Lethbridge NDP office

Health capital plan like the Dance of the Seven Veils

July 21st, 2010
Tories relying on imaginary money to fix broken promises

EDMONTON – “The PC government is doing the Dance of the Seven Veils to try to convince rural communities this latest round of health care promises will be different,” NDP leader Brian Mason said following today’s roll-out of the 2010-2013 Health Capital Plan.

“Why should Albertans trust the PCs now? For years they have strung us along with broken promises. Now they are re-promising health facilities with money that’s not even budgeted.”

The 2010-2013 Health Capital plan fails to account for $1.5 billion of the $2.4 billion promised.

“Ed Stelmach is padding his promises with imaginary money. Make no mistake – behind these seven veils lies the same Progressive Conservative government that can’t be trusted to protect public health care,” Mason said.

“At the end of the day, this Capital Plan is less about improving health care for Albertans and more about improving the political fortunes of the Progressive Conservatives.”

Alberta NDP Opposition

Brian Mason to speak in Lethbridge. Twice

May 10th, 2010

10:00 a.m.
Event: Good Health Care & Royalty Fair Share
·         Event: Lethbridge Seniors Citizens (LSCO) Organization Meeting
·         Time:  10 a.m.
·         Where: Lethbridge Senior Citizens Org. 500, 11th Street – Rooms C & D

7:15 PM

Event: Good Health Care, Long Term Care,  & Royalty Fair Share
·         Event:   Community Meeting
·         Time:    7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
·         Introductions: Mark Sandilands
·         Where:  Southminster United Church 1011, 4th Avenue S
·         (Entrance on 11th Street)

Lethbridge Federal NDP Lasagna Dinner/Fundraiser

March 18th, 2010

The Conservatives had a huge advantage in financial resources in the 2008 federal campaign. At the beginning of the campaign, they were able to transfer $65,000 to Rick Casson’s campaign and, during the campaign, they brought in a further $48,000.

We did well for fundraising here in Lethbridge, but we’d like to be able to build up our campaign fund so we can mount a much stronger challenge for the next election which may be this spring, this fall or next spring–who knows?

During March and April, the Federal NDP will be matching donations to the Lethbridge NDP at 50 cents to the dollar donated. That means, for example, a donation of $400 will result in $600 going into our campaign. The cost to the donor: $100, after tax refunds.

The 6 to 1 ratio works for all donations up to and including $400 ($100 brings in $150, costs $25).

The first event in our fundraising is a Lasagna Dinner on March 25th.

What: NDP Fundraising Lasagna dinner
Where: Country Kitchens (downstairs at The Keg–former Sven Ericksens)
Cost: Tickets are $40 with a $25 tax receipt. $15 for students or underwaged (self-defined).
Schedule:

  • 5 p.m.–cocktails
  • 6 p.m. Lasagna dinner and speakers (Mark Sandilands and Trevor Harrison, a political sociologist from the U of L.)
  • Feature: Silent Auction

For tickets, please email or call me to make arrangements.
________
Mark Sandilands
403-381-4416

If you’re thinking of attending, tickets can also be purchased or picked up from the NDP Office (#103, 519-7th St. S.) March 16, 18, 20, 22, or 23, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. We need final numbers by the 23rd.
If you have dietary needs, please let us know.

Also, we have a Facebook page.

Lastly, if you cannot attend, please consider making a donation anyway. The Federal party’s matching means a 6:1 ratio of benefits to Lethbridge NDP : cost to donor. Donations can be mailed to the office:
Lethbridge Federal NDP
c/o #103, 519 – 7th St. South
Lethbridge, AB
T1J 2G8

NDP Fund-raising Garage Sale

September 7th, 2009

The annual NDP Garage sale has turned out to be one of our major fund-raisers. It will be held again this year on Saturday, September 19th, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year again, Tom Moffatt has kindly offered his house at 636 – 19th Street South.

If you have saleable* items:
Please bring them to the sale venue at the following time: Friday, Sept. 18th, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Please put a suggested (reasonable) price on your item, if possible.

We also need sellers, cashiers, and helpers. If you can come on Friday afternoon to help price items and/or on Saturday to work a 3 hour shift, please call Mark Sandilands at 403-381-4416, or email him at marksan@telusplanet.net.

* Especially dishes and other items for students arriving for the semester, antiques, sports cards, camping articles, tools, coins, old books (not encylopedias), comic books (old and new), aprons, salt and pepper shakers, needlework, jewelry, doll clothing and accessories, toys go over big at any time. See http://www.ifg-inc.com/Consumer_Reports/GarageSale.shtml for advice.

PLEASE, do not bring items that are of poor quality. In previous years we have had to haul unsold items to the landfill.

Rally scheduled for June 25 at St. Michael’s Seniors Care Center

June 23rd, 2009

A number of groups* concerned about the current threats to our Medicare System have arranged a Press Conference announcing our support for maintaining our single payer public health system and a Rally organized by Friends of Medicare in Support of Senior Care and for support for reopening St. Michael’s facility is planned for noon Thursday, June 25th at St. Michael’s. Please see copy of the Press Release attached.

We invite you to join us at the Rally scheduled as follows:.

Location:

St. Michael’s Health Center, 9th Ave. 13th Street South

Date: June 25, 2009

Time: 11:45 am to 1pm approx.

*Participating groups:
Friends of Medicare, Lethbridge & District Labour Council, United Nurses of Alberta, Womanspace Resource Centre, Council of Canadians, Lethbridge West and East NDP Constituency Associations, and the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group.

Lethbridge Town Hall on Health Care

June 11th, 2009

NDP leader Brian Mason participated in a well attended town hall meeting in response to the government’s intended changes to health care. Here are some of the videos shot that night:

Next, Diane Poynter:

Michelle Day:

Bev Muendel-Atherstone:

Brian Mason:

Brian Mason (continued):

Virgil Grandfield:

Virgil Grandfield (continued):

Health Care Matters

June 9th, 2009

Concerned Lethbridge citizen, Virgil Grandfield, has written a heart breaking story about his father developing Alzheimer’s Dementia. The really brutal part of the story is the sinister agenda being played out by the provincial government.

Brian Mason was in Lethbridge on Monday speaking about this health care issue (pdf) at the Public Library from 7:00-9:00pm. Video of this event is available here and on Youtube.

Here is Virgil’s story (after the jump):
Read the rest of this entry »

Impact of Centralization of Gynecological Cytology Laboratory Services

March 31st, 2009

Recently we have heard that the Cytology Lab at the Chinook Regional Hospital may be replaced by a private lab.

A specialized group of Medical Laboratory Technologists (Cytotechnologists), who work with
pathologists to screen and diagnose pap tests, are concerned with these changes proposed by Alberta
Health Services to move toward laboratory centralization. Their concerns are as follows:

  • The pathologists will no longer be able to correlate/compare the gynaecological pap test results with the colposcopy tissue samples. This is especially important with abnormal results. Currently the pathologist reviews both tests together and reports to the family physician the best recommendation for treatment/follow-up. If these tests are separated, the family physician could receive two different reports and recommendations which may lead to patients receiving inappropriate treatment/follow-up.
  • It would disrupt the quality assurance programs that are in place which ensure a high quality of service.
  • Sending slides away to other regions may slow the receipt of patient results and increase the potential to lose the pap tests.
  • It may be the beginning of further centralization of laboratory services.
  • It will become more difficult to attract/retain health care professionals in Alberta when there are current shortages.

Please send this completed petition, along with any letters to:

Rachel Notley, NDP
Legislature Office
501 Legislature Annex
9718-107 St
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1E4

Impact of Centralizing Labs (PDF)

Petition Cytology

March 30th, 2009

Instructions—Please drop petition sheets off at:

NDP Lethbridge Regional Office
#103 – 519 7th Street South

Petition Cytology (PDF).

Cytology Lab Demonstration Photos

March 20th, 2009