Budget is a shell game

Last week the provincial government claimed it would be irresponsible to taxpayers to stop the old Federal Building renovations when they’re so close to being completed, even though the cost has jumped by $75 million.

Why should I care if MLAs have nicer offices and a fancy media room? These renos have been going on for years, so why finish them when we are broke?

Now I read that Alberta Health Services intends to save $35 million over the next three years by freezing pay and trimming budgets for senior staff, yet it will actually spend 21 per cent more on administration. How this is saving money?

Colleen Turner, AHS vicepresident of communications, said the $84-million increase to the bureaucratic budget will be used in part to cover the cost of new clinical networks. “The idea is this will lead to better and more equitable outcomes for patients around the province,” she said.

In plain language please, where in this new AHS budget is money actually being spent on care of the chronically ill and senior citizens in nursing homes?

I agree with Liberal healthcare critic Dr. David Swann when he states the AHS is spending millions on communications “to spin this shell game of a budget.” As a taxpayer I don’t think that is fair or honest.

Elly M. Onyschuk, Edmonton