Recently I walked over to the Golden Circle for the presentations for the meeting organized by the Central Alberta Council on Aging.
I came away with much food for thought as a result.
The first speaker was from the Parkland Institute, which does research and in this case discussed the goings-on in the world that are having a very direct impact on us.
Much of the world’s natural resources have been spoken for by the corporations, and so they are seeking other ways to make money.
They have found it in bidding for social services such as health care. This came as a shock to me.
Then I began to realize how true this is. Corporations are telling governments that they can deliver such things as long-term care for those of us with medical problems more cheaply.
We taxpayers don’t expect our government services to make a profit. However, corporations need to make money to survive.
This speaker also pointed out that low income folk in Alberta pay the highest income taxes of any province in Canada.
Middle income folk, those under $120,000 per year, pay higher income taxes than in our neighbouring provinces.
Those above this category pay the lowest income taxes in Canada.
The second speaker, who represented the Central Alberta Health Care authorities, read a very carefully written and crafted speech in which she outlined the government plans for “aging in the right place.”
My reaction to this speech was, oh dear, I forgot my shovel to clean up all this manure!
We all know that waiting lists are long, that acute-care hospital beds are being used by folk who cannot find a place to go to.
Then my thoughts went back to the first speaker. Many of us will not be able to afford the accommodations provided by private industry.
Thanks Central Alberta Council on Aging for a most enlightening morning.
Keep up the good work.
Alice Williamson
Red Deer