayers.

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Amy McBain, Communications Consultant          
(780) 904-5430                                      

Jeff Melland, Director of Communications              
(780) 862-5661