Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Alberta Member of Legislature Kicked out of Caucus- Health Spat
Share:
by albertacowpoke | July 18, 2009 at 02:57 pm
154 views | 16 Recommendations | 4 comments
Photos
Videos
Three days ago I reported on an Alberta Member of the Legislative Assembly who was planning on assisting in organizing a protest against his own party and government for postponing or canceling a long term care facility in Northern Alberta.
The story Alberta MLA will help Plan Health Care Protest showed how a politician was fighting the tide against his own caucus to support his constituents.
Guy Boutilier, a member of the Alberta government and conservative caucus, has been kicked out of the caucus for criticizing the funding delays. There has been some unconfirmed chatter that the project may have been canceled altogether.
Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo member Guy Boutilier was asked to leave Friday evening after a meeting with Premier Ed Stelmach over his public complaints, spokesman Paul Stanway said.
"It was clear to the premier that the MLA is not prepared to support government policy," Stanway said Saturday.
Boutilier has also been removed from the Treasury Board. He is no longer welcome in the caucus.
Another great example of Government by the People for the People. I'll keep my thoughts on Premier Ed Stelmach to myself, except that the 72 seat majority, when only 40% of the electorate turned out to vote, has gone to his head.
Unfortunately, Alberta has no viable alternative.
My congratulations to Guy Boutilier for sticking up for his constituents and especially the Seniors in that remote community, that has added to the wealth of Alberta.
EDMONTON — A senior’s advocate with congestive heart failure will be leading a rally to urge the government to live up to its promises to build a long-term care facility for seniors in Fort McMurray.
“I have nowhere to go and no one to look after me,” said Jean Jensen, an 80-year-old who lives in a lodge setting in the northern city. She said she knows people who spent more than one year in acute-care beds in hospitals waiting for placement in long-term care facilities that don’t exist in the community. Currently, the hospital has 30 long-term care beds and one respite bed, but Jensen said 15 to 20 seniors are typically blocking hospital beds while they wait for ones in the community.
“This is not right. It’s not giving people any dignity or respect,” Jensen said, backed by Friends of Medicare and Public Interest Alberta. She’s angry at the government’s about-face after it promised Fort McMurray $35 million to build a 48-bed long-term care facility. Those plans are now off after the government said it won’t be building any more such facilities, focusing instead on home care and assisted living facilities, where residents are charged fees for certain things such as help getting dressed.
Backgrounder from Fort MacMurray Now Newspaper
More from the Edmonton Journal including Riding Association Position
Premier Ed Stelmach's Profile, from Farmer to top dog in Alberta
Update: Guy Boutilier was interviewed and says he is very disappointed "because I was doing my job as a MLA elected by the people, doing a job for my constituents." "This is a sad day for Alberta." he said.
The President of his Riding Association has requested an interview with the Premier. They are disappointed that Mr. Boutilier, who was doing a good job for them was canned.
Dr. David Swann, Leader of the Liberal Party has offered to talk to Mr. Boutilier if he is entertaining thoughts of changing parties. Mr. Boutilier on his part said it was too early to tell at this point.
There is also a public outcry over this decision.
An Alberta Tory MLA and former provincial cabinet minister has been kicked out of the government caucus after he criticized funding delays for a long-term care facility in his constituency.
Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo member Guy Boutilier was asked to leave Friday evening after a meeting with Premier Ed Stelmach over his public complaints, spokesman Paul Stanway said.
"It was clear to the premier that the MLA is not prepared to support government policy," Stanway said Saturday.
"[Boutilier's] been removed from the Treasury Board and he's been told he's no longer welcome in the government caucus."
Boutilier himself could not be immediately reached for comment.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most Recommended Comment
marianmo31 (not verified)
Crowd Power
albertacowpoke
Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 16:43 on July 18th, 2009
It is very disappointing to see a member of the legistlature who is doing his job and representing his constituency. I am extremely proud of Mr Boutillier....i have met him and he is a kind, caring and considerate man who puts his consitutents first...I think Mr. Stelmach has misunderstood the gravity of this situation and the feelings of the people of Wood Buffalo and Fort McMurray.. There is a distinct need for the long term care facility. According to the Fort McMurray Newspaper the long term care ward presently in use...is full..and there are people taking up beds on other floors waiting for long term care. There are also more people in the region who need or will need a long term care facility.
My heart goes out to the seniors in Fort McMurray, many of whom I know, to the Boutillier family.....and especially my congratulations to Mr. Boutillier for being a man of principle when so many are lacking that trait.
It is indeed a sad day for Fort McMurray, Wood Buffalo Region and indeed the province of Alberta. The conservative concus is the loser...not Mr. Boutillier.
at 15:55 on July 18th, 2009
Oh no, that's so unfair - I hope he fights back.
at 16:00 on July 18th, 2009
Well he is not out of the Legislature. I hope he goes and runs the Liberal party and takes these clowns on lol. He might even be a viable candidate finally.
at 16:47 on July 18th, 2009
I couldn't agree more marianmo. Maybe people in Alberta will get involved in politics again. Thank you for reading and commenting.