Redford’s privatization agenda targets seniors

October 07, 2011

Alberta’s NDP Opposition leader Brian Mason is calling on premier designate Alison Redford to reverse her plan to raise the $40 per month cap for seniors in long-term care and privatize services.

Seniors are already paying as much as $1,200 per month for housing under the current cost cap – a limit Ms. Redford says she wants to raise.

“Alberta’s seniors deserve the peace of mind in knowing they’ll get the care they need without suffering financial ruin. Some are already living in poverty. Many are on fixed incomes. Privatization raises cost of living for seniors, and that’s not fair,” Mason says. “The solution to seniors care – and wait times in our ERs – is affordable, reliable, publicly provided seniors care.”

Albertans have repeatedly showed they do not want private care in Alberta. Mason says raising the daily cost cap is meant to make room for a profit margin for private care providers and attract more privatization to the senior care system.

“Ms. Redford called privatization a distraction in fixing our health system. She should stay true to that comment,” Mason says.