In all the stories I have read, watched and listened to about Alberta’s home care cuts, I have yet to hear a question silently echoing in the back of my mind. And with health minister Fred Horne announcing Tuesday that he isn’t going to reverse Alberta Health Services’ decision to change home care providers for senior citizens in Alberta, I think the time has come to ask it: who is going to make a buck over these decisions? Who is it? And why are Albertans who are senior citizens and who have physical disabilities going through hell so someone’s bank account is padded?
AHS announced in June the number of home care providers will be reduced from 72 to 13. Large corporations such as Rivera and We Care — just to name a few — were awarded contracts when many local, including non-profits, we told “thanks, but no thanks.” I have cerebral palsy and use home care. I am part of a self-directed program and we were told in February of changes. We were also told we had to submit a proposal for funding, despite successfully running the program since 1997. And here’s the kicker: we were warned if we went to the media or contacted MLA’s our proposal could very well be disqualified. In the end, we didn’t get our funding but shared our story. Just over two weeks later AHS reversed their decision on our program and two others in Edmonton.
I can’t help but thinking this was in the works for month. Deals were made. Contracts were signed. It would be very interesting to know who made these deals and what connection they had with the successful bidders over so many long standing providers. We may never know. But by the Gods of War: the question needs to be asked.
