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The "voice of the AMA" – Published regularly throughout the year, the President's Letter informs you about Alberta Medical Association positions on key and complex issues in Alberta’s health care.
Read the November 22 President's Letter
As part of a cross-ministry effort by the provincial government, Alberta Health has invited the Alberta Medical Association to complete a survey on behalf of members. It relates to “legislative changes to safeguard freedom of expression for regulated professionals.”
Right now, the AMA is engaged in more advocacy than at any other time in our history. In the category of fact checking, we coordinated yesterday with section experts to respond to comments made by the premier in a news conference.
Here is AMA Fact Checkup – Issue 2. In this issue, we check and correct government on statements they have made.
Comments on the most recent President's Letter are enabled and welcome. You may also contact the AMA President by email at [email protected].
Below you will find previous issues of The President's Letter. For older issues no longer on the website, contact us.
This President’s Letter is in follow up to my President’s Letters of July 29 and July 30, which reported the results of our referendum on physician confidence in the Minister and my outreach to the Premier. I wanted to let members know where things are at this stage.
It has been a dark week since the incomprehensible news of the fatal attack on our colleague, Dr. Walter Reynolds in Red Deer on Monday. The Alberta Medical Association has been in contact with local physician leaders to ensure that all members of our physician community can access assistance through the Physician and Family Support Program as we try to come to terms with such a horrific event. Let me begin with this message to every member: If you need support, asking for help is a sign of strength.
The Minister of Health has stated that he will proceed to release a “Sunshine List” for physician payments. A law to allow this was passed in 2015, but never acted upon. The original law required consultation with the AMA before the information could be released.
We have received a consultation document from government regarding proposed changes to the Health Professions Act. Please note that the possible amendments have been released as options for discussion, not certainties.
Today I have written to Premier Jason Kenney asking for his involvement in our current impasse with the Minister of Health. This action follows our Confidence Vote Referendum and the overwhelming vote of non-confidence that I announced yesterday.
The results of our referendum vote are in. There were 8,934 votes from physicians, residents and medical students across Alberta, which represents a voter turn-out of 67%. As for the results: 98% indicated they do NOT have confidence in the Minister. Over the past week, the confidence referendum was conducted with the same rigor as a contract ratification vote.
Last week, Bill 30, The Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 completed second reading in the legislature. There is no doubt that this government-sponsored bill will be passed before the session ends for summer break, likely this week.
On Wednesday, July 22, we received an update on government’s decision-making regarding the future of the programs under the AMA grant agreement. As you are aware, since the spring and end of negotiations, the grant agreement has been unsigned, leaving all involved in limbo.
Today, for the first time, I am offering my President’s Letter in both video and written formats. Our relationship with the provincial government has reached an all-time low.
Last week, the Alberta Medical Association released our most-recent negotiations proposal. This was in response to the disrespectful, misleading and, frankly, baffling behavior that we have seen from the Minister for so many months. I have written to him this weekend regarding his response to our release; you can read the letter on our website.