Connect with us
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=12]

Alberta

My endless date with self-isolation has led to some sobering realizations

Published

12 minute read

My endless date with self-isolation has led to some sobering realizations.

For my friends and family who haven’t seen me all week, you can watch me on CTV Two’s Alberta Primetime. Here is a link to a segment we taped Friday, March 13th. My interview appears at about the 8 minute mark. I’d like to thank the station for having me on to talk about my experience.

___________________________________________________

It’s now day 10 of my self-isolation.  What have I learned?  Well, a few things, some about myself.

I didn’t wash my hands often enough or with enough rigor.  I do now.  And I will continue to be more diligent. It’s an essential habit for the overall good of the community at large. And I’ve learned that good old soap and warm water are your best bet. There are small bits of fat that hold this virus together and soap breaks down fat.

Oh, and clean your phone.  Just think about how disgusting that device really is.  You leave it on the counter at your local bar. You hand it to your drunken friend at the club to co-obsess over your newsest Tinder crush.  And guys, admit it, you’ve left it on the top of the urinal while doing your business.  Don’t tell me you haven’t.  A cursory search on google tells me that disinfectant wipes are safe to use. So wash your device. And your phone… (that’s humour – I’m killin’ myself – you have to entertain yourself in isolation).

I’ve learned that monkeys in Thailand depend on food from tourists for survival and am reminded of Hurricane Katrina and thinking at the time that we’re all savages after a few days without food, water, and bananas.  Like that old Joke “… Katrina was a shitshow … don’t be a Katrina…”  Hmmm … best not to think about that.

Then I got this text from a friend who was picking up Advil and Alcohol at Costco.

text from friend at Costco in Leduc on March 13th at 1:30 PM

Being early in the curve of self-isolators in our region, I’ve been able to sit back and watch things develop.  In my original artice (below), I mentioned I had destroyed 2 rims on my car when I crashed in to a massive pothole on Hwy 43 west of Edmonton on March 2nd (self-isolation day minus 1).  One March 3rd, I took my car to a shop for repairs and rented a car for a few days.  Later that day I was asked to self-isolate.  Yesterday, having not driven the car since Monday, I decided to return it.  I called the rental agency, told them my story, and knew that this would create a problem.  The polite man on the other end told me about the new directions they had just received from head office and that he would call back.

His superior called within the hour.  Went through my scenario with her.  I was informed that their new policy dictates that I would need to be tested and if negative, then I could return the car. Otherwise, I would have to keep it and pay the commensurate costs until March 19th, the day after my self-isolation is finished. When I told her that I would NOT be going for a test and taxing the health care system having been told explicity by AHS that I did not need a test unless displaying symptoms such as fever and cough. I’ve displayed no symptoms.  I said that would leave me no choice but to return the car to them and simply bring the keys into the office.

This led supervisor #1 to place a call to supervisor #2.  A better plan emerged.  I keep the car. They don’t charge me any further.  I send a photo of the odometer taken with my freshly disinfected phone, and then I can prove that I didn’t drive the car in the ensuing days.

Being early in the curve, it’s easy to see the challenges for all business trying to cope with what is rapidly becoming a socio-economic crisis of a proportion we have never experienced.

He should take some lessons from PGA Commissioner Tim Monahan about how to communicate.

I’ve had an opportunity to watch alot of TV.  Like alot! Like Wednesday evening when I watched President Trump sniffle his way through the worst presidential address ever made, and that’s saying alot considering some of his earlier attempts.  It was complete with inaccurate information (read from a teleprompter, meaning someone actually wrote that script with misinformation in it).  The misinformation was so bad that it had to be corrected immediately because it completely mis-stated important elements about the European travel ban – I mean seriously, WTF.  Who’s wrote the script for the President? I understand how mistakes happen, but NOT on the most important piece of presidential script of our life time.

Our world is changing in front of our eyes.  We have not seen a wholesale shutdown like this before.

Now this morning (Friday), the President has declared a national emergency.  It was just last week that he said the US was testing bigly and that there were only 15 cases and that they were strongly working with some really bright people and should have it pretty much eliminated really soon.   So what’s up there … lying?  Or misleading people?  Maybe same thing?  Or worse yet, he didn’t know what’s to come?  Surely that can’t be possible.  It’s the United States we are talking about. The resources at his disposal are immense, notwithstanding the budget slashing at the CDC and the elimination of science in the daily American diet.

But what if he didn’t know? Well,  then we’re all gonna die sooner than we’d like.

Keep in mind it was March 4th that he said he had a “hunch” that the WHO’s death rate of 3.4% was a “a false number”.  He just said today that “no nation in the world is more prepared…”.  So which is it?  If they’re well prepared, then why would Bigly be talking about a “hunch” just a week ago.  As someone living the the attic of the USA, I’m not comforted by his ability to capture the trust of his country.  And now he’s blaming people for the laws that are in place that delayed the testing process that just last week he didn’t seem to have any idea would be needed. This has me riled up more than the other 11,000 recorded lies attributed to this man.

He should take some lessons from PGA Commissioner Tim Monahan about how to communicate.  I learned when he held a news conference yesterday that perhaps the best and smartest work for the PGA.  #timmonahanforpresident. 

Get used to working from home.  I sent this earlier to my brother, an Air Canada pilot who just flew to New Delhi.  With each flight I’m sure he wonders if it’s a one way or if he’ll get back in the country.  Hopefully it’s more organized than that, but in a situation as fluid as this, it’s hard to say with certainty.

Our world is changing in front of our eyes.  We have not seen a wholesale shutdown like this before.  Manitoba has announced they will close all of their schools effective March 23rd.  I bet that gets moved up given that schools in Ohio are closing this coming Monday. And Washington State is closing schools until April 24th.

With all of this going on, you’d be forgiven to have missed the fact that the United States on Thursday evening launched a series of airstrikes in Iraq against an Iranian-backed militia group suspected of firing an earlier rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops.

And the Canadian Military is preparing for potential aggression from one of the world’s bad actors.  Speaking of viruses, what has the Rocket Man been up to lately? Probably wondering how to take advantage of a weakened world order.

A friend just called me.  I picked up my clean phone and put it to my ear.  “One of my bosses is not feeling well.  They have a fever and are coughing”.  Out my window, a school bus just went by.  I wonder if it’s the last one I’ll see for a few months?  I said in my first article that I’m lucky to be able to easily self-isolate given my work.  Now I can honestly say that I’m happy to be self-isolating.  Thanks to my friends and family who have kept me in good food and great humour over the past week.

Be nice to one another.  We’re all in this together.  And it sounds like it’s going to go on for a long time.  Estimates are suggesting that it could be months or even a year or more that we live with this virus.

Below is my first article on this subject, written Monday, March 9th.

LISTEN: My date with self-isolation amid the Covid 19 scare – J’Lyn Nye Interview

President Todayville Inc., Honorary Colonel 41 Signal Regiment, Board Member Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award Foundation, Director Canadian Forces Liaison Council (Alberta) musician, photographer, former VP/GM CTV Edmonton.

Follow Author

2025 Federal Election

Next federal government should recognize Alberta’s important role in the federation

Published on

From the Fraser Institute

By Tegan Hill

With the tariff war continuing and the federal election underway, Canadians should understand what the last federal government seemingly did not—a strong Alberta makes for a stronger Canada.

And yet, current federal policies disproportionately and negatively impact the province. The list includes Bill C-69 (which imposes complex, uncertain and onerous review requirements on major energy projects), Bill C-48 (which bans large oil tankers off British Columbia’s northern coast and limits access to Asian markets), an arbitrary cap on oil and gas emissions, numerous other “net-zero” targets, and so on.

Meanwhile, Albertans contribute significantly more to federal revenues and national programs than they receive back in spending on transfers and programs including the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) because Alberta has relatively high rates of employment, higher average incomes and a younger population.

For instance, since 1976 Alberta’s employment rate (the number of employed people as a share of the population 15 years of age and over) has averaged 67.4 per cent compared to 59.7 per cent in the rest of Canada, and annual market income (including employment and investment income) has exceeded that in the other provinces by $10,918 (on average).

As a result, Alberta’s total net contribution to federal finances (total federal taxes and payments paid by Albertans minus federal money spent or transferred to Albertans) was $244.6 billion from 2007 to 2022—more than five times as much as the net contribution from British Columbians or Ontarians. That’s a massive outsized contribution given Alberta’s population, which is smaller than B.C. and much smaller than Ontario.

Albertans’ net contribution to the CPP is particularly significant. From 1981 to 2022, Alberta workers contributed 14.4 per cent (on average) of total CPP payments paid to retirees in Canada while retirees in the province received only 10.0 per cent of the payments. Albertans made a cumulative net contribution to the CPP (the difference between total CPP contributions made by Albertans and CPP benefits paid to retirees in Alberta) of $53.6 billion over the period—approximately six times greater than the net contribution of B.C., the only other net contributing province to the CPP. Indeed, only two of the nine provinces that participate in the CPP contribute more in payroll taxes to the program than their residents receive back in benefits.

So what would happen if Alberta withdrew from the CPP?

For starters, the basic CPP contribution rate of 9.9 per cent (typically deducted from our paycheques) for Canadians outside Alberta (excluding Quebec) would have to increase for the program to remain sustainable. For a new standalone plan in Alberta, the rate would likely be lower, with estimates ranging from 5.85 per cent to 8.2 per cent. In other words, based on these estimates, if Alberta withdrew from the CPP, Alberta workers could receive the same retirement benefits but at a lower cost (i.e. lower payroll tax) than other Canadians while the payroll tax would have to increase for the rest of the country while the benefits remained the same.

Finally, despite any claims to the contrary, according to Statistics Canada, Alberta’s demographic advantage, which fuels its outsized contribution to the CPP, will only widen in the years ahead. Alberta will likely maintain relatively high employment rates and continue to welcome workers from across Canada and around the world. And considering Alberta recorded the highest average inflation-adjusted economic growth in Canada since 1981, with Albertans’ inflation-adjusted market income exceeding the average of the other provinces every year since 1971, Albertans will likely continue to pay an outsized portion for the CPP. Of course, the idea for Alberta to withdraw from the CPP and create its own provincial plan isn’t new. In 2001, several notable public figures, including Stephen Harper, wrote the famous Alberta “firewall” letter suggesting the province should take control of its future after being marginalized by the federal government.

The next federal government—whoever that may be—should understand Alberta’s crucial role in the federation. For a stronger Canada, especially during uncertain times, Ottawa should support a strong Alberta including its energy industry.

Continue Reading

Alberta

Province announces plans for nine new ‘urgent care centres’ – redirecting 200,000 hospital visits

Published on

Expanding urgent care across Alberta

If passed, Budget 2025 includes $17 million in planning funds to support the development of urgent care facilities across the province.

As Alberta’s population grows, so does the demand for health care. In response, the government is making significant investments to ensure every Albertan has access to high-quality care close to home. Currently, more than 35 per cent of emergency department visits are for non-life-threatening conditions that could be treated at urgent care centres. By expanding these centres, Alberta’s government is enhancing the health care system and improving access to timely care.

If passed, Budget 2025 includes $15 million to support plans for eight new urgent care centres and an additional $2 million in planning funds for an integrated primary and urgent care facility in Airdrie. These investments will help redirect up to 200,000 lower-acuity emergency department visits annually, freeing up capacity for life-threatening cases, reducing wait times and improving access to care for Albertans.

 

 

“More people are choosing to call Alberta home, which is why we are taking action to build capacity across the health care system. Urgent care centres help bridge the gap between primary care and emergency departments, providing timely care for non-life-threatening conditions.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

“Our team at Infrastructure is fully committed to leading the important task of planning these eight new urgent care facilities across the province. Investments into facilities like these help strengthen our communities by alleviating strains on emergency departments and enhance access to care. I am looking forward to the important work ahead.”

Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure

The locations for the eight new urgent care centres were selected based on current and projected increases in demand for lower-acuity care at emergency departments. The new facilities will be in west Edmonton, south Edmonton, Westview (Stony Plain/Spruce Grove), east Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Cold Lake and Fort McMurray.

“Too many Albertans, especially those living in rural communities, are travelling significant distances to receive care. Advancing plans for new urgent care centres will build capacity across the health care system.”

Justin Wright, parliamentary secretary for rural health (south)

“Additional urgent care centres across Alberta will give Albertans more options for accessing the right level of care when it’s needed. This is a necessary and substantial investment that will eventually ease some of the pressures on our emergency departments.”

Dr. Chris Eagle, chief executive officer, Acute Care Alberta

The remaining $2 million will support planning for One Health Airdrie’s integrated primary and urgent care facility. The operating model, approved last fall, will see One Health Airdrie as the primary care operator, while urgent care services will be publicly funded and operated by a provider selected through a competitive process.

“Our new Airdrie facility, offering integrated primary and urgent care, will provide same-day access to approximately 30,000 primary care patients and increase urgent care capacity by around 200 per cent, benefiting the entire community and surrounding areas. We are very excited.”

Dr. Julian Kyne, physician, One Health Airdrie

Alberta’s government will continue to make smart, strategic investments in health facilities to support the delivery of publicly funded health programs and services to ensure Albertans have access to the care they need, when and where they need it.

Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

Quick facts

  • The $2 million in planning funds for One Health Airdrie are part of a total $24-million investment to advance planning on several health capital initiatives across the province through Budget 2025.
  • Alberta’s population is growing, and visits to emergency departments are projected to increase by 27 per cent by 2038.
  • Last year, Alberta’s government provided $8.4 million for renovations to the existing Airdrie Community Health Centre.

Related information

Continue Reading

Trending

X