A local man suffering from diabetes is hoping a facebook page will start a movement to hold the government accountable.Brent Whitford has dealt with the Type 1 diabetes since he was three years old, and remembers clearly when premier Alison Redford promised to include insulin pumps as part of Alberta Healthcare during her campaign.Whitford says he wants the province to address the promise, and make it clear about where it stands.Insulin pumps are covered in quite a few places. The funding of front line health care and education is dependent on the price of oil. Note that overly generous bonuses and severances continue to be awarded to the political layer of health care management regardless of economic forecasts.
In order for the Alberta Budget to be met without a deficit the price of oil, and to a lesser extent natural gas and bitumen, have to rise above a certain level. This is wholly determined by world markets. But even when the price does rise to a sustainable level it never stays there for too long because it is a cyclical commodity, and of course it's price and demand are outside Alberta's control. (This cycle will get worse in the future)
You would think the government would treat this with more urgency after creating the expectation just to get elected. After all proper treatment and management of diabetes is a public health issue, and results in less expense to the taxpayer. Additionally, diseases like diabetes impact the poor more than others.
Politicians bother me the most when they use the hopes and fears of people with real problems to get a few votes.
Facebook is not totally useless.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/394370740629908/ Please recommend this post
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