Rob Woods

I want to know, what were other premiers waiting for? “There’s been a lot of promises made. Just give us more money and we’ll improve care. That’s what we’ve been told for over a decade. We have given more money and care has decreased. “We are going to make things so much better, the layers and layers and layers of middle managers have been the problem.” Smith says Alberta Health Services has been underperforming “almost since the moment it was created.” And that was in 2008. “If I’m successful by the time we go into the next election, everyone will have a family practitioner,  whether it’s a doctor or a nurse practitioner. “We will have enough spaces for seniors’ care that people will be able to choose the type of seniors’ care for their loved ones and no one will be languishing in the hospital. “We will have our hospitals operating efficiently so ambulances are not waiting to drop off patients. They’ll be able to drop them off and get back on the road.” “If you’re seeing patients, we’re going to be supporting you. If you haven’t seen the eyeballs of patients in a number of years, you better demonstrate your value.” “You hire people to do the work for you. If they don’t perform, they’re gone. People should understand we’re serious about that.” If you are a public sector worker receiving funds from the public purse, you should be held accountable for your performance. This principle is not controversial; in fact, it should be embraced and encouraged in the public sector, especially when the services provided are intended for the public good. Holding public sector workers accountable for their performance ensures that taxpayer funds are used effectively and efficiently, ultimately benefiting the community as a whole. It is common sense and an established practice in the private sector that if expectations are not met, appropriate action is taken. Similarly, it is crucial to consistently apply this level of accountability in both the private and public sectors to ensure that services are maintained at a high standard. By doing so, we can optimize the use of public funds and foster public trust in the delivery of essential services for the well-being of our communities. So, I ask once again why other premiers chose not to implement this reasonable and customary practice in the public sector. Could it be attributed to laziness, self-interest, or pressure from within the public sector itself? I appreciate and applaud @ABDanielleSmith for finally prioritizing the accountability of public workers, as her role as premier is to act in the best interest of Albertans. calgarysun.com/opinion/colum…