Calgary - Today across Alberta, Dairy Queen is being hailed as a good corporate citizen by donating the proceeds of all Blizzard sales to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation in Edmonton and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation in Calgary.

“It seems that the strategy of the Stelmach administration is to rely on corporate donors and charitable donations to make health care work,” says Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann.

Calgary - Calgary - Today across Alberta, Dairy Queen is being hailed as a good corporate citizen by donating the proceeds of all Blizzard sales to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation in Edmonton and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation in Calgary.

“It seems that the strategy of the Stelmach administration is to rely on corporate donors and charitable donations to make health care work,” says Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann.

“This government doesn’t seem to understand that many short term investments will save costs and patient complications in the long term.”

 In late May 2009, there was much confusion regarding whether Calgary would be able to keep the services of the GreenLight laser system, which saves time, reduces hospitalizations and reduces patient complications.  Calgary had one at the Rockyview General Hospital, Edmonton has two, Grande Prairie has one, and Medicine Hat also has one.  The machine at Rockyview was on lease.  The Canada Safeway Foundation had to step up and donate $100,000 for the purchase of the machine, and an anonymous donor gave $250,000 to pay for one year of operating costs.  Whether there will be government funding for operations next year is not known.

 On August 11, 2009 it was reported that Calgary will receive a robotic surgical system that will start performing prostate cancer surgeries next spring.  Edmonton has had two of these da Vinci robots operating for the last three years.  The two robots in Edmonton were purchased with donor funding.  The Calgary robot cost $3.3 million and was funded by the Calgary Health Trust, who are financed by – you guessed it – concerned citizens and caring, corporate donors.

 It was reported on August 12, 2009 that the Helicopter Airlift Operation (HALO), which serves the former Palliser Health Region, could cease operations as early as September.  The reason is that the energy companies who previously funded it can no longer afford to given the recent economic downturn.

“I think all Albertans can enjoy a Blizzard today in good conscience, but I think it is a sad day when our health care system gets more moral support from the corporate sector than Ed Stelmach.  Added Swann, “What’s next?  A telethon?!?!?!.”

“This government doesn’t seem to understand that many short term investments will save costs and patient complications in the long term.”

 In late May 2009, there was much confusion regarding whether Calgary would be able to keep the services of the GreenLight laser system, which saves time, reduces hospitalizations and reduces patient complications.  Calgary had one at the Rockyview General Hospital, Edmonton has two, Grande Prairie has one, and Medicine Hat also has one.  The machine at Rockyview was on lease.  The Canada Safeway Foundation had to step up and donate $100,000 for the purchase of the machine, and an anonymous donor gave $250,000 to pay for one year of operating costs.  Whether there will be government funding for operations next year is not known.

 On August 11, 2009 it was reported that Calgary will receive a robotic surgical system that will start performing prostate cancer surgeries next spring.  Edmonton has had two of these da Vinci robots operating for the last three years.  The two robots in Edmonton were purchased with donor funding.  The Calgary robot cost $3.3 million and was funded by the Calgary Health Trust, who are financed by – you guessed it – concerned citizens and caring, corporate donors.

 It was reported on August 12, 2009 that the Helicopter Airlift Operation (HALO), which serves the former Palliser Health Region, could cease operations as early as September.  The reason is that the energy companies who previously funded it can no longer afford to given the recent economic downturn.

“I think all Albertans can enjoy a Blizzard today in good conscience, but I think it is a sad day when our health care system gets more moral support from the corporate sector than Ed Stelmach.  Added Swann, “What’s next?  A telethon?!?!?!.”

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