Constituents Express Concerns Regarding Surgical Wait Times

Constituents Express Concerns Regarding Surgical Wait Times

Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk

MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville. Dear friends and neighbours, I have heard from constituents with concerns around surgical wait times. Alberta’s government has taken action. The new Surgical Recovery Plan calls for surgical activity to reach pre-pandemic levels by fall, increasing to 125 percent of pre-COVID levels—to up to 150 percent as needed, by 2021. This means that Albertans will receive the surgery they need at high quality, safe facilities when they need it, and within clinically recommended wait times. This will be achieved through multiple initiatives. This will have positive affects for people right here in Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville.

Palliative care is another important issue that affects many families here in our community. Palliative care helps to preserve the dignity of the individual by affirming their life and by providing spiritual, emotional, and family support at a very difficult time. Alberta’s government has announced the first $6 million in funding that will eliminate the co-pay for end-of-life drugs and establish new group supports, including in-person, online, and Alberta’s first telephone grief line.

I want to recognize this past week was National Trucking Week. Truckers are some of the hardest working women and men out there. Day and night, rain or shine, snow, fog or ice, truckers are out there doing the essential work that keeps Alberta’s economy going.

Truckers hold a special place in my heart as I am proud to be the daughter of a tireless hardworking trucker that hauled the materials necessary to build this great province.

Truckers ensure Albertans have the fuel, groceries and clothes they need for their families. Thank you to our truckers for all they do every day to keep our province moving forward.

I was pleased to host Transportation Minister Ric McIver recently as he visited Vegreville to begin his commercial carrier engagement. We met with agricultural and heavy haulers to discuss regulatory changes and get feedback on red tape reduction in the transportation industry.

Carriers in Fort Saskatchewan—Vegreville operate not only close to home, but across Alberta and Canada. I want to thank Minister McIver for listening to the concerns of people on the ground right here in our riding. It is an honour to serve as your MLA, Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville.