'We're tired of being tired': Nurses rally in support of healthcare workers
A convoy of vehicles decorated with flags and banners wound its way past Edmonton hospitals Friday morning to show support for healthcare workers.
Organized by United Nurses of Alberta, the drive-by rally aimed to display solidarity with healthcare staff fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic's fourth wave while sending a message to the provincial government that nurses are done asking.
Nurses said that they’re "done asking" for more healthcare funding – as the province’s last contract proposal for nursing salaries saw wages frozen for the first three years of a five-year collective agreement.
“Why do you want to destroy such an important part of society, why…why?,” said Heather Smith, UNA president, when asked what questions she has for Premier Jason Kenney.
“We’re tired of being tired," said Pauline Worsfold with the Canadian Federation of Nurses Union. "We’re tired of being asked to come to work.
“We’re demanding safe patient ratios, we’re demanding more nurses, we’re demanding more help.”
Alberta’s Finance Minister Travis Toews responded to Friday’s rally with a statement expressing his respect and appreciation for the work of nurses province-wide.
“We respect the rights of all Albertans to express their opinions on matters important to them," Toews said. "Appreciation and respect for all Alberta nurses runs deep and wide throughout the province.
"Our government is truly appreciative of the hard work and dedication that health care professionals – especially nurses – have shown over the year and a half. I can’t comment on specific proposals, as negotiations are ongoing, but our hope is that AHS can reach a settlement that respects Alberta’s nurses and the fiscal reality the province is dealing with.”
Smith said many nurses are overburdened with too many patients in this fourth wave.
"We will do everything we can with our members and our colleagues in other unions and the public and our various coalitions to push back and stop the destruction of health care," Smith said.
She added that Friday’s motorcade – which looked to be made up of little more than two dozen vehicles – would have been larger if not for the fact that many nurses were either working or too exhausted to attend.
With files from CTV Edmonton’s David Ewasuk
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
ArriveCan contractor to be admonished by MPs in extraordinarily rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.