| Private hospital
Opposition politicians in Alberta are lambasting the government’s approval of the province’s first private hospital.
Health minister Gary Mar gave approval to Calgary’s Health Resource Centre last week to conduct overnight surgeries. They say the facility, which they refuse to call a hospital, will benefit the public system and will not lead to a two-tiered system of health.
Others, however, disagree. The Alberta Liberals say the decision was made to benefit a few private investors, and it will lead to higher costs to the public system. The New Democrats say the private facility will poach health care workers from the already staff-short public system, which will create longer waiting lists.
Liberal health critic Kevin Taft says the approval is the latest step in the privatization of the health care system in Alberta. He also worries that investors in the Health Resource Centre have connections to American investor groups, which could open the door to American patients using the facility.
The hospital will conduct five orthopaedic procedures to patients uninsured under the Health Canada Act, which includes Workers Compensation Board patients, RCMP employees and members of the armed forces.
CPO cash crunch
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra is scrambling to deal with a $1.1-million deficit that could shut the facility down.
Board Chairman Larry Fichtner says a plan is being worked out to help deal with the cash shortfall while allowing the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to continue to perform.
Creating such a plan, however, is proving to be a major challenge. The organization has already made major cutbacks the past few years to deal with similar budget problems, and government funding may only be available if the organization comes up with a viable operating model.
Similar budget problems have struck orchestras in other Canadian and North American cities the past several years.
The orchestra is also launching a public relations campaign to solicit help from Calgarians. They are hoping to increase its number of season subscribers.
Take Back the Night
Since the early ’70s, women around the world have marched in the streets at night to protest violence against women. In continuation of this spirit, Calgary's 21st annual Take Back the Night March will be held Saturday, September 21 at Memorial Park. The rally begins at 6:30 p.m., and the march will take place from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend the event, and men are welcome to cheer on the women and children as they march. For more information, e-mail fireuofc@hotmail.com.
Seven Minute Fest
Canmore’s Seven Minute Film Festival is growing, and this year will include more than 20 screens for the one-day event.
About 100 submissions to the low-budget short-film festival were gathered from all over Canada, the United States and New Zealand. Sixteen finalists have been chosen to compete for $4,000 in prizes – almost double the winnings available last year.
Screenings of the films and awards will be handed out on September 22, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Drake Inn in Canmore. More information is available at the festival’s Web site (www.sevenminuitefilmfest.org).
Parkspace added
Environmental groups are lauding the provincial government’s decision to add more than 900 hectares of wild land to protected areas of the Bow Valley near Canmore.
The additions came as the government released its park management plan for Bow Valley protected areas, which consolidated a number of small protected areas, and added new ones. The overall size of protected area increased by about 2.5 per cent.
The plan also lays out ways the area will be administered.
While the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society applauded the decision, they also cautioned that more needs to be done to preserve wildlife movement through the area considering the growth of Canmore through the Bow Valley.
AIDS walk
The annul AIDS Walk will take place September 22 in Calgary at Eau Claire Market.
Last year, the event raised more than $100,000 was raised. The money goes to help those infected, and affected, by HIV and AIDS in the city.
Participants solicit pledges, then take part in the walk to earn money. Last year, more than 500 people participated.
This year’s event marks the eighth consecutive year the walk has taken place. |
