Alberta
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to consider halting COVID vaccines for healthy children
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From LifeSiteNews
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she will consider the findings of a report she commissioned that called for halting COVID shots for healthy children and teenagers, admitting there are questions about the āefficacyā of the jab in kids.
āI was pleased to see that we had a broad cross-section of doctors able to look at our previous COVID response, identify processes that were in place, identify things that may have gone wrong,āĀ Smith said [24:50 min mark] while speaking to reporters on January 29.
Smith was responding to a question in response to the Alberta COVID-19 Pandemic Data Review Task Forceās āCOVID Pandemic Responseā 269-pageĀ final reportĀ released last week.
She said she is looking to āidentify things that are now under question, like the efficacy of masks and the efficacy of this vaccine in children.ā
Smith added that her government is āgoing to take a look atā the reportās findings and āobviously weāll, weāll make some decisions about whether to move forward on any of the recommendations.ā
The report wasĀ commissioned by SmtihĀ last year, giving the task force a sweeping mandate to investigate her predecessorās COVID-era mandates and policies.
The task forceās final report was released last week. It recommended halting āthe use of COVID-19 vaccines without full disclosure of their potential risksā as well as outright ending their use āfor healthy children and teenagers as other jurisdictions have done,ā mentioning countries like āDenmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the U.K.ā
Among the recommendations of the task force was the call to ā(f)urther research to establish the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines is necessary before widespread use in adults and children,ā the establishment of āa website and/or call-in center for the vaccine injured in Albertaā as well as establishing a āmechanism for opting out of federal health policy until provincial due process has been satisfied.ā
The report also noted that ā(c)hildren and teenagers have a very low risk of serious illness from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines were not designed to halt transmission and there is a lack of reliable data showing that the vaccines protect children from severe COVID-19.ā
Earlier this week, LifeSiteNewsĀ reportedĀ how Alberta health minister Adriana LaGrange said she will āconsiderā the findings of a report published last week that recommends immediate halting COVID shots for healthy children and teenagers.
Smith: Doctorsā right to āspeak their mindā must be protected
While answering reportersā questions on January 29, Smith also said the doctors in the province need to be able to āspeak their minds without punishment from their colleges.ā
āI think thatās going to be important too, otherwise, politicians only bad decisions,ā she noted.
The report touched on how many doctors in Alberta who gave opposing views to the mainstream narrative regarding COVID jabs, masks, and the use of alternatives to treat the virus were wrongly vilified.
Smith mentioned that the point of the report was to find out what went wrong during COVID and to not repeat the same mistakes should there be another pandemic.
LifeSiteNews has published anĀ extensive amount of researchĀ on the dangers of the experimental COVID mRNA jabs that include heart damage and blood clots.
The mRNA shots have alsoāÆbeen linked toāÆa multitude of negative and often severe side effects in children and all haveāÆconnections to cell lines derived from aborted babies.
After becoming premier in late 2022, Smith promptlyĀ fired theĀ provinceās top doctor, Deena Hinshaw, and the entire AHS board of directors, all of whom oversaw the implementation of COVID mandates.
Under predecessor Jason Kenney, thousands of nurses, doctors, and other healthcare and government workers lost their jobs for choosing to not get the jabs, leading Smith to sayĀ ā onlyĀ minutes after being swornĀ inĀ āĀ that over the past year the āunvaccinatedā were the āmost discriminated againstā group of people in her lifetime.
Alberta
Former Chief Judge of Manitoba Proincial Court will lead investigation into AHS procurement process
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Deputy Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Christopher McPherson has issued the following statement on an independent third-party investigation into procurement and contracting processes used by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (AHS):
Deputy Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Christopher McPherson has issued the following statement on an independent third-party investigation into procurement and contracting processes used by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (AHS):
āWhile serving as Acting Deputy Minister of Executive Council, Premier Danielle Smith asked me to establish a credible, independent, third-party investigation into the procurement processes used by the Government of Alberta and AHS and their outcomes.
āI have informed Premier Smith that the Honourable Raymond E. Wyant, former Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba, will lead this investigation. I asked Premier Smith to issue a ministerial order to facilitate his work and she has done so. Judge Wyantās work on this matter begins immediately.
āJudge Wyant was appointed to the Manitoba bench in 1998 before becoming Chief Judge in 2002. Prior to his service on the bench, Judge Wyant worked as a criminal defence lawyer and Crown attorney and was acting deputy director of Manitoba prosecutions at the time of his appointment to the Bench. He has also taught law for many years at Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba.
āJudge Wyant will review the relevant legislation, regulations and policies related to procurement typically used by Government of Alberta departments and agencies, specifically AHS, and their application to the procurement of pharmaceuticals and to services offered by chartered surgical facilities. Questions that Judge Wyant will consider are outlined in the attached terms of reference, and include whether or not any elected official, Government of Alberta or AHS employee, or other individuals, acted improperly during the procurement processes. Judge Wyant will make recommendations to the government for improvement or further action as appropriate.
āAppointed under theĀ Government Organization Act, Judge Wyant will operate independently of government. The Government of Alberta will provide Judge Wyant with access to all relevant documents held by its departments and AHS, as well as facilitate interviews with relevant individuals.
āJudge Wyant has been given a budget of $500,000 to undertake this important work, including to retain legal and audit assistance at his discretion. He is being paid $31,900 per month, which is the same remuneration rate as the Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of Justice.
āTo ensure additional independence, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction will hold the budget for this third-party investigation.
āJudge Wyant will deliver an interim written report by May 30, 2025. A final written report and recommendations will be delivered by June 30, 2025, and it will be posted on alberta.ca.ā
Related information
Alberta
Province announces funding for interim cardiac catheterization lab at the Red Deer Regional Hospital
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Albertaās government is partnering with the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation to expedite the delivery of life-saving cardiac services to central Alberta residents.
Albertaās government is partnering with the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation to expedite the delivery of life-saving cardiac services to central Alberta residents.
Albertaās government is committed to ensuring that Albertans have access to the health care they need, including life-saving cardiac care and lab services, no matter where they live. For those in central Alberta, the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre plays a critical role in providing that care, which is why the $1.8-billion Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre redevelopment project includes two state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs.
While the project is expected to be completed by 2031, the government recognizes the urgent need for cardiac services for the 450,000 Albertans from Red Deer and surrounding rural communities. If passed, Budget 2025 will provide $3 million in startup funding and ongoing funding to cover the operational costs for an interim cardiac catheterization lab at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
āEvery Albertan should have access to the health care services they need close to home. Albertans living in the Red Deer area have long advocated for a cardiac catheterization lab and I am pleased to support a project that we know will help save lives.ā
A cardiac catheterization lab is a dedicated space where specialized teams can carry out diagnostic tests that examine and evaluate heart function to aid in the diagnosis of cardiac health concerns and treatment of coronary artery disease. The lab will be equipped with specialized imaging equipment to allow for cardiac procedures primarily including ablation, angiogram and angioplasty.
The interim cardiac catheterization lab will be located within the existing Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre in a space currently being used as a physicianās lounge. Preliminary design plans are already in place and construction is expected to begin by fall 2025.
The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation has committed to funding the capital cost of the project, which is expected to be about $22 million.
In October 2024, the foundation announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Alberta Health Services to fast-track the opening of a cardiac catheterization lab at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
āWe are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Donald and Lacey families, whose support is bringing life-saving cardiac care closer to home for the benefit of all central Albertans. Together with all our health care partners, their commitment to advancing health care will make a lasting impact on countless lives for years to come.ā
The foundationās work is made possible by the generosity of donors, supporters and champions across the region. To support the development of the interim cardiac catheterization lab, the foundation announced a $10-million donation from the John Donald family.
āI am pleased to support the development of cardiac services in central Alberta, something weāve long advocated for. This initiative will provide essential care to our community and ensure that more lives are saved closer to home.ā
By prioritizing the development of an interim cardiac catheterization lab, patients will have access to critical services about three years earlier than expected. The interim cardiac catheterization lab is expected to be operational in early 2027.
āDeveloping this lab will allow us to treat more cardiac patients closer to home and support them in their recovery. Enhancing our cardiac services will also support our efforts to recruit and retain the talented professionals needed to care for our regionās patients.ā
Being able to meet the needs of the provinceās rapidly growing population is a top priority for Albertaās government.
Quick facts
- The $1.8-billion Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre redevelopment project will upgrade several services throughout the hospital site, including:
- an additional patient tower
- six new operating rooms
- a new medical device reprocessing department
- two new cardiac catheterization labs
- renovations to various areas within the main building
- a newly renovated and expanded emergency department
- a new ambulatory clinic building to be located adjacent to the surface parkade
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