Media Advisory: Sit-In Over but Request to Meet Continues
EDMONTON—Seniors who staged a sit-in at Health Minister Fred Horne's office are angry that Premier Redford will not meet with the representatives from various seniors organizations to explain if her government will be pushing ahead with the plan to cut $180 million out of the current seniors drug plan and implement a means-tested plan.“Alison Redford met with many of the seniors groups, including Public Interest Alberta when she was running for leader of the PC Party, and she has clearly said that her government would not cut or change the current seniors drug plan,” says Noel Somerville, Chairperson of Public Interest Alberta's Seniors' Task Force. “We will have the meeting with Minister Fred Horne that he only agreed to because of our sit-in, but to say we are disappointed in the Premier is an understatement.”
The sit-in of Minister Horne's office ended at 12:40 AM last night when Minister Horne's Chief of Staff called in the Edmonton Police and the seniors agreed to leave the office.
“Other than the fact that the Minister's staff refused to let food into the office that was brought by supports last night, the relationship with the staff was cordial and accommodating,” remarks Noel Somerville. “While we may have been uncomfortable for a few hours, the main point is that many seniors are going to be seriously hurt if the Redford government actually follows through on their plan to transfer the $180 million cut onto the backs of frail and sick seniors who require expensive medications.”
The seniors will gather outside of Fred Horne's office (308 Saddleback Road) at 10 AM this morning to make a media statement.
