Government Relations Committee – May Update

May has been a busy month for Government Relations. 

In a recent cabinet shuffle by the United Conservative Party (UCP) in Alberta, significant changes were made to the health sector, appointing four new ministers to address various aspects of healthcare. Matt Jones has been appointed as the Minister of Health: Hospital and Surgical Health Services, where he will focus on improving hospital operations and surgical care. Adriana LaGrange takes on the role of Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and preventive measures to enhance public health outcomes. Rick Wilson has been designated as the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, tasked with addressing the growing concerns around mental health support and addiction services. Lastly, Jason Nixon assumes the position of Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services, where he will oversee the development and implementation of policies to support assisted living facilities and social services, ensuring vulnerable populations receive the care they need. The Alberta Association of Nurses has reached out to the ministers congratulating them on their new portfolios and requesting a meeting to discuss establishing a Provincial Chief Nursing Officer (PCNO).  

We were heartened when one GRC member attending a UCP event asked Premier Smith about establishing a PCNO and she responded positively to the idea. AAN has followed up with the Premier, requesting a meeting to discuss the impact a PCNO would have on healthcare in Alberta.

Individual GRC members are meeting with their respective MLAs over the next few months to present the role of the PCNO. This work is doubly important now that we have grabbed the interest of the Premier. If you are a GRC member and you have not yet connected with your MLA, please do so as soon as you are able.

(Pictured above: Nursing Leadership Network members)

The AAN CEO chairs the Nursing Leadership Network (NLN). NLN membership is comprised of nursing leaders representing education, government, regulators and employers. In May, the NLN met with Parliamentary Secretary for Health Workforce Planning, Chelsae Petrovic, and the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, Adrianna LaGrange.  The focus of the conversation was workforce planning, with a significant amount of time spent discussing creating safe workplaces for nurses, including security for rural facilities, and a pathway for nurses, and nursing leaders to ensure criminal charges are laid when patients and families physically harm nurses. NLN leaders called on the government to stop saying that they do not permit abuse towards staff, and actually stop allowing abuse towards healthcare staff.

Discussion included nursing shortages, novice nurses leaving the profession, streamlined education allowing nurses to easily transition from HCA to LPN, LPN to RN, RN to NP etc. These are not the first discussions NLN members have had with elected officials, and we are confident we will continue to work together to affect change to improve nursing and the nursing profession.

Finally, the CEO and the IEN Nurse Navigator had the opportunity to meet with three NDP leaders: MLA Sarah Hoffman, Health Critic, MLA Lori Sigurdson, Seniors Critic and MLA Dr. Luanne Metz, who is developing the NDP Health Plan. The meeting was an excellent opportunity to discuss the important work AAN is doing to support IENs in Alberta and the new project AAN is leading to provide Clinical Mentorship to support novice nurses in Continuing Care and Home Care environments. We also discussed the role of a PCNO, nursing shortages, providing safe workplaces and nursing education.

It has been a busy, productive month. Advocacy is an important role for professional nurses.  If we do not bring awareness to nursing issues and advocate for change, no one will do it for us. If you are interested in getting involved and making changes, please consider joining the Government Relations Committee by emailing [email protected]. 

The next meeting of the GRC is September 25, and we will be working hard over the summer to continue to advocate for a Chief Nursing Officer for Alberta.