Strong public healthcare, education, emergency, transportation and social services are the backbone to a healthy and functional society. The GPA will ensure our public services are not only protected but reinforced to provide all Albertans with the services they deserve and depend on.
PUBLIC HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT
Introduce Comprehensive Health Care to our Universal System by Including: Universal Mental Health Care, Physiotherapy, Pharmacare, Dental Care, Optical Services, and Hearing Services:
This point highlights the need to expand the current Universal Health Care system in Alberta to include comprehensive health care, which includes mental health care, physiotherapy, pharmacare, dental care, optical services, and hearing services. The aim is to provide universal access to these critical healthcare services to all Albertans, regardless of their socio-economic status, race, or gender. This will help to ensure that everyone in Alberta has access to the healthcare services they need to maintain good health, prevent illnesses, and manage chronic health conditions.
Universal Mental Health Care will include the provision of mental health services to all Albertans. This will involve providing counseling, therapy, and medication management services to individuals with mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders.
Physiotherapy services will involve the provision of physical therapy services to individuals with physical injuries or conditions that affect their mobility or physical functioning. This includes individuals with sports injuries, musculoskeletal conditions, and other physical health conditions.
Pharmacare involves providing affordable access to prescription drugs for all Albertans, regardless of their income or insurance status. This will help to ensure that all individuals can afford the medications they need to manage their health conditions.
Dental Care, Optical Services, and Hearing Services will involve providing access to affordable dental care, eye exams, and hearing tests to all Albertans. This will help to ensure that individuals can access preventive care and early interventions to prevent more severe health conditions from developing.
Collaboration with Unions to Support Healthcare Workers:
Frontline workers in our healthcare system are the backbone of our society. They work tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy, yet they are often overworked and underpaid. We understand that the only way to ensure a sustainable and reliable healthcare system is by supporting and valuing our healthcare workers. That is why we will collaborate with unions to ensure that healthcare workers are properly compensated for their hard work and dedication.
Prioritizing Mental Health Programs for all First Responders and Hospital Staff:
Frontline workers in our healthcare system are dealing with unprecedented levels of stress and trauma. They are exposed to highly stressful and emotionally challenging situations on a daily basis, and yet they often do not receive the support they need. We will implement a full-scale mental health program that prioritizes the mental health of our first responders and hospital staff. We will provide them with the tools, resources, and support they need to deal with the challenges they face every day.
Launch of a Full-Scale Hiring Initiative:
Long wait times and overcrowded emergency rooms are unacceptable. To address this issue, we will launch a full-scale hiring initiative to bring more qualified healthcare workers into our system. We will fund emergency rooms with a focus on more hands to receive patient transfer of care from our ambulances to hospital beds. We will ensure that all Albertans receive the care they need in a timely and efficient manner.
Increase Hospital Capacity and Functionality:
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of having a robust healthcare system that can adapt to unexpected challenges. We understand that rural hospitals often face staffing shortages, which can lead to long wait times and decreased access to care. To address this issue, we will increase hospital capacity and functionality in line with our ability to staff our infrastructure. We will ensure that rural hospitals are not left behind and have the ability to attract sufficient staffing. We understand that hospital beds without caregivers are of no use to Albertans.
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS A RIGHT
Provide Free Undergraduate Post-Secondary Education to all Citizens and Permanent Residents:
This priority aims to make post-secondary education accessible and affordable to all Albertans. Currently, the cost of tuition can be a significant barrier for students who want to pursue higher education. By offering free undergraduate education to all citizens and permanent residents, we can ensure that all Albertans have an equal opportunity to pursue their educational and career goals.
The implementation of this priority would require significant investment from the government, but the long-term benefits would be immense. Not only would it provide greater opportunities for individual Albertans, but it would also help to build a more skilled and educated workforce, which could lead to greater economic growth and prosperity in the province.
Basic income for Canadian students over the age of 18:
Providing a basic income to Canadian students over the age of 18 would help to ensure that they have the financial support they need to pursue their educational goals. This support would be particularly important for students from lower-income families, who may struggle to cover the costs of tuition, textbooks, and other living expenses while attending school.
By providing a basic income, we can help to level the playing field and ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed. It would also help to reduce financial stress for students, allowing them to focus more on their studies and less on how they will pay for their education.
Funding for a qualified teacher and educational assistant for every twenty students:
Smaller class sizes have been shown to have numerous benefits for students, including improved academic performance, increased engagement, and better social and emotional development. By ensuring that every twenty students have access to a qualified teacher and educational assistant, we can provide a higher level of support and individual attention to each student.
This priority would require additional funding for hiring more teachers and educational assistants, but the benefits to students would be significant. By investing in smaller class sizes, we can help to ensure that all students have the support they need to succeed.
Work with teacher unions to increase wages for our hard-working educational staff:
Teachers and educational staff play a critical role in the education of our children, and they deserve to be compensated fairly for their hard work. By working with teacher unions to increase wages, we can help to attract and retain the best and brightest educators in Alberta.
Higher wages can also help to reduce turnover rates among teachers and support staff, which can lead to greater continuity and consistency in the education system. Investing in the education workforce can help to ensure that Alberta's children receive the highest quality education possible.
Establish a non-Eurocentric grade school curriculum from a diverse group of educational professionals:
The current school curriculum in Alberta has been criticized for being too Eurocentric and not sufficiently representative of the diverse cultures and perspectives that make up our province. By working with a diverse group of educational professionals, we can develop a curriculum that is more inclusive and reflective of the experiences and perspectives of all Albertans.
A more diverse and inclusive curriculum can help to foster greater understanding and empathy among students, and can help to break down stereotypes and prejudices. It can also help to prepare students for a globalized world, where cultural competence and understanding are increasingly important.
Eliminate public funding for elite private schools:
In Alberta, private schools that charge high tuition fees receive public funding, which can result in a significant amount of taxpayer money being diverted away from the public school system. This priority aims to eliminate public funding for elite private schools and redirect those resources to the public school system, where they can be used to support all students.
The elimination of public funding for elite private schools can also help to reduce inequities in the education system, as private schools are often only accessible to wealthy families. By redirecting those resources to the public school system, we can ensure that all Albertans have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
However, it is important to note that this priority does not seek to eliminate all private schools in Alberta. Private schools that do not charge high tuition fees and do not receive public funding would still be able to operate.
Merge school boards into the public school system:
Currently, there are several school boards in Alberta, including public, Catholic, and francophone boards. This can result in duplication of services and administrative costs, which can divert resources away from students and teachers.
By merging school boards into the public school system, we can streamline the administration of the education system and reduce unnecessary costs. This can help to ensure that more resources are available to support students and teachers, which can lead to better outcomes for all students.
Merging school boards into the public system can also help to promote greater equity in the education system, as it can help to reduce disparities in the quality of education that students receive. It can also help to promote greater collaboration and cooperation among educators, which can lead to more innovative and effective teaching practices.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS A RIGHT
A strong and efficient transportation system is necessary to connect the urban and rural population of our province.
Establish a Public Transportation Agency responsible for coordinating the delivery of Inter-urban and rural public transportation within the Province of Alberta:
Establishing a Public Transportation Agency would be a key step in ensuring that the public transportation system in Alberta is effective and efficient. Such an agency could be responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing a comprehensive public transportation system that connects the urban and rural areas of the province. This could include developing a publicly funded provincial bus system and an efficient passenger rail service that is accessible, safe, sustainable, and dependable for all residents of the province.
By having a centralized agency responsible for coordinating transportation services, there would be greater efficiency and consistency in the delivery of services. This would also ensure that there is better integration and coordination between different transportation modes, such as buses, trains, and other forms of public transit. Moreover, having a comprehensive public transportation system would be a huge benefit for those living in rural areas, who currently have limited options for accessing essential services and amenities.
Increase funding to municipalities in order to expand, improve, and eliminate fare costs for municipal public transit services:
Municipalities play a critical role in delivering public transportation services to their residents. By increasing funding to municipalities, the government can help support the expansion, improvement, and elimination of fare costs for municipal public transit services. This would help to make public transportation more accessible to all residents, including those who may not be able to afford the cost of transportation.
Improving public transportation services in municipalities would also have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road. This would help to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which are major contributors to climate change.
Build high speed rail between Edmonton and Calgary:
High-speed rail infrastructure is long overdue in Alberta and would add to our province's economic growth and development. By connecting major urban centers and improving access to jobs and economic opportunities, high-speed rail can help stimulate business activity, attract new investment, and boost productivity in the province.
One of the primary benefits of high-speed rail is that it can significantly reduce travel times between cities, making it easier for workers to commute to job sites or attend business meetings. This would open up new opportunities for businesses to attract skilled workers from other parts of the province and provide greater access to markets and suppliers. In addition to improving access to jobs, high-speed rail will have a positive impact on the tourism and hospitality industries. By making it easier for visitors to travel between major cities and tourist destinations, high-speed rail can help boost tourism revenues and create new job opportunities in the hospitality sector.
High-speed rail will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality by providing an alternative to car travel. Finally, rail infrastructure would be a significant catalyst for economic development and job creation in the construction sector. The construction of a high-speed rail network requires a significant amount of labor and materials, providing a boost to local economies and creating new jobs for skilled tradespeople and construction workers.
