November is a time for reflection and remembrance. November 11th at the 11th minute of the 11th hour is a time for each of us to pause in silence and reflection on the sacrifice of others that have come before us. Each of us can pay daily tribute to the men and women in uniform who have fought for our freedom. When we engage in civic duties such as volunteering, voting, meeting with local representatives, being informed on the issues and providing feedback on how to make government and society better each of us is doing our part.
I have often said that the Edmonton Legislature Dome does not have the ability to read minds; therefore, I take this opportunity to remind you how important it is for each of us to share constructive feedback, both positive and negative. It is also incumbent on me to provide context on why decisions are made. I was elected by you, and our government was given a mandate, to make difficult decisions. But it is my duty to consult widely with my constituents and Albertans at large to inform such decisions and to justify the path taken, the rationale, careful thought and reasoned implications of my actions. So please remember that if you have input or questions on policy issues or decisions, my door is always open. And your feedback is all the more important given that Budget Day, October 24th, is just behind us.
In times of austerity, budgeting is by nature difficult for us, and it is never easy to make necessary but unpopular choices at home, in our businesses or in government. Each and every one of us have been faced with the reality of having to do more with less, recognizing that government exists to deliver core essential services, while public finances are primarily funded by your hard-earned tax dollars.
Did you know that Health spending accounts for almost 40% of the total provincial budget, or approximately $2.4million every hour? For most of us this number is hard to fathom. Prevention is one of the keys that each of us can consider every day to help move the needle on health spending. Simple steps like regular visits to your family doctor, eating a nutritionally balanced diet, and moderate daily exercise all can play a significant role in living a healthier, longer life. We are blessed to have the Southeast Primary Care Network in our community to facilitate access to a range of medical practitioners, clinics, programming such as mental health consultation, and coordination of additional resources such as physiotherapy.
For this month’s MLA Café, we are pleased to host a representative from the SE Primary Care Network to discuss health services and healthy living and learning right here in the community. Please remember how important your feedback is to me and let us know if you are able to join us on Friday, November 15, from 10-11:30 at my office to see how you can be part of the solution in addressing future health outcomes. And Go Stamps Go!
