Wednesday’s letters: UCP pulled a fast one with new police force

The UCP and Danielle Smith are at it again. They totally pulled a fast one on Albertans. Remember the provincial police agency they said they wouldn’t form without a referendum? Well, it’s now formed; it’s a done deal.

It’s more broken promises by this government, time and again. Remember the pension plan referendum? I sure don’t. If Albertans believe this new agency will cost less than the RCMP, a rude awakening awaits us.

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When a new police agency is formed, they always seek a higher salary than the last newly formed agency. This is done to attract veteran officers from other agencies to fill positions, which is certainly the UCP’s plan. Take for example, Surrey Police, which formed three years ago and is already one the highest paid in Canada. The UCP will never be able to fill positions without taking from other agencies, mainly the RCMP. And look at the mess that’s caused in B.C., robbing Peter to pay Paul.

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Get the chequebooks balanced, Albertans. It’s gonna be a costly 2025 and beyond. Thank you, UCP.

L.M. Lenton, Red Deer

Enough reform; invest in patients

The lengthy and ongoing delays in hip and knee surgeries at the Royal Alex Hospital are unconscionable. Patients who have been assessed and given tentative dates, but who are known to require overnight stays, continue to be shuffled into waiting limbo.

As a previous writer noted, the problem is overnight coverage by specialty residents from the University of Alberta medical school. After the issue was identified, in July 2024, an internal medical group proposed a solution that would cost $240,000 per year. This was rejected, because it was not “revenue-neutral.” There is no money for reasonable costs associated with surgeries requiring overnight stays.

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Meanwhile, the waiting lists grow longer daily, and an exceptional orthopedic specialty centre sits largely unused. At the same time, the for-profit contract surgical facility on Edmonton’s south side continues to offer orthopedic operations, at a higher cost to the health-care system.

A recent research report by the Parkland Institute, Operation Profit, indicates that the UCP government pushed Alberta Health Services to pursue these expensive for-profit contracts. This shifts surgical activity to for-profit facilities at the expense of public hospitals. Enough money has been thrown at health re-organization: Let’s put more back into actual patient-focused health care.

Joan Laurie, Edmonton

Drop barriers for U.S. doctors

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David Schooley, Edmonton

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