Premier’s visit ’empty handed’ says Phillips, calls out lack of obstetricians here

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on April 19, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Shortly after the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce luncheon with Premier Danielle Smith wrapped up Monday, NDP MLA for Lethbridge West Shannon Phillips dished out criticism about the premier’s visit.
Phillips said the fact that Smith was not speaking outside of Chinook Regional Hospital about the expansion of cardiac care, was an indication of the UCPs lack of commitment to it.
“Danielle Smith has come to Lethbridge but she’s not standing up in front of the hospital to make an announcement about an expansion of cardiac care. The reason she is not doing that is because their commitment is not real, whereas ours is a $20-million commitment to expand emergency cardiac care here in Lethbridge for all people of southern Alberta,” said Phillips.
She said Smith was not seen making any infrastructure announcements here and nor did she provide any other details that came out of the 2023 budget because Lethbridge did not get anything in the budget, according to Phillips.
“Lethbridge got nothing really in the budget. We have a premier who has come here to Lethbridge empty-handed,” said Phillips.
When asked about what she thought about Smith only allowing one question from each media member – and not allowing any media questions at the Chamber lunch – Phillips said it was cowardly.
“It also takes voters for granted here in Lethbridge and throughout southern Alberta. The way that we speak to the public is via the media and we need to always be accountable,” said Phillips.
 She said she learned all of those skills from watching her leader through Rachel Notley’s career as premier, Opposition leader and 15 years as an MLA.
 “She (Notley) has never shied away from questions, she has never shied away from talking to the public via the media and it is just disgraceful that we have a premier who now thinks that she’s above the rest of Albertans and she’s above talking to Albertans via the media,” said Phillips.
On Tuesday Smith reversed part of her government’s new media question restriction policy but says she will continue to limit queries in order to provide more answers.
In a statement Smith’s office said while individual reporters are still limited to one question with no followups at news conferences, that rule will not apply to individual news outlets.
When asked about the lack of obstetricians in Lethbridge but having investments going into cardiac care at CRH, Phillips said it should not be an either/or situation.
“Albertans deserve access to healthcare at every stage of their lives, from birth right through to as we age and there is no question that we don’t just have cardiac care, but not an ability to have an emergency C-section. Healthcare needs to be there for us through all of the stages of our lives,” said Phillips.
 She said last year at this time seven obstetrician gynaecologists were practicing here while this year there is only one.
 “We are hearing every day from folks who are going without necessary healthcare through some of the most stressful times of their lives because of the shortage of OBGYNs,” said Phillips.
  She said a lot of work has to be done to replace various healthcare positions, whether they are family physicians, family healthcare teams, OBGYN services, midwifery or other care for women who are going through pregnancy and childbirth.
 “There’s no question we have a hole to dig ourselves out of that the UCP have dug for us, but we also know that we have the population to support an expansion of cardiac care services, so that we can save lives, so that we can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and also save EMS resources and save Albertans from having to drive up and down the highway for necessary and oftentimes emergency and very acute cardiac care,” said Phillips.  
 She said Albertans don’t have to pit these things against one another.
 “Albertans work hard and we have an excellent healthcare system – if we have a government in place that respects it for the people who work in healthcare and the patients,” said Phillips.
– with files from The Canadian Press

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