Media releases

The UCP government’s woefully inadequate response to what is likely the worst pediatric E. Coli outbreak in Canadian history continues to fuel mistrust in this government’s ability to respond to public health crises. Today, Public Interest Alberta and Friends of Medicare are calling for an immediate and independent public inquiry into all entities involved – both government and non-government.

Health officials say the number of affected Albertans continues to climb, with 264 lab confirmed cases so far – a jump from 231 since Monday while 25 Albertans are currently in hospital.

EDMONTON — This Senior’s Week, Public Interest Alberta and Friends of Medicare continue to call for the return of an independent Seniors’ Advocate, for Alberta to get on board with universal pharmacare, and for a comprehensive system of service delivery that ensures the well-being of seniors by ensuring their mental, physical, social and financial needs are met.

EDMONTON - Today Public Interest Alberta is releasing their Priorities for Change for Alberta Seniors. 

“Seniors in Alberta face a wide range of issues and challenges,” said Terry Price, President of Public Interest Alberta and Chair of the Seniors Task Force.  “As adult children care for aging parents and find the system impossible to navigate; as seniors whose spouses suffer with dementia are shuffled from one for-profit facility to another; or as Albertans living on fixed incomes make potentially life-threatening choices between rent, food, and medications, they experience firsthand the failure of successive provincial governments to honour the human rights of and to care for Alberta seniors.”

EDMONTON - Today, the Alberta NDP announced their plan for investment into public education. Party leader Rachel Notley detailed investments of $700 million over the next four years, as well as hiring 4000 more teachers and 3000 more educational assistants.

EDMONTON  - As Albertans prepare for a pivotal provincial election, progressive advocacy organization Public Interest Alberta joined leaders, parents, students, workers and experts in public education to release its Priorities for Change in Public Education – a blueprint for public education in Alberta.

Today, Bradley Lafortune, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta, issued the following statement of support to mobilize alongside Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members who gave notice of an imminent strike that will begin at 12:01 A.M. ET on Wednesday, April 19th if no deal is reached by 7 P.M. MT today:

EDMONTON - Today, the UCP government has announced $10 million to help food banks and food security organizations. 

“Albertans are struggling right now,” said Bradley Lafortune, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta. “Albertans are feeling the squeeze of record-breaking inflation and the cost of living crisis. The costs of essentials like food, utilities, and rent or mortgage are skyrocketing. Alberta is the most food-insecure province. It’s no wonder that food banks in Alberta are facing unprecedented demand for service.”

EDMONTON - Today, the Alberta NDP hosted a press conference where they made a campaign commitment to lowering tuition for post-secondary education. Progressive advocacy organization Public Interest Alberta is concerned that the policy does not go far enough to address the issues facing Alberta’s post-secondary students. 

EDMONTON — Today, the Parliamentary Budget Officer released a report showing that if tax exemptions for corporate Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) were removed, the federal government would collect a total additional $285.8 million in estimated revenue over the 2023 to 2027 tax years. This analysis points to the urgent need for stronger regulations of REITs, beginning with closing tax loopholes and enforcing a guaranteed, statutory tax rate of 38 per cent. With rents in Calgary rising about 25 per cent in the past year, Public Interest Alberta renewed its calls for immediate interventions in housing for Albertans.

The Trudeau government is set to release their next federal budget on Tuesday, March 28 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

EDMONTON — At a time when Albertans and Canadians are suffering the long-term impacts of inflation and the rapidly-rising cost of living on essentials like groceries and  housing, the federal budget must tackle structural issues like the affordability crisis, the housing market, and make major investments in the social safety net.