Getting Mad

Our provincial auditor broke the news yesterday that Alberta Health Services has spent $100 million in expenses in the last 17 months; expenses include Calgary Flames tickets, Stampede grandstand shows, $300 taxi rides among other things.  In reading the report I discovered some other serious areas of concern, such as double dipping by having a car allowance and yet also charging mileage.  Really?  That is not something that is allowed in the private sector, why is it happening here? 

       Clearly the report discusses that there is no oversight with respect to expense claims, there are many cases of non-compliance, despite the fact that this concern was raised in a 2008 report.  Now my understanding of this report is that it was specifically mandated to review expenses.  I just wonder what other abuses are occurring not only within Alberta Health Services but throughout our political structure, municipal, provincial and federal. 

What I would like to know now is how many people are equally riled up with this very blatant abuse of taxpayer dollars being pilfered at the expense of essential services.  How much can we take of being put under a yoke of taxes only to see the money going to the privileged special appointees while services continue to be cut willy nilly.  The fact is, cuts are causing hardship mentally, physically and emotionally while we are financially misused by our so-called leaders.

It’s time to stand up for ourselves and say NO MORE, loud and clear. 

Below is the link to the report as well as a link to AlbertaConnects where you can find information on how to contact the Alberta Health Minister in various ways. 

Link to report:  http://www.oag.ab.ca/files/oag/OAGFeb2013report.pdf

Alberta Health Minister, Fred Horne, link:  http://alberta.ca/contact.cfm#AlbertaConnects